The win over the Arizona Cardinals could be a turning point in the San Francisco 49ers’ season. The team now enters a stretch of games considered more manageable, leading up to a decisive three-week finish. And with the Week 11 victory, their playoff chances have risen significantly.
San Francisco’s Playoff Chances Skyrocket in Week 11
San Francisco’s win on Sunday was a relief for many fans and a sign that there is still hope for this team to compete for something this season. Of course, with all the defensive injuries the team has been dealing with, the offense needed to respond, and it did.
The 41 points scored were a season high and reflected Brock Purdy’s impact when he is at least somewhat healthy. Even still, clearly affected by the early-season foot injury and lacking his usual mobility, the offense ran with far more rhythm under his command.
The biggest beneficiary was George Kittle, who has always had strong chemistry with Purdy since the quarterback entered the NFL in 2022. The tight end now has five touchdowns on the year, three of them from Purdy, including two in the Week 11 win over Arizona.
We get to witness CMC 🤯 pic.twitter.com/6dvZVmkGaz
— San Francisco 49ers (@49ers) November 17, 2025
Christian McCaffrey also delivered a huge performance, scoring three touchdowns along with 121 total yards. For the first time, the offense resembled the unit that dominated the NFC in 2023, although the level of competition needs to be considered.
The win put the 49ers back in the playoff picture, currently holding the seventh seed, and their playoff chances rose by 11.9 percent compared to Week 10. San Francisco now has the eighth-best odds to make the postseason at 80.6 percent, according to the PFSN Football Playoff Meter.
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The 49ers’ final six games of the season will be against the Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, Chicago Bears, and a season finale at home against the Seattle Seahawks. If they win their next three matchups, they would sit at 10-4 heading into the closing stretch, well-positioned for a playoff push.
Plus, the team secured a winning record within the division, collecting four victories against NFC West opponents. With a sweep of the Cardinals and wins over the Rams and Seahawks, their chances of clinching a postseason spot grow even stronger.
