When the 49ers got crushed by the Ravens on Christmas night, it seemed like the battle for the NFC’s No. 1 seed would last to Week 18. But in perhaps the most improbable fashion, the 49ers will have the top spot locked up before the calendar flips to 2024, thanks to … the Arizona Cardinals?
It was the Niners’ NFC West rivals who helped seal the top spot and a wild card weekend bye for San Francisco on Sunday, as the Cardinals went into Philadelphia and stunned the Eagles, 35-31. It meant that the 49ers’ 27-10 win over the Commanders, which was locked up about 20 minutes prior to the end of the game in Philly, officially clinched the 49ers both the top spot in the NFC and home field advantage through to the Super Bowl.