Don’t look now, but the Dallas Cowboys are the NFL’s hottest team
The Dallas Cowboys may be on of the NFL’s hottest teams, but can they make the playoffs? USA TODAY Sports’ Jarrett bell breaks it down.
Sports Pulse
In 2024, the San Francisco 49ers missed the playoffs and managed just six wins – the fewest in a season since 2020.
They were hoping for a bounce-back campaign in 2025 but once again injuries have taken their toll on the 49ers. Stars like Fred Warner and Nick Bosa didn’t make it to the halfway point of the regular season before suffering season-ending injuries. Quarterback Brock Purdy missed most of the year as well recovering from a toe injury and has looked shaky when on the field.
Yet San Francisco is in the mix for the postseason once again, thanks to a resurgent defense and a solid offense that’s navigated injuries as well.
San Francisco’s defense jumped from 29th in points allowed last year to 11th, even with Warner and Bosa out. On offense, running back Christian McCaffrey is the team’s steadying presence amid injuries to pass-catchers Jauan Jennings, George Kittle, Ricky Pearsall and Brandon Aiyuk.
The 2023 Offensive Player of the Year leads the team in receiving and rushing and is on pace to surpass 1,000 yards in both categories for the second time in his career.
The 49ers are still in contention despite both bad injury luck and the NFC West boasting two of the best teams in the league: Seattle and Los Angeles.
In Week 13, San Francisco is on the road to face the Cleveland Browns – a team that gave the 49ers trouble in their most recent game. Cleveland beat San Francisco 19-17 at home in 2023 during the 49ers’ run to the Super Bowl.
Here’s a look at the 49ers’ playoff chances, remaining schedule and overall NFC playoff picture:
49ers playoff odds
The 49ers have a 92% chance to make the playoffs after their win over the Browns in Cleveland, according to NFL Next Gen Stats.
San Francisco currently holds the No. 7 seed in the NFC playoff picture but entered Week 13 tied in the win column with both the Seahawks (No. 5 seed) and Green Bay Packers (No. 6). San Francisco has one more loss than both of those teams, though, thanks to its late bye in Week 14 this season.
Earning a prime-time win over the Carolina Panthers on “Monday Night Football” in Week 12 was crucial for the 49ers’ season. It broke the run of alternating wins and losses that dated back to Week 3.
Luckily, San Francisco’s played more conference games than most other NFC teams entering Week 13. Their eight conference wins are the most in the NFL regardless of what happens on Sunday.
They play just two NFC games the rest of the way and have stockpiled enough conference wins to help in the case of tiebreakers to make sure they’re back in the postseason after missing out in 2024.
49ers remaining schedule
San Francisco has one of the toughest remaining schedules in the league. Despite entering the year with the easiest strength of schedules by 2024 win-loss records, the 49ers have the 12th-hardest remaining slate in the NFL, per Tankathon.
Here’s San Francisco’s remaining opponents:
NFC West standings
The 49ers are third in the NFC West standings in another year of dominant play by the division. Seattle and Los Angeles look like two of the best teams in the NFL. San Francisco has a win against both of them, though, and is well within reach of the NFC West title with six weeks left in the regular season.
Here’s how the standings look entering Week 13:
- Los Angeles Rams (9-3, 2-1 NFC West)
- Seattle Seahawks (8-3, 2-2)
- San Francisco 49ers (8-4, 4-1)
- Arizona Cardinals (3-9, 0-4)
NFC playoff picture
It’s a tight race for the top seeds in the NFC playoff bracket and even more so for the wild-card seeds. The reigning No. 1 seed Detroit Lions are on the outside looking in after a loss on Thanksgiving dropped them to 7-5, a game behind the 49ers for the final playoff spot. Here’s how the full field looks midway through Week 13:
- Chicago Bears (9-3; NFC North leaders)
- Los Angeles Rams (9-3; NFC West leaders)
- Philadelphia Eagles (8-4; NFC East leaders)
- Tampa Bay Buccaneers (7-5; NFC South leaders)
- Seattle Seahawks (8-3, wild card No. 1)
- Green Bay Packers (8-3-1, wild card No. 2)
- San Francisco 49ers (9-4, wild card No. 3)
In the hunt: Detroit Lions (7-5); Dallas Cowboys (6-5-1); Carolina Panthers (7-6); Minnesota Vikings (4-7); Atlanta Falcons (4-8); Washington Commanders (3-8)
Eliminated: Arizona Cardinals (3-9), New Orleans Saints (2-10), New York Giants (2-10)
