49ers As First 7-9 Playoff Team?

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/spor...oost-Playoff-Hopes-vs-Seahawks-111699729.html

49ers As First 7-9 Playoff Team?

If they beat Seattle Sunday at the 'Stick, 49ers have a good shot at playoffs

By JOE KUKURA

Updated 6:45 AM PST, Sat, Dec 11, 2010




As the San Francisco 49ers prepare to face off against the Seattle Seahawks Sunday at Candlestick Park, it seems pretty outlandish to consider them a playoff team.
It is even more outlandish to consider that they can still afford to lose another game, and would remain in the hunt for the NFC West title.
But that's the situation, as the 49ers prepare for their rematch with the 6-6 Seattle Seahawks. The Seahawks, who beat the 49ers 31-6 in Week 1, are tied with the St. Louis Rams for the NFC West lead.
The San Francisco Chronicle's Kevin Lynch breaks it down on the Chronicle's 49ers blog, explaining a hardly-ridiculous scenario in which the 49ers would be the first 7-9 team to make the NFL playoffs.
"The 49ers need to beat Seattle at home Sunday, and then go to St. Louis and win there and finally, defeat the Cardinals at home to finish the rest of the season 3-1," Lynch writes. "For the 49ers to go to the playoffs, only one mild upset will need to be pulled off, and that's the 49ers beating St. Louis in Missouri on the day after Christmas."
This scenario requires the Rams and the Seahawks to lose all of their remaining NFC games, and go no better than 1-3 the remainder of the season.
If the Rams, Seahawks, and 49ers all finish atop the division with equal 7-9 records, the 49ers would hold all of the tiebreakers and would be crowned winners of the NFC West.
Joe Kukura is a freelance writer who would be afraid to eat barbecued ribs that had been mailed from Texas.

Copyright NBC Local Media

First Published: Dec 10, 2010 4:43 PM PST

they are the uconn huskies of the nfl

seattle or st louie wins this.........niners not so much

I hope so. Sitting on a lot of props for them to win the division and for them to make the playoffs.

Well Alex Smith is getting his 14th chance to be the "franchise QB" with his start today. What a waste of a pick. Its amazing that if a team whiffs at their #1 drafted QB, it will set the franchise back 5-6 years. 49ers have to trade for a QB to have any kind of chance to being a contender. I wonder if Kolb will be in the works?

dreadful division

1-10-SEA 42(12:41) A.Smith pass short middle to V.Davis for 42 yards, TOUCHDOWN. Penalty on SEA-C.Terrill, Defensive Offside, declined. Caught at SEA 29.




7-0 NINERS they are trying hard today.....

Dominating today. Alex Smith isn't the reason though. David Carr would have this lead put up with all the Seattle mistakes. Probably even more lopsided.

http://www.mercurynews.com/sports-headlines/ci_16838227

Mark Purdy: San Francisco 49ers' playoff window closing fast

By Mark Purdy
Mercury News columnist

Posted: 12/11/2010 10:21:32 PM PST
Updated: 12/11/2010 11:32:39 PM PST




As the 49ers' practice concluded in Santa Clara, players gathered around coach Mike Singletary at midfield for a little talk. As usual, he was out of earshot from reporters on the sideline. But at times this season, Singletary's voice has been loud enough and emotional enough to be heard in Alviso.
This wasn't one of those times. With the 49ers in such dire shape -- losing to Seattle today at Candlestick Park means playoff elimination -- Singletary knows there is no need for much heavy motivational lifting.
"They absolutely know what's at stake," Singletary said last week. "You know, it's a division game and it gives us the opportunity to stay in the hunt. That's all you can ask for."
For sure. Although to be truthful, back in September, 49ers fans asked for a lot more. A whole lot more.
In the NFL, to reach the postseason, it isn't always enough for a team to be good. Opposing teams in the same division also need to be bad or mediocre.
When the 2010 season began, a window was open for the 49ers, a window large enough for the entire offensive line to charge through. While driving a fleet of Greyhound buses. On top of an aircraft carrier.
The window was open because, while the rest of the NFC West was seemingly scrambled and struggling, the 49ers were seemingly ascending. They didn't need to be that good to win the division and earn a playoff spot.
But now, before the 49ers have even been able to get their pinkies through the window, the window is on the verge of shutting. And it might remain shut for a while. And that is what makes today's game so crucial, melancholy, maddening, ridiculous, energizing, stupid and remarkable. All at the same time.

Because the funny thing is, even after all that's gone down with the 49ers and their rotten 4-8 record, the original open-window premise holds true. Take a look around:

The Arizona Cardinals were expected to struggle mightily with the departure of quarterback Kurt Warner. And they have. Even when their players are not giggling on the bench.

The St. Louis Rams were expected to be up and down while rebuilding under rookie quarterback Sam Bradford. And that's been the case. They have a 6-6 record and are underdogs today in New Orleans.

The Seattle Seahawks were expected to have their own problems with a question-mark roster as they adjusted to new coach Pete Carroll. And that's exactly what has happened. Seattle has lost four of its past six games and also is at 6-6.
So here we are, the second weekend in December, and the open window still exists for the 49ers. It is a no-margin-for-error window. But it's there. Four straight victories will all but ensure a division title for the 49ers. Three victories in four games might.
"We have to go in with a must-win attitude," tight end Vernon Davis said of today's game. "Because that's all we've got."
We are going to get a final verdict on Singletary and his players over the next few weeks, starting today. Particularly after the stink bomb they laid in Green Bay last week, it strains credibility to think they could pull it off.
Keep in mind, however, that Singletary owes his 49ers existence to his winning December record. After becoming coach with nine games left in the 2008 season, he won four of the last five games to earn the permanent head-coaching job. In 2009 after a midseason slump caused grumbles, Singletary won three of the last four to finish 8-8.
None of that means anything today against Seattle. But it's essentially an all-or-nothing proposition. If the 49ers don't play their best game of the season, there will be no wondering about their collective character. Because it will show they have none. Next season and beyond, the window will not be open this wide, what with St. Louis and Seattle on the upswing. If the 49ers don't close out December in a big way, you get the feeling we are in for a bloody and massive offseason shake-up, involving players and coaches alike.
So how will Singletary handle his pregame speech today? If he is smart, by saying very little, as he did the other day at practice. There are signs that the team is suffering from Singletary Fatigue, anyway. He seems to persist in the belief that his passionate words can bring the team to a maximum emotional peak every week. The performance shows otherwise.
Which is why this week, Singletary should just back off and make the following brief speech before kickoff: "Gentlemen, the window is closing. And if you get caught outside when it shuts on your fingers today, I can't help you. We'll be freezing together all winter. And some of us will be in the unemployment line."
It's the most wonderful time of the year, except today at Candlestick, where it should be the most desperate. Let's see if the 49ers agree.

Yeah and they beat Atlanta in Atlanta.

Teams will be scared if Niners make the playoffs.

Penugins13 said:

Yeah and they beat Atlanta in Atlanta.

Teams will be scared if Niners make the playoffs.

Click to expand...

Alex/Troy Smith scares NOBODY.

If they pull a miracle and get in, they will be one and done.

If you have a losing record during the season, you shouldn't be in the playoffs...

Wildcat Coach said:

Alex/Troy Smith scares NOBODY.

If they pull a miracle and get in, they will be one and done.

Click to expand...

All the teams in the nfc are frauds and can be beaten.

Sure they will most likely lose but that's more because of home-field and not the amazing eagles/saints/falcons/etc.

You're comparing the 49ers to the Falcons, Saints, Eagles? Damn, I wish you were my bookie.