NFC Playoff Picture: First-place San Francisco 49ers

The San Francisco 49ers are the top seed in the NFC After Week 5. Who would have thought?

The Philadelphia Eagles entered Week 5 undefeated at 4-0 but lost to the Denver Broncos, and because of tiebreakers, the 4-1 49ers move ahead of the Super Bowl champions into the top spot in the conference. That’s despite starting the backup QB starting for three weeks.

There are four teams at 4-1 in the NFC, but only one has four NFC wins and that is the 49ers. That is the first tiebreaker. The Eagles are 3-0 with the Buccaneers at 2-1 and the Lions 1-1 in the NFC.

In the NFC West, the 49ers also have three division wins and would have kept them in the top spot regardless of the Seattle Seahawks outcome. But Seattle lost in embarrassing fashion to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in a moral victory of the 49ers. The Seahawks and Rams are both 3-2 and a game back of the 49ers. The Arizona Cardinals’ inexplicable loss to the Tennessee Titans means they aren’t serious.

NFC Playoff Picture after Week 5

1. San Francisco 49ers (4-1, 4-0 NFC)
2. Philadelphia Eagles (4-1, 3-0 NFC)
3. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-1, 2-1 NFC)
4. Detroit Lions (4-1, 1-1 NFC)
5. Green Bay Packers (2-1-1)
6. Seattle Seahawks (3-2, 2-2 NFC)
7. Minnesota Vikings (3-2, 1-1 NFC)
8. Washington Commanders (3-2, 1-2 NFC)
9. Los Angeles Rams (3-2, 0-2 NFC)
10. Atlanta Falcons (2-2, 2-2 NFC)
11. Chicago Bears (2-2, 1-2 NFC)
12. Dallas Cowboys (2-2-1)
13. Arizona Cardinals (2-3, win over CAR)
14. Carolina Panthers (2-3, loss to ARZ)
15. New Orleans Saints (1-4, win over NYG)
16. Nw York Giants (1-4, loss to NO)