SANTA CLARA – The 49ers’ path to and through the NFC playoffs could be dictated by tonight’s matchup in Seattle, where the Seahawks host the Los Angeles Rams for the NFC West lead.

A Seahawks (11-3) win in that home finale could create a desirable lane to the NFC’s No. 1 seed for the 49ers, who will take a 10-4 record into Monday night’s game at Indianapolis (8-6).

The 49ers follow that game with a Dec. 28 Sunday night battle against the Chicago Bears (10-4), before taking a 4-1 mark in NFC West action into a regular-season finale against Seattle. Both games are at Levi’s Stadium, the site of Super Bowl LX on Feb. 8.

If the Rams (11-3) win a third straight year in Seattle, they’ll control their own destiny toward the No. 1 seed, which they haven’t held since their 2016 relocation back to Los Angeles.

Thus, the Bay Area’s “Beat L.A.” anthem should be clamoring tonight.

The Rams secured a playoff berth last Sunday, but they can’t claim the division title until at least Week 17. They’re 5-2 in road games, and the Seahawks are 5-2 at home.

Currently slotted as the No. 6 seed, the 49ers can clinch a playoff spot this weekend three ways:

1. By handing the Colts their fifth straight loss – and second since quarterback Philip Rivers unretired.

2. By back-dooring into the playoffs even before Monday’s kickoff, if the Detroit Lions (8-6) lose at home Sunday to the AFC North-leading Pittsburgh Steelers (8-6). Sidebar: Cal product Aaron Rodgers has led Pittsburgh to two straight wins, and seeing how he’s 0-4 all-time in the playoffs against the 49ers, perhaps he has another postseason gift for them this Sunday with a win.

3. If both the Lions and the 49ers tie. Unlikely, yes. But the Packers and the Cowboys tied this season and that result is still hanging over the NFC race.

“I want to play games in January and the only way to do that is to beat every single team,” tight end George Kittle said after Sunday’s 34-27 win over Tennessee.

The 49ers are seeking their fifth playoff berth in seven seasons, which certainly seemed possible when they opened with a win at Seattle and, four weeks later, won in overtime at Los Angeles. Injuries to marquee players figured to extinguish the 49ers’ playoff hopes, only no one told them to stop winning.

The 49ers have a 98% chance of making the playoffs, according to the NFL’s NextGen Stats projections. They can climb up to the No. 5 spot with a Monday win – and as long as the Rams and Seahawks don’t tie.

The Colts’ playoff odds have shrunk to 15%. They’re eighth in the AFC standings, and they’re third in the AFC South behind Jacksonville (10-4) and Houston (9-5).

As it stands with potential tiebreakers, the NFC’s division leaders are the Rams (11-3), the Chicago Bears (10-4), the Philadelphia Eagles (9-5) and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-7). Next-best in contention are the Seahawks (11-3), the 49ers (10-4), the Green Bay Packers (9-4-1), the Lions (8-6), the Carolina Panthers (7-7) and the Dallas Cowboys (6-7-1).

The 49ers have the 10th-best odds (+2000) to hoist the Lombardi Trophy in Santa Clara on Feb. 8, according to MGM’s sportsbook. The odds-on favorite is the Rams (+350), followed by the Seahawks (+700).