Where 49ers stand in NFC playoff race after beating Falcons originally appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
The 49ers had their way with the Atlanta Falcons, dominating their NFC opponent 31-13 Sunday at Levi's Stadium. The win had big playoff implications, too.
San Francisco entered the day with a 7-6 record. Atlanta was 6-7, right behind them in the playoff standings. Now that the 49ers are 8-6 and the Falcons are 6-8, things look much different for the two squads. NBC's Steve Kornaki gave the 49ers a 91-percent chance of making the playoffs with a win against the Falcons. A loss would have dropped them down to 35 percent.
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As far as where they sit in the standings, though, nothing really changed for the 49ers.
Even with the win, the 49ers remain the No. 6 seed in the NFC playoffs. The Los Angeles Rams (9-4) are the No. 5 seed and don't play until Tuesday night, but still would be ahead of the 49ers with a loss. However, the 49ers did beat the Rams earlier this season.
The 49ers and Rams play each other again in the regular-season finale in L.A.
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If the season were to end after Week 15, the 49ers would play the Dallas Cowboys in the first round of the playoffs at AT&T Stadium. The two teams were bitter rivals in the 1990s. They faced each other in Week 15 last season, and the 49ers fell 41-33 at Levi's Stadium.
Next up, the 49ers take on the Tennessee Tiants on Thursday at Nissan Stadium. Until then, here is the current NFC playoff picture.
NFC playoff standings
Playoff picture
No. 1: Green Bay Packers (11-3)
No. 2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (10-3) *Play Sunday night
No. 3: Dallas Cowboys (10-4)
No. 4: Arizona Cardinals (10-4)
No. 5: Los Angeles Rams (9-4) *Play Tuesday
No. 6: San Francisco 49ers (8-6)
No. 7: Washington Football Team (6-7) *Play Tuesday
Outside looking in
No. 8: Minnesota Vikings (6-7) *Play Monday night
No. 9: Philadelphia Eagles (6-7) *Play Tuesday
No. 10: New Orleans Saints (6-7) *Play Monday night
No. 11: Atlanta Falcons (6-8)
No. 12: Seattle Seahawks (5-8) *Play Tuesday
No. 13: Carolina Panthers (5-9)
No. 14: Chicago Bears (4-9) *Play Monday night
No. 15: New York Giants (4-10)
No. 16: Detroit Lions (2-10-1)
