When you finish a division series this early in the season, it can have a significant impact on the playoff picture.
That was certainly the case on Sunday, when the 49ers won their eighth straight over the division-rival Rams, completing the sweep for 2022.
The postseason implications are massive. According to FiveThirtyEight, the 49ers entered Sunday with a 51% chance to make the playoffs, and now have a 72% chance, a 21% increase. The Rams, meanwhile, entered with a 44% chance, and now have just a 23% percent chance to make it to the postseason.
Beating the Rams twice basically means the 49ers have a game in hand on the Rams all year. Making matters worse for the Super Bowl champs is that they are also behind the Seattle Seahawks, who beat the upstart Giants on Sunday and at 5-3 are in first place in the NFC West. They have a 61% chance to make the playoffs according to FiveThirtyEight.
Here are the way too early NFC playoff odds. Chance to make playoffs in parenthesis:
- Eagles 7-0 (99%)
- Vikings 6-1 (96%)
- Seahawks 5-3 (61%)
- Falcons 4-4 (44%)
- Cowboys 6-2 (97%)
- Giants 6-2 (74%)
- 49ers 4-4 (72%)
- Commanders 4-4 (18%)
- Rams 3-4 (23%)
- Packers 3-4 (20%)
- Buccaneers 3-5 (44%)
- Cardinals 3-5 (15%)
- Saints 3-5 (22%)
- Bears 3-5 (9%)