San Francisco 49ers Out of Playoff Contention?

The San Francisco 49ers have lost yet another game this season. They are now 5-6 following a 38-10 loss against the Green Bay Packers. The loss puts San Francisco in last in the NFC West. Does this loss mean that the 49ers are now out of playoff contention for the 2024 season?

San Francisco 49ers Out of Playoffs?

Theoretically, the 49ers are not out of playoffs, but it would take a lot more than just getting healthy to win. Based on the results of the week 12 matchups, the 49ers are in last place in the NFC West. The Seattle Seahawks are in first with a 6-5 record, the Arizona Cardinals are in second also at 6-5. The Los Angeles Rams are in third with a 5-6 record. The 49ers are 1-3 in the NFC West and would lose the tiebreaker as of now. Given how close the NFC West is, it is possible for the 49ers to still win, but they would need to fix a lot of their issues while needing other teams to lose.

Remaining NFC West Games

The 49ers have already played the Seahawks twice this year, winning the first game and losing the second. They have played the Rams and Cardinals once, losing both. The 49ers will next face the Rams on Dec. 12. They will then face the Cardinals on Jan. 5. As important as those games are, the 49ers will have to improve their overall record too, and hope their NFC West foes lose a couple of games.

How the 49ers Fix Their Issues

It will not be easy for the San Francisco 49ers. The injuries have been an issue all season. While that is not all to blame for the team’s issues on the field, it is a factor. Not having quarterback Brock Purdy or star left tackle Trent Williams did slow down the 49ers offense against the Packers. Getting healthy is a priority, but more needs to be done if the team wants to beat the Buffalo Bills and the Detroit Lions.

The red zone offense has been an issue all year, healthy or not. Repeatedly, the San Francisco 49ers make it down the field, but they can not get six points on the board. Tight end George Kittle has been the best thing for the offense when they are near the end zone this year. Having him back and healthy is a boost, but the team has to figure that out. Kicking field goals can only win so many games.

Having defensive lineman Nick Bosa out does hurt the pass rush. When he exited the Seattle game, the entire momentum shifted toward the Seahawks.

Looking on the Positive Side

There is a lot the 49ers need to fix, and there is no denying that. To look on the positive side, while the season feels over it technically is not. It just will take a lot, and not all of it is in control of the 49ers. San Francisco faces some tough opponents moving forward, but as of the conclusion of week 12, the 49ers are only one game behind. If the NFC West stays this close and the other teams start losing, anything is possible still. Still, the 49ers can only focus on their schedule. They have to get back to winning and hope other teams start to lose.

Next up, the San Francisco 49ers will face the Buffalo Bills for Sunday Night Football on Dec. 1. The game will be held in Buffalo. It will be a tough matchup, but anything is possible in the NFL.