The San Francisco 49ers' Week 12 home showdown against the Carolina Panthers on Monday Night Football isn't what one might call a must-win game (anything but). However, it does carry huge implications for a Niners team still very much in the thick of the NFC West race.
At 7-4, and despite the Los Angeles Rams beating the Seattle Seahawks last Sunday, San Francisco is still in third place within the division and holding onto the No. 7 seed in the greater NFC playoff picture. With a 4-1 record within the NFC West, the 49ers currently hold some important tiebreakers over their divisional foes.