The San Francisco 49ers are 10-4, and entering their Week 16 matchup against the Indianapolis Colts, they will have a chance to clinch a playoff spot.
While their specific seed won't be known until later in the season, with how tight the NFC West and Wild Card races are, San Francisco has a chance to punch their ticket to the playoffs this weekend.
According to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, there are three different ways that the 49ers can clinch the playoffs in Week 16. There are two simple scenarios, and one other stunning one that is nearly impossible. But, as things stand, the 49ers are a likely playoff team.
How 49ers can clinch NFC playoff berth in Week 16
Pelissero shares that if the 49ers beat the Colts with Philip Rivers on Monday Night Football, then they will have clinched a playoff berth with an 11-4 record.
But, even if the 49ers lose, there is still a simple path for the 49ers to make the playoffs. If the Detroit Lions lose to the Pittsburgh Steelers, then the 49ers will make the playoffs regardless of how their Week 16 matchup plays out.
What this means is that the 49ers could clinch a playoff berth before they even play their Week 16 game against the Colts, with the Lions' matchup coming on Sunday, a day before the 49ers' matchup.
If the 49ers lose and the Lions win, then San Francisco will have to wait a week to clinch once again.
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There is one other potential scenario that could bring the 49ers to the playoffs. It's so unlikely that it would be one of the most stunning ways to ever clinch the playoffs in NFL history.
If the 49ers tie with the Colts on Monday Night and the Lions tie the Steelers on Sunday, then the 49ers would clinch a playoff berth.
Such a scenario is incredibly unlikely, and while it's almost not worth mentioning, there is a non-zero chance that such a wild outcome happens. And if it does? The 49ers would still clinch a playoff berth.
The path for San Francisco is clear: win, and they're in. Or, if the Lions lose, then they're in. They're almost guaranteed to make the playoffs at this point, and the playoff scenarios outlined by Pelissero indicate as such.
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