Sunday result: The Rams beat the Cardinals on Sunday to secure the No. 5 seed. Their win pushes the 49ers down to the No. 6 seed. They will travel to face the Eagles next weekend, while the Rams will head to Charlotte to face the Panthers.
NFL playoff picture: How the 49ers can clinch the No. 1 seed in Week 18
The 49ers and Seahawks face off for the NFC West title and the No. 1 seed in the NFC. We break down how things stand for the 2026 NFL Playoffs in Week 18.
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Game result: The 49ers lost to the Seahawks on Saturday and will enter the 2026 NFL Playoffs as a wild card team. The Seahawks won the NFC West and the No. 1 seed. The 49ers will be the No. 5 seed if the Rams lose to the Cardinals on Sunday. The 49ers will be the No. 6 seed if the Rams beat the Cardinals.
The San Francisco 49ers close out the 2025-26 regular season with a matchup for all the marbles against the Seattle Seahawks. The division title and No. 1 seed in the NFC conference are on the line, which marks the second such season finale circumstances since 2019. In 2019, the 49ers won that game 26-21, securing the victory with a fourth and goal stop in the closing seconds.
That year, the 49ers entered the game with a one game lead over the Seahawks. This year, Seattle has the one-game lead. Seattle is a 1.5-point road favorite in this matchup.
San Francisco 49ers playoff clinching scenarios
The 49ers have a simple clinching scenario. If they beat the Seahawks, they will win the NFC West and claim the No. 1 seed in the NFC. If they tie or lose to the Seahawks, they will enter the 2026 NFL Playoffs as a wild card team. If the 49ers lose and the Rams beat the Cardinals on Sunday, San Francisco would be the No. 6 seed. If the 49ers and Rams both lose in Week 18, San Francisco would be the No. 5 seed.
NFC standings entering Week 18
Here are the full NFC standings ahead of the weekend:
- Seattle Seahawks (13-3) - x
- Chicago Bears (11-5) - xy
- Philadelphia Eagles (11-5) - xy
- Carolina Panthers (8-8)
- San Francisco 49ers (12-4) - x
- Los Angeles Rams (11-5) - x
- Green Bay Packers (9-6-1) - x
- Minnesota Vikings (8-8) - e
- Detroit Lions (8-8) - e
- Dallas Cowboys (7-8-1) - e
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-9)
- Atlanta Falcons (7-9) - e
- New Orleans Saints (6-10) - e
- Washington Commanders (4-12) - e
- Arizona Cardinals (3-13) - e
- New York Giants (3-13) - e
x - Team has clinched a playoff spot
y - Team has clinched their division title
e - Team has been eliminated from playoff contention
NFC South standings entering Week 18
Here are the full NFC West standings:
- Seattle Seahawks: 13-3 - x
- San Francisco 49ers: 12-4 - x
- Los Angeles Rams: 11-5 - x
- Arizona Cardinals: 3-13 - e
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