What do the 49ers need to make the playoffs? San Francisco's Week 15 scenarios explored

Following three consecutive losses, the San Francisco 49ers' convincing 38-13 victory over the Chicago Bears on Sunday finally made them appear like the competitors fans expected them to be this season.

With only six wins and four games remaining, the Niners are only clinging to a slim possibility of securing a wild card slot.

Ultimately, the 49ers' season will be defined by the results of their next four games against the LA Rams, Miami Dolphins, Detroit Lions and Arizona Cardinals.

Looking to predict NFL playoff Scenarios? Try our NFL Playoff Predictor for real-time simulations and stay ahead of the game!

49ers playoff scenarios after going 6-7

Even after defeating the Chicago Bears on Sunday, the San Francisco 49ers are still in last place in the NFC West after the Seattle Seahawks, who are in first place, took care of business against the Arizona Cardinals and the LA Rams defeated the Buffalo Bills.

Given that they have already suffered three division losses this season, it's difficult to have any head-to-head tiebreaker advantage in the jammed NFC West. The Niners need to win each of their final four games to earn a spot in the playoffs for the fourth consecutive season. Should they achieve that, they will still need assistance from other teams to qualify.

The 49ers need to pass the 8-5 Washington Commanders, who hold the final NFC playoff slot, to secure a wild card berth.

For that to happen, the Commanders must lose two of their next four games against the New Orleans Saints, Philadelphia Eagles, Atlanta Falcons and Dallas Cowboys. While that seems unlikely, it is possible.

San Francisco has little influence over its fate and needs assistance from its NFC competitors to preserve its chances of making the playoffs.

San Francisco 49ers' playoff scenario explored

Sportskeeda's Playoff Predictor doesn't fancy the San Francisco 49ers' chances of making the playoffs this season, as the tool predicts that they will only win one of its remaining four games and finish with a 7-10 record.

That record will see the Niners finish 11th in the NFC and fourth in the NFC West. If this scenario plays out, it would be a disappointing season for San Francisco, a team that was tipped by many at the start of the season to make another Super Bowl run.

About the author

Habib Timileyin has been an NFL journalist at Sportskeeda for 2 years. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in English, and found himself drawn to the NFL about a decade ago.

Habib's favorite team is the Cincinnati Bengals and he particularly enjoyed their run to the Super Bowl in the 2021 season. The 2016 Super Bowl between the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots is his most favorite of all time, and if given a chance to go back in time, he would love to witness the Patroits’ incredible comeback from being 28-3 down to winning 34-28.

Habib admires Tom Brady for his journey from being in a low draft position to achieving immense success in the game. His favorite coach of all time is Bill Belichick.

Habib likes to study intricate details of a story before reporting on it, and compares information among several reputable sources to ensure accuracy. When he's not writing about the NFL, Habib is likely watching Soccer, Basketball or enjoying a good movie on sports.

Know More

49ers Fans! Check out the latest San Francisco 49ers Schedule and dive into the 49ers Depth Chart for NFL Season 2024-25.

Edited by Victor Ramon Galvez