San Francisco 49ers' George Odum (30) consoles teammate Brock Purdy (13) after being defeated by the Cincinnati Bengals during their NFL game at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif., on Sunday, Oct. 29, 2023. The Cincinnati Bengals defeated the San Francisco 49ers 31-17. (Jose Carlos Fajardo/Bay Area News Group)
The bye week was kind to the 49ers aside from getting the chance to rest up following a “slow and tired” performance against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 8.
At something approximating midseason (in a 17-game schedule), the 49ers moved back atop the NFC West when the Seattle Seahawks (5-3) were rolled by the Baltimore Ravens to a shocking degree.
They play the Seahawks head-to-head over a three-week span beginning with a Thanksgiving game. The 49ers visit AFC No. 3 seed Jacksonville (6-2) and then get Tampa Bay at home before heading to the Great Northwest.
And while Philadelphia (8-1) may look on the surface to be cruising to the NFC top seed and being home for the playoffs again, the Eagles haven’t exactly looked like world-beaters of late. They have a bye week, then are at Kansas City and then host Buffalo in consecutive weeks before their showdown against the 49ers on Dec. 3.
Let’s assume for a moment the 49ers look something closer to the team they were at 5-0 than the one that lost three straight after a week’s rest. It’s within their power to be playing in Philly in Week 13 with a chance to tie the Eagles in terms of win-loss record, thereby moving ahead of them for seeding purposes if they were to win head-to-head.
But before getting too far ahead of ourselves, here’s how the NFC is aligned in terms of seeing heading into Week 10:
1. Philadelphia (8-1): The Eagles are ranked 20th in the NFL in scoring defense (20.2) and have given up 721 yards passing to Sam Howell and Dak Prescott in their two games. Something else you rarely see from a team with an 8-1 record: a minus-2 turnover differential. That said, they can still get after the passer with 30 sacks and late pressure on Prescott helped snuff out Dallas’ last scoring opportunity.
Next three weeks: bye; at Kansas City (7-2), vs. Buffalo (5-4)
2. Detroit (6-2): Their Week 1 win over Kansas City is the only win that has come against a team that currently has a winning record. Their 38-6 beatdown loss to Baltimore on Oct. 22 doesn’t look nearly as bad considering what the Ravens just did to Seattle. Hard to see anyone from the NFC North challenging the Lions for division supremacy.
Next three weeks: at L.A. Chargers (3-4?), vs. Chicago (2-7), vs. Green Bay (3-5)
3. 49ers (5-3): The 49ers should be rested and healthy, although there was still no sign of left tackle Trent Williams (ankle) as practice resumed following the bye Monday. While middle linebacker Fred Warner wants a “grimy” win, the 49ers could alleviate a lot of concern among the fan base with the kind of statement game which came in Week 1 against Pittsburgh and Week 5 against Dallas.
Next three weeks: at Jacksonville (6-2), vs. Tampa Bay (3-5), at Seattle (5-3)
FIND 12
CBS pic.twitter.com/14bm1IpIuN
— New Orleans Saints (@Saints) November 5, 2023
4. New Orleans (5-4): I doubt Derek Carr smokes cigars, but if he does, I’m sure he lit one up in honor of his former teammates having rid themselves of coach Josh McDaniels. Argue all you want about the merits of Carr, but he’s probably the best quarterback in the NFC South considering his competition is Baker Mayfield (Bucs), Taylor Heinicke (Atlanta) and Bryce Young (Carolina).
Next three weeks: at Minnesota (5-4), bye, at Atlanta (4-5)
5. Seattle (5-3): Guess the acquisition of lineman Leonard Williams did little to shore up the Seahawks’ run defense after getting chewed up for 298 yards rushing in a blowout loss to John Harbaugh’s Baltimore Ravens. The 37-3 loss was the worst in the Pete Carroll era. The last time Carroll lost this bad to a Harbaugh was in 2009, Stanford beat USC 55-21 and went for two points with the game decided. That promoted Carroll to ask Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, “What’s your deal?”
Next three weeks: vs. Washington (4-5), vs. L.A. Rams (3-6), vs. 49ers (5-3)
6. Dallas (5-3): The Cowboys should by all rights be 8-3 after their next three games and they get a rematch with the Eagles in Texas on Dec. 10. They still look prone to the big mistake at the worst time, however, with 60 penalties in eight games.
Next three weeks: vs. N.Y. Giants (2-7), at Carolina (1-7), vs. Washington (4-5)
7. Minnesota (5-4): So Joshua Dobbs led the Vikings to victory after arriving during the week, having no practice snaps and not knowing the names of many of his teammates. A wild-eyed optimist would suggest even better things are on the horizon. More likely, the Vikings gradually fade into oblivion.
Next three weeks: vs. New Orleans (5-4), at Denver (3-5), vs. Chicago (2-7)
8. Washington (4-5): The Commanders sold off both Chase Young and Montez Sweat, seemingly throwing in the towel for the season. They remain competitive, however, coming off a win over New England and a three-point loss to Philadelphia. With a new owner, however, this is feeling like a do-over in terms of the Ron Rivera and Co. coaching staff.
Next three weeks: at Seattle (5-3), vs. N.Y. Giants (2-7), at Dallas (5-3)
9. Atlanta (4-5): Speaking over do-overs, another team just below .500 that isn’t going anywhere whether it’s Heinicke or Desmond Ridder at quarterback. If he doesn’t last beyond this season, coach Arthur Smith’s quarterbacks have been an end-of-the-line Matt Ryan, Marcus Mariota, Ridder and Heinecke in three seasons.
Next three weeks: at Arizona (1-8), bye, vs. New Orleans (5-4)
SCOPING THE AFC
My preseason Super Bowl LVIII matchup of the 49ers facing the Bengals for the third time isn’t looking nearly as ridiculous as it did a few weeks back with Joe Burrow having regained his form.
Unless the 49ers can look like something resembling the team that came out of the gate, the Bengals might even have a better shot at getting to the big game when all is said and done.
Of course, they must first navigate through the AFC North, where all four teams are currently in playoff position.
Current seeding for the postseason
1. Kansas City (7-2), 2. Baltimore (7-2), 3. Jacksonville (6-2), 4. Miami (6-3), 5. Pittsburgh (5-3), 6. Cleveland (5-3), 7. Cincinnati (5-3)
Outside looking in
8. Buffalo (5-4), 9. Houston (4-4), 10. L.A. Chargers (4-4), 11. N.Y. Jets (4-4). 12. Indianapolis (4-5), 13. Las Vegas (4-5)
Originally published at Jerry McDonald