How the 49ers’ Week 13 loss to the Bills affects the NFC playoff picture

How 49ers’ Week 13 loss to Bills impacts NFC playoffs originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area

Another week, another brutal defeat for the 49ers as San Francisco’s playoff hopes now hang in the balance.

San Francisco’s 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night at Highmark Stadium drops the 49ers to 5-7, the team’s worst record in 13 weeks since 2020.

Without star players Trent Williams, Nick Bosa and Deommodore Lenoir, San Francisco’s injury fortunes continued to take a negative turn Sunday, as All-Pro running back Christian McCaffrey sat out the 49ers’ loss to the Bills with a first-half knee injury.

San Francisco entered Sunday’s matchup as the NFC’s No. 12 seed and stayed there despite the loss, which came via a head-to-head tiebreaker over the Dallas Cowboys.

Here’s where the NFC playoffs stand after 13 weeks.

1. Detroit Lions (11-1)

2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2)

3. Seattle Seahawks (7-5)

4. Atlanta Falcons (6-6)

5. Minesota Vikings (10-2)

6. Green Bay Packers (9-3)

7. Washington Commanders (8-5)

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8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-6)

9. Arizona Cardinals (6-6)

10. Los Angeles Rams (6-6)

11. San Francisco 49ers (5-7)

12. Dallas Cowboys (5-7)

13. New Orleans Saints (4-8)

14. Chicago Bears (4-8)

15. Carolina Panthers (3-9)

16. New York Giants (2-10)