Path to Super Bowl LX: If 49ers aren’t in it, what are the best possible matchups?
Face it: The 49ers as currently constituted are unlikely to host Super Bowl LX.
Their best shot was earning the top seed and a bye, giving them one less game with none on the road. It’s not happening after the Seattle Seahawks used superior athleticism and blunt force in a 13-3 win in the regular season finale at Levi’s Stadium.
The fantasy of the 49ers actually hoisting their sixth Lombardi Trophy on their home field in the same year that Nick Bosa, Fred Warner, Brock Purdy and George Kittle missed considerable time and Brandon Aiyuk somehow became so disgruntled he went AWOL is just that.
Fantasy.
Who are we kidding? They had 20 sacks and six interceptions in 17 games. They’re embracing doing things the “hard way” but at this point it looks closer to impossible than improbable.
If the 49ers prove everyone wrong, then it doesn’t really matter who they play in Super Bowl LX. My preseason guess, for what it’s worth (which is nothing), was the 49ers against the Buffalo Bills.
Most likely, the 49ers are not capable of winning three times to get that far and will end the season disappointed but secure in the knowledge they won 12 games with a severely compromised roster.
That being the case, these look like the best possible matchups for Feb. 8, with expected contenders such as Kansas City, Baltimore and Detroit having fallen by the wayside:
1. Seattle vs. Denver
It would have to be more competitive than the 43-8 beating the Seahawks put on the Broncos in Super Bowl LVIII in New Jersey. As much as NFL rules cater to the offense, these teams have ascended to the top seeds based on their defense. Would love to see Dre Greenlaw get another shot at a Super Bowl after the heartbreak and torn Achilles in Las Vegas.
2. L.A. Rams vs. New England
Remember that 13-3 snoozefest won by the Patriots in Super Bowl LIII? Sean McVay certainly does. It started the seeds of discontent with Jared Goff, which eventually led to a trade for Matthew Stafford. If the Patriots make it, then quarterback Drake Maye is for real as one of the NFL’s top quarterbacks.
3. Chicago vs. Jacksonville
Two first-year cutting-edge coaches in Ben Johnson and Liam Coen and quarterbacks looking to make their mark in Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence. Having a blue-blood franchise like Chicago back in the mix is always a good thing and a stark contrast with the Jaguars, who have never been to a Super Bowl.
4. Philadelphia vs. Buffalo
Despite the Eagles’ record, it’s been a struggle and the fan base that’s so annoyed with them will cheer wildly again for Nick Sirianni and Co. The Buffalo Mafia, by contrast, loves its team win or lose — even through four Super Bowl losses under Marv Levy. Josh Allen gives Buffalo a chance to conquer Everest.
5. Green Bay vs. L.A. Chargers
Just keep the Packers away from the 49ers in the postseason and maybe something good will happen even without Micah Parsons. As for the Chargers, how can a week’s worth of Jim Harbaugh press conferences be a bad thing? Pairing the two No. 7 seeds in a Super Bowl would be nirvana for the competitive balance-conscious NFL.
Matthew Stafford (9) and the Rams are seeded No. 5 but are legitimate Super Bowl contenders.
NFC matchups
Bye: No. 1 Seattle (14-3)
With a week off, the best defense in the conference, a complementary offense and home-field advantage, the Seahawks are the clear-cut favorite to make it to Levi’s Stadium on Feb. 8.
No. 7 Green Bay (9-7-1) at No. 2 Chicago (11-6), Saturday, 5 p.m. (Prime)
Each team has won at home, setting up a rubber match. The Packers staggered to the finish with a four-game losing streak but will have quarterback Jordan Love (concussion) back. The Bears are leaky enough on defense that Green Bay could make this a game but have overcome it with a plus-22 turnover differential.
No. 6 49ers (12-5) at No. 3 Philadelphia (11-6), Sunday, 1:30 p.m. (Fox)
Both teams want to be run-oriented and both struggled to run the ball consistently in 2025. Quarterbacks Brock Purdy and Jalen Hurts have outstanding pedigrees and produced in Super Bowls yet still have their detractors nationwide and within the fan base. The Eagles defense is much more formidable than the 49ers’ defense.
No. 5 L.A. Rams (12-5) at No. 4 Carolina (8-9), Saturday, 1:30 p.m. (Fox)
Twelve wins is pretty good, but the Rams probably should have done better with their roster talent. Carolina has no business hosting a playoff game with a post.-500 record and the sooner the NFL realizes that, the better. A division title shouldn’t ensure a home game for an 8-9 team.
AFC matchups
Bye: No. 1 Denver (14-3)
The Broncos are giving up less than 300 yards and 18.3 points per game and lead the NFL with 68 sacks, 11 more than any other team. Strange though that Atlanta (57), Cleveland (53), Detroit (49) and Minnesota (49) didn’t make the playoffs at all.
No. 7 L.A. Chargers (11-6) at No. 2 New England (14-3), Sunday, 5 p.m. (NBC)
Quarterback Justin Herbert absorbed 53 sacks and could sue for non-support. So of course he sat in Week 18. Their last two playoff exits were ugly — 32-12 to Houston last season and a 31-30 loss to Jacksonville in 2022 in a game they led 27-7 at halftime. The Patriots have their share of doubters because of a perceived weak schedule.
No. 6 Buffalo (12-5) at No. 3 Jacksonville (13-4), Sunday, 10 a.m. (CBS)
Without the Chiefs around to ruin their postseason, could Josh Allen and Co. thrive in the postseason? They’ve got the NFL’s leading rusher in James Cook (1,621 yards) but a Jekyll-Hyde defense that can be good or very bad depending on the week. Former 49er Arik Armstead already had one homecoming win at Levi’s this season in Week 4.
No. 5 Houston (12-5) at No. 4 Pittsburgh (10-7), Monday, 5 p.m. (ESPN/ABC)
If the Texans can adequately protect quarterback C.J. Stroud, their defense makes them one of the most dangerous opponents in the playoff field. The Steelers escaped with a 26-24 win over Baltimore when the Ravens’ Tyler Loop missed a 44-yard field goal at the gun. They’ve outscored opponents by 10 points all season with the 15th-ranked offense and 17th-ranked defense. Mediocre right down the line.