NFL playoff picture: What does 49ers-Colts mean for AFC, NFC standings in Week 16

Game result: The San Francisco 49ers beat the Indianapolis Colts 48-27 on Monday Night Football to close out Week 16. The 49ers improved to 11-4 with the win while the Colts dropped to 8-7.

With the win, the 49ers moved into second place in the NFC West and fifth place in the conference standings. They hold the division record tiebreaker over the Los Angeles Rams. Both teams are a game back of the Seattle Seahawks for the division lead and the No. 1 seed in the NFC.

The loss eliminates the Colts from AFC South contention, meaning that race will be down to the Jaguars or Texans. The Colts still have a shot at a wild card berth, but they need a lot of help. They are in eighth place in the AFC standings, now sitting two games back of the Texans for the final wild card berth. They

The Indianapolis Colts host the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football to close out Week 16. The game is not a must-win for either team, but a loss would put a damper on their respective playoff possibilities. The game kicks off at 8:15 p.m. ET and the 49ers are a 4.5-point favorite.

The 49ers are 10-4 and have won four straight coming into this game. This game looked like a bigger deal when Daniel Jones was playing well, but they’ll face a Colts squad starting recently retired Philip Rivers. The Colts lost to the Seahawks last week in Rivers’ season debut, but nearly pulled off a stunner. They led for a chunk of the game and lost on a field goal with 18 seconds left. They’ve lost four straight since their bye and are 8-6.

The big news this week for the Colts is they get defensive tackle DeForest Buckner back in the lineup after activating him off injured reserve. However, they’ll be without left tackle Bernhard Raimann due to an elbow injury. They face a 49ers squad that will be without cornerback Renardo Green and wide receiver Ricky Pearsall.

The 49ers clinched a playoff berth on Sunday when the Lions lost to the Steelers. They are 1.5 games back of the Seahawks and a half game back of the Rams in the NFC West standings. They are in sixth place overall in the NFC standings. If they win this game, they’ll move into second place in the division and fifth place overall due to having the division record tiebreaker over the Rams.

If the 49ers win their final three games, they will win the NFC West and also secure the No. 1 seed in the conference. They host the Bears next Sunday and the Seahawks in Week 18.

The Colts cannot be eliminated from playoff contention this weekend, but a loss would put them on the precipice of elimination. They are 2.5 games back of the AFC South-leading Jaguars and 1.5 games back of the Texans. A loss would eliminate Indy from division contention.

They would still be alive for a wild card berth, but it would require wins and help the final two weeks. The Colts are in eighth place in the conference and would drop to two games back of the Texans for the final wild card berth. Indy hosts the Jaguars and travels to face the Texans to close out the season.

This could impact the common games tiebreaker due to everybody in the AFC South and NFC West facing off this season.