NFL Playoff Picture

How 49ers could clinch NFC's No. 1 playoff seed on Christmas Day

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NBC Universal, Inc. The “49ers Postgame Live” crew breaks down the NFC playoff picture after San Francisco’s 45-29 win over the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.

With this season's NFC West title already in hand, the 49ers could give themselves quite a Christmas gift -- the NFC's No. 1 playoff seed and home-field advantage through the conference championship game.

Should the Detroit Lions and the Dallas Cowboys both lose on Christmas Eve, and the 10-4 Philadelphia Eagles fall to the New York Giants on Christmas Day, the 11-3 49ers would enter their Christmas Night showdown with the 11-3 Baltimore Ravens at Levi's Stadium needing a win to claim the NFC prize.

The Cowboys (10-4) are coming off a 31-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills and will head to Miami to face an explosive Dolphins team that's vying for the AFC's top playoff seed and is coached by former 49ers offensive coordinator Mike McDaniel.

The Lions (10-4) will travel to Minnesota for an NFC North clash with a scrappy Vikings team quarterbacked by ex-49er Nick Mullens. After Mullens delivered some great performances in his extended run as San Francisco's starting QB in 2018, he again has the opportunity to endear himself to the Faithful by helping the 49ers secure the No. 1 seed.

The 49ers-Ravens game already had plenty of juice, with both teams sitting atop their respective conferences. Now the stakes are even higher and could set the course for San Francisco's Super Bowl march to Las Vegas.

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