The San Francisco 49ers suffered their biggest loss of the season, falling to their rival, the Los Angeles Rams, a team they had already beaten earlier in the year. The Rams dominated from start to finish in a 42-26 win, exposing a 49ers defense that had no answers for Matthew Stafford and the explosive passing attack.
Beyond the immediate impact of the defeat, which dropped San Francisco to third place in the division, the team’s playoff chances took a significant hit, especially after the Chicago Bears’ win this week.
What Are the 49ers’ Chances To Reach the Playoffs After Week 10?
The 49ers’ season has been even tougher than expected. Unlike in 2024, when things simply fell apart on the field, this year’s struggles stem from injuries that have left the defense depleted and without its key players, Fred Warner and Nick Bosa.
That reality was on full display against the Rams, who exposed the current weaknesses of San Francisco’s defense, particularly in the secondary. While their division rivals continue to roll, the 49ers are hanging their hopes on the return of players like Ricky Pearsall and Brock Purdy.
Before Week 10, San Francisco held a 73% chance of making the playoffs and sat in the NFC’s sixth seed. But after this week’s results, the 49ers dropped to eighth, overtaken by the Bears and the Detroit Lions, both of whom won their matchups.
As a result, per PFSN’s Playoff Predictor, the 49ers’ playoff chances fell to 67.3%, a drop of 5.7 percentage points in just one week. Still, they remain slightly more likely to make the postseason than the Bears, who face a tougher schedule the rest of the way.
San Francisco’s upcoming opponents are the Arizona Cardinals, Carolina Panthers, Cleveland Browns, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, and Seattle Seahawks. The Bears, meanwhile, will face the Minnesota Vikings, Pittsburgh Steelers, Philadelphia Eagles, Green Bay Packers, Cleveland Browns, another matchup with the Packers, and the Detroit Lions.
Adding to the stakes, the two teams will meet in a potentially decisive Week 17 Sunday Night Football clash in San Francisco, a game that could define both teams’ playoff fates and have major implications across the NFC.
Until then, San Francisco hopes to have Purdy back next week and continues to work toward getting Pearsall back on offense, as both are seen as crucial pieces in determining how strongly the 49ers can compete moving forward.
