TL;DR
- 49ers beat Panthers 20-9, impacting NFC playoff standings and wild-card race.
- San Francisco solidified wild-card contention, surpassing Packers, but still trail Rams.
- Carolina's loss creates a gap in wild-card positioning, trailing Lions by two games.
- Both teams are likely playoff bound but probably will start on the road.
This week's edition of "Monday Night Football" was a compelling spectacle. A significant portion of the fascination stemmed not from the contest itself, but from its ramifications for the NFC standings.
Both the 49ers and Panthers experienced early wins, positioning themselves for the postseason. Nevertheless, their playoff berths weren't guaranteed, as the fluctuating league standings meant both teams were vying for a wild-card position heading into Week 12.
The game proved fairly unremarkable. San Francisco overcame Brock Purdy's turnovers to down Carolina, 20-9 as Christian McCaffrey sizzled in his first game against his long-time employers. The NFC standings were the entity most affected by the action, with the Niners and Panthers' positions in the league hierarchy becoming more clear following the game.
Here's a look at the NFC playoff standings upon the conclusion of the Week 12 slate of games.
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- Brock Purdy's struggles come to light after 3 INT first half vs. Panthers
- Updated Browns QB depth chart with Shedeur Sanders announced as starter
NFC playoff standings
| Position | Team | Record |
| 1 | Los Angeles Rams | 9-2 |
| 2 | Philadelphia Eagles | 8-3 |
| 3 | Chicago Bears | 8-3 |
| 4 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 6-5 |
| 5 | Seattle Seahawks | 8-3 |
| 6 | San Francisco 49ers | 8-4 |
| 7 | Green Bay Packers | 7-3-1 |
| 8 | Detroit Lions | 7-4 |
| 9 | Carolina Panthers | 6-6 |
| 10 | Dallas Cowboys | 5-5-1 |
| 11 | Atlanta Falcons | 4-7 |
| 12 | Minnesota Vikings | 4-7 |
| 13 | Arizona Cardinals | 3-8 |
| 14 | Washington Commanders | 3-8 |
| 15 | New Orleans Saints | 2-9 |
| 16 | New York Giants | 2-10 |
The Niners didn't get the help they needed to climb up the NFC West, with Seattle's win over the Titans ensuring San Francisco would remain third-place in their division regardless of their result.
However, the 49ers solidified their position in wild-card contention, surpassing the Packers after their victory against the Panthers. They are set to face Shedeur Sanders and the 3-8 Browns, a compelling prospect for a team just one game behind the No. 5 seed.
To catch the division and conference-leading Rams, San Francisco requires assistance. Should the season conclude now, the 49ers would face the Bears in Chicago during the wild-card round. However, this outcome could shift, as Chicago is only behind the No. 2-seeded Eagles due to a tiebreaker, and the Lions are merely one game behind the Bears.
Meanwhile, the Panthers approached Week 12 with an opportunity to claim sole leadership of the NFC South. Monday's outcome has created a gap between Carolina and a desirable wild-card position, as Detroit now leads Dave Canales' team by two games.
The divisional picture isn't quite as bleak. The Panthers trail the Buccaneers by just one game for the lead. These two NFC South rivals are scheduled to meet two more times before the regular season concludes, with matchups set for Week 16 and Week 18.
MORE NFL WEEK 12:
- Why Chiefs remain outside playoff picture even after beating Colts in OT
- How Steelers' loss, Ravens' win flips leaderboard in AFC North
- Lions, Bears, Packers all picks up wins to maintain pace in NFC North
- Jaxon Smith-Njigba breaks Seahawks' single-season receiving record in just 11 games
- Amon-Ra St. Browns trolls Giants with Victor Cruz salsa celebration
49ers remaining schedule
| Week | Opponent |
| 13 | at Browns |
| 14 | BYE |
| 15 | vs. Titans |
| 16 | at Colts (MNF) |
| 17 | vs. Bears (SNF) |
| 18 | vs. Seahawks |
The Niners are expected to get a break over the next few weeks. Their Week 14 bye is situated between games against Cleveland and Tennessee, clubs that have collectively secured four victories to date. They must aim for as many favorable outcomes as possible before their concluding three contests, all of which are against teams within one win of the top seed in their respective conferences.
The 49ers have only one divisional game left, a Week 18 matchup against Seattle, and they'll require favorable outcomes to surpass Los Angeles for the NFC West lead. Despite splitting their series with The Rams, the 49ers boast the best divisional record in the NFC West, though the Rams still have three divisional contests ahead.
This means San Francisco is well-positioned to secure another playoff spot. It's uncertain where Kyle Shanahan's squad will play when the postseason begins, though it appears probable, at this juncture of the season, that they'll begin their run away from home.
Panthers remaining schedule
| Week | Opponent |
| 13 | vs. Rams |
| 14 | BYE |
| 15 | at Saints |
| 16 | vs. Buccaneers |
| 17 | vs. Seahawks |
| 18 | at Buccaneers |
Things don't get much easier for the Panthers in Week 13. They'll lock horns with MVP favorite Matthew Stafford and the No. 1-seeded Rams away from home.
After their Week 14 bye, the Panthers are set to face two divisional rivals, New Orleans and Tampa Bay. Neither of these matchups is a sure win for Canales' team. The Panthers previously lost to the Saints in Week 10, scoring only seven points against a defense that ranks among the league's worst.
A Week 17 tilt against the Seahawks also could prove a trap game for a Carolina team that has some work to do if it wants to claim its first playoff berth since 2017. The Panthers will end their season against the Buccaneers. Only time will tell if that matchup will have serious stakes attached to it.