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The San Francisco 49ers defeated the Carolina Panthers in Week 12 to keep pace in the NFC West. The victory wasn’t flashy, but it reinforced their standing as a team capable of making noise in the playoffs.
Their path forward remains uncertain between a division title and a wild card, yet confidence surrounds their group heading into the final stretch.
Analyst Nick Wright recently sent a warning about the 49ers to the defending Super Bowl champions.
“If the Niners get in, they are likely getting in as the seven (seed). And the most likely second seed by a decent margin is [the Philadelphia Eagles]. I would not love that matchup if I’m Philadelphia. I feel like Kyle Shanahan is a great coach,” Wright said.
Are the 49ers a real threat in the NFC?
“I certainly would not want to play them.” — @getnickwright explains: pic.twitter.com/EeH1mTcXnT
— First Things First (@FTFonFS1) November 25, 2025
Wright pointed to Shanahan’s coaching ability and questioned whether Philadelphia’s Nick Sirianni has fully optimized his roster.
The host also credited 49ers defensive coordinator Robert Saleh for adjusting while managing injuries and building chemistry. Wright expects that unit will reach full synchronization by playoff time.
The 49ers trail the division-leading Los Angeles Rams and Seattle Seahawks despite defeating each of them once. San Francisco does have a Week 18 home game against the Seahawks remaining.
Los Angeles faces Seattle once and the Arizona Cardinals twice. A two-game swing could benefit San Francisco significantly in tiebreaker situations.
If the 49ers miss out on the division title, the wild card represents an alternative path. Their Week 13 opponent is the Cleveland Browns, an AFC team that is competitive at home despite their losing record.
San Francisco enters as the favorite, though Cleveland’s defense and previous home victory against the Green Bay Packers demonstrate the challenge ahead.
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