Seahawks Playoff Update: What’s on the line in Week 18 vs 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers just made sure it’s all on the line in their big matchup with the Seattle Seahawks next week.

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With their win Sunday night over the Chicago Bears, the 49ers improved to 12-4 heading into next week’s regular season finale against the 13-3 Seahawks. That means San Francisco kept alive its hopes of winning the NFC West and NFC’s No. 1 seed to the postseason, which it would clinch with a win over Seattle.

But the Seahawks, who will be the only 13-win team in the NFC entering the final week of play, can do the same by beating the Niners.

Next week’s Seahawks-49ers game has been announced for a 5 p.m. Saturday kickoff. The TV broadcast will air on ABC, while the Seattle Sports radio broadcast will begin at 2 p.m. with the pregame show.

More: Time and TV set for Seahawks’ huge showdown vs. 49ers

While the Seahawks and 49ers would have even 13-4 records if San Francisco wins next Saturday, that would clinch a tiebreaker for the 49ers, who already own the head-to-head advantage over Seattle thanks to their 17-13 win over the Hawks back in Week 1.

San Francisco’s 42-38 win over Chicago on Sunday night took the NFC North-leading Bears (11-5) out of contention for the NFC’s top seed and the bye that comes with it in the playoffs.

NFL standings

There’s one other team that can tie for the best record in the division and conference: the Los Angeles Rams (11-4). But the Rams, who still have games against the Falcons (6-9) on Monday night and Arizona Cardinals (3-13) next week, cannot win a tiebreaker over either Seattle or San Francisco.

If San Francisco beats Seattle and all three teams finish with identical 13-4 records, the Niners would win the division and No. 1 seed over the Rams and Seahawks based on the second tiebreaker, which is in-division record. San Francisco would improve to 5-1 in NFC West games with a win over the Seahawks while Seattle would drop to 3-3, and the Rams could be no better than 4-2.

NFL tiebreaking procedures

If the Seahawks beat the 49ers next week, it not only would clinch it all for them but also give them 14 wins in a season for the first time in team history.

More on the Seattle Seahawks

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• Stacy Rost: Three things to know after Seahawks’ win over Panthers
• Shaheed among two Seattle Seahawks WRs injured vs. Panthers
• Seattle Seahawks cash in on defensive takeaways to beat Panthers

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