Fansided

5 NFL teams that must win in Week 17

By Mike Phillips

(Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images)
(Photo by Corey Perrine/Getty Images) /
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SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 21: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA – DECEMBER 21: George Kittle #85 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates after catching a touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams during the second half of an NFL football game at Levi’s Stadium on December 21, 2019 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

4. San Francisco 49ers

It’s only fitting that we go from one half of the NFC West title game to the other, shifting from the hosting Seahawks to the visiting 49ers. San Francisco bounced back from an ugly loss to Atlanta with a gritty win over the Rams, putting themselves in position to clinch the division and home field advantage with a win.

Thanks to victories over the New Orleans Saints and Green Bay Packers earlier this season, the 49ers hold all the cards in the NFC playoff picture. Beating Seattle would ensure that the road to Miami out of the NFC must go through Santa Clara, and the 49ers have proven to be a very good home team this season.

The lone stumbling block for the 49ers has been Seattle, which ended San Francisco’s undefeated season with an overtime victory at the gun at Levi’s Stadium on Monday Night Football earlier this year. If the Seahawks complete a season sweep of the 49ers, they would clinch the division title, dumping San Francisco into the No. 5 seed.

That wild card spot would not only mean an extra week of football for the 49ers, but also a flight across the country to take on the Philadelphia Eagles if form held true. The Eagles are a very banged up football team, but the core of the Super Bowl LII champions is still intact and they will be a dangerous out in front of their hometown fans.

San Francisco doesn’t need that aggravation, and they have less playoff experience than Seattle, leaving them more vulnerable to the upset. Taking care of business at CenturyLink Field is imperative for the 49ers.

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