49ers' Rooting Guide for NFL Playoff Implications of Week 12

Week 12 already benefited the San Francisco 49ers' playoff position.

The 49ers opened up a two-game edge on the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC West with their Thursday night win in Seattle.

Kyle Shanahan's team moved into the No. 2 seed with the win thanks to the Detroit Lions' loss to the Green Bay Packers.

A perfect weekend could be topped off by a Philadelphia Eagles loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday afternoon.

That would bring the 49ers within one game of the NFC leader ahead of their head-to-head clash in Week 13.

Buffalo should be San Francisco's primary team to root for, but it can also cheer for the downfall of other potential NFC playoff teams in case it hits a rough patch in the final six weeks of the regular season.

Bills over Eagles

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ORCHARD PARK, NEW YORK - NOVEMBER 19: Josh Allen #17 of the Buffalo Bills drops back to pass in the first quarter against the New York Jets at Highmark Stadium on November 19, 2023 in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images)

The 49ers need the best version of Josh Allen and the Bills to show up at Lincoln Financial Field.

Philadelphia owns a 1.5-game lead over the 49ers and a loss to Buffalo would heighten the stakes of the top-of-the-NFC battle in Week 13.

The Eagles proved in their Week 11 win over the Kansas City Chiefs that they can beat anyone in the NFL, and they carry a better chance to win on Sunday because they are at home.

Buffalo might play with a bit of desperation since it enters Sunday on the outside of the AFC playoff positions.

The Bills sit at 6-5 and they could enter their Week 13 bye two games above .500 if they pull off the upset.

Stefon Diggs, Dalton Kincaid and Co. could wreak havoc on the soft Philadelphia secondary, but Allen must avoid turnovers and bad decisions to pull off the win.

Allen comes into Sunday with an interception in seven consecutive games.

Bears over Vikings

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DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 19: Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields (1) runs with the ball away from Detroit Lions linebacker Derrick Barnes (55) during an NFL football game between the Chicago Bears and the Detroit Lions on November 19, 2023 at Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

The 49ers only have the Eagles' result to worry about on Sunday in regards to the top of the AFC.

Detroit already lost on Thursday to the Green Bay Packers and the Dallas Cowboys, the top wild-card team, beat the Washington Commanders.

San Francisco would benefit from a Chicago Bears upset over the Minnesota Vikings on Monday night to provide a larger buffer from its spot atop the NFC West to the wild-card bubble.

Minnesota is currently two games behind the 49ers. An additional loss would open up a 2.5-game gap to seventh place.

San Francisco is not expected to drop that far in the standings, but in case it finds a rough patch of form, it should root for as big of a buffer as possible to be there.

Falcons over Saints

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GLENDALE, ARIZONA - NOVEMBER 12: Bijan Robinson #7 of the Atlanta Falcons runs the ball during the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on November 12, 2023 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Mike Christy/Getty Images)

The 49ers would love to see the NFC South leader under .500 after Week 12.

An Atlanta Falcons win over the New Orleans Saints would put the two teams level on record at 5-6.

That matters to the 49ers in the NFC's seeding competition.

The 49ers would basically be assured of landing a top-three spot in the NFC with a Saints defeat.

San Francisco would have a three-game lead on the NFC South leader and it is hard to find more than three losses left on their schedule.

The 49ers play Philadelphia, Baltimore and Seattle, but they also take on Washington, Arizona and the Los Angeles Rams in the final six weeks.

It is hard to imagine the NFC South leader producing a perfect record to catch up with the 49ers if they were to go 3-3 to end the regular season.