How the 49ers can still clinch the NFC's No. 1 seed

While the San Francisco 49ers remain in the hunt for the NFC’s top seed, the path now runs almost entirely through the NFC West.

San Francisco, which already clinched a postseason spot, stayed alive in the chase for the top seed with its win over the Indianapolis Colts, improving to 11-4 on the season and extending its winning streak to five games.

With two weeks remaining, the margin is slim — but the math is finally clean.

Rather than needing chaos across the conference, the 49ers’ best-case scenario is rooted in familiar territory: Seattle and Los Angeles.

Here’s how San Francisco can still finish the regular season as the NFC’s No. 1 seed:

(ESPN)

NFC No. 1 Seed Clinch Scenarios for the 49ers

San Francisco

• WIN remaining games (including Week 18 vs. Seattle)
• AND at least one loss by Seattle
• AND no worse than a tie with Los Angeles

San Francisco’s win over Indianapolis was needed. From here, the most realistic path involves overtaking Seattle while holding position over the Rams.

Seattle Seahawks

This is the key matchup in the standings. If the 49ers and Seahawks are tied entering Week 18, San Francisco can leapfrog Seattle outright with a win. The 49ers already hold the head-to-head tiebreaker, meaning a tied record favors San Francisco as long as they finish strong.

In short: a Seahawks loss combined with the 49ers winning out flips the NFC West — and potentially the conference — in San Francisco’s favor.

Los Angeles Rams

The 49ers already own the tiebreaker over the Rams based on division winning percentage, eliminating the need for additional help from Los Angeles. As long as San Francisco matches the Rams’ record over the final two weeks, the 49ers would finish ahead of them in the standings.

Put simply, the Rams are no longer the primary obstacle. Seattle is.

If the 49ers close the season undefeated and Seattle slips even once, San Francisco would be positioned to surge past both division rivals and claim the NFC’s top seed, along with a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

The margin is tight, but the equation is clear. The 49ers handled their business against the Colts. Now, the NFC West race will determine just how high this run can climb.

How the 49ers can still clinch the NFC’s No. 1 seed

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