In the light of recent developments, maybe it was just too cruel Monday to ask coach Kyle Shanahan about the 49ers’ chances at the postseason.
The 49ers were coming off a 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills, and Shanahan was doing his weekly conference call with the media that covers the team.
Shanahan quickly delivered the latest bad football news — that running back Christian McCaffrey was going on injured reserve, that leading rusher Jordan Mason was likely to join him, that defensive lineman Kevin Givens would go on I.R. as well.
The news was much, much worse in real life, where it was learned 49ers left tackle Trent Williams and his wife, Sondra, had a stillborn son on Nov. 24 and had lost a twin daughter at an earlier point in the pregnancy.
Shanahan’s voice appeared to crack as he was asked about it, the kind of emotion that has nothing to do with a pair of one-sided road losses that left his team at 5-7. The 49ers have experienced the kind of emotional pain that goes far beyond wins and losses, with cornerback Charvarius Ward and his wife losing a daughter on Oct. 28.
Ricky Pearsall Jr., the 49ers first-round draft pick, was shot through the chest on Aug. 31 in a robbery attempt. Miraculously, that story didn’t have a devastating ending as Pearsall survived and actually got back on the field.
With all that as a backdrop, the questions posed to Shanahan were routine other than the real tragedy. Lots of health updates and even some potential return to the field such as Deommodore Lenoir and Talanoa Hufanga. The status of defensive coordinator Nick Sorensen. Why Joshua Dobbs and not Brandon Allen was the backup quarterback against Denver.
But not a single query about the 49ers’ postseason chances, even though players vowed to move forward with their “goals” still intact following the Buffalo loss.
The 49ers host the Chicago Bears Sunday at Levi’s Stadium, a team that’s 4-8 but only a game behind the 49ers in terms of NFC seeding.
ESPN forecast the 49ers as having an 8 percent chance of making the playoffs, a 7 percent chance of winning the division and less than 1 percent chance of earning a bye and returning to a Super Bowl. They’re currently seeded 11th in the NFC with seven teams making the playoffs.
Yet the 49ers play in the NFC West, and are two games back with five games to play. They’ve already split with the Seahawks, which is in first place, and are a game back of the Cardinals and Rams, both of whom are left on the schedule.
Here’s a look at the rest of the NFC West heading into Week 14:
Seattle (7-5): The Seahawks are the frontrunners with Arizona faltering against Minnesota. Defensive lineman Leonard Williams’ 92-yard interception return ignited a comeback from a 21-7 deficit to beat the New York Jets. Losses in Vikings, Packers gauntlet could bring them to 49ers’ level.
Remaining games: at Arizona (6-6), vs. Green Bay (9-3), vs. Minnesota (10-2), at Chicago (4-8), at L.A. Rams (6-6).
Arizona (6-6): The Cardinals let a 19-6 lead slip away against the Vikings as well as the lead in the NFC West. The defense gave up a 70-yard, eight-play drive in the final two minutes.
Remaining games: vs. Seattle (7-5), vs. New England (3-9), at Carolina (3-9), at L.A. Rams (6-6), vs. 49ers (5-7).
L.A. Rams (6-6): Matthew Stafford’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Puka Nacua gave the Rams a 21-14 road win at New Orleans. The Rams visit Levi’s Stadium on a Thursday night in Week 15.
Remaining games: vs. Buffalo (10-2), at 49ers (5-7), at N.Y. Jets (3-9), vs. Arizona (6-6), vs. Seattle (7-5).
The biggest challenge for the 49ers, based on their play of late and the latest injury issues, will be be closing strong enough to make their own division interesting.
Quarterback Matthew Stafford and the Rams visit Levi’s Stadium on Thursday night, Dec. 12. A.P. Photo
Here’s how the regular season finishes for the 49ers:
vs. Chicago (4-8): The 49ers gave the top-seeded Lions a tussle on Thanksgiving and even had a chance to tie, but butchered the clock. Coach Matt Eberflus was fired, Thomas Jones is taking over, possibly giving the Bears a spark.
vs. L.A. Rams (6-6): The Rams either will be hopeful of postseason possibilities after beating Buffalo or waiting to be put out of their misery against the 49ers.
at Miami (5-7): With Jets and Texans up next, the Dolphins hope to be at .500 when Mike McDaniel gets is second shot at Kyle Shanahan.
vs. Detroit (11-1): With Philadelphia also vying for the top seed, the Lions would love nothing better than to apply the finishing touch to the 49ers after last year’s NFC Championship Game defeat at Levi’s Stadium.
at Arizona (6-6): Could be huge for the Cardinals or simply finishing out the season. Arizona ends with the Rams and 49ers and also faces Seattle.
NFC playoff seedings through Week 13:
1. Detroit (11-1): Cal product Jared Goff remains in the Most Valuable Player race but one of his top competitors is . . .
2. Philadelphia (10-2): . . . the Eagles’ Saquon Barkley, who is vying to be the first running back to win the award since 2012.
3. Seattle (7-5): Aside from Williams’ 92-yard interception return, he finished with two sacks and a blocked extra-point attempt. The Seahawks are doing it with mirrors, but in position for a playoff home opener.
4. Atlanta (6-6): The Falcons look to be on the fade. Quarterback Kirk Cousins had four interceptions in a loss to the Rams including a horribly telegraphed pick six.
5. Minnesota (10-2): When the Cardinals got conservative and went for a short field goal attempt against Arizona, Sam Darnold made them pay with a game-winning 70-yard touchdown drive and a 23-22 win.
6. Green Bay (9-3): The Packers have already equaled last season’s win total (which earned them a playoff berth) and still get to visit the Vikings in Week 17.
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7. Washington (8-5): Haven’t made the playoffs since 2020, when 7-9 was good enough. Last time Washington made the postseason with a winning record was 9-7 in 2015. Both were first-round exits.
Others: 8. Tampa Bay (6-6), 9. Arizona (6-6), 10. L.A. Rams (6-6), 11. 49ers (5-7), 12. Dallas (5-7), 13. New Orleans (4-8), 14. Chicago (4-8), 15. Carolina (3-9), 16. N.Y. Giants 2-10.