The 49ers clung to hope amid a tumultuous season, but it all came to an end in Week 16.
San Francisco needed a win and some help to keep itself in playoff contention for one more week. A tense day for an organization that entered the year with Super Bowl expectations.
MORE: Updated NFL playoff picture for Week 16
In many ways, it feels like this just might not be the 49ers’ year. Injuries have affected both sides of the ball, and a touchdown-less performance against the Rams in Week 15 left the team with a distant path to the playoffs. After the Rams’ Week 16 win over the Jets, there is now officially no path to the postseason for San Francisco.
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49ers playoff picture
NFC West standings
| Rank | Team | Record |
| 1 | Rams | 9-6 |
| 2 | Seahawks | 8-7 |
| 3 | Cardinals | 7-8 |
| 4 | 49ers | 6-9 |
The 49ers were formally eliminated from NFC West contention in Week 16 after L.A.’s win early in the afternoon. Falling to the Dolphins 29-17 later in the day only added insult to injury.
Their outlook was bleak heading into the weekend; San Francisco needed a win and losses by each of the other three NFC West rivals just to have a chance at surviving until Week 17.
Now, the 49ers front office is tasked with picking up the pieces to a season from hell for a San Francisco side that entered the year with Super Bowl aspirations.
NFC wild-card standings
| Seed | Team | Record |
| 5 | Vikings | 13-2 |
| 6 | Packers | 10-4 |
| 7 | Commanders | 10-5 |
| 8 | Buccaneers | 8-7 |
| 9 | Seahawks | 8-7 |
| 10 | Cowboys | 7-8 |
| 11 | Cardinals | 7-8 |
| 12 | 49ers | 6-9 |
| 13 | Saints | 5-9 |
| 14 | Bears | 4-11 |
| 15 | Panthers | 4-11 |
| 16 | Giants | 2-13 |
MORE NFL WEEK 16:
49ers remaining schedule
| Week | Date | Matchup | Time (ET) |
| 17 | Dec. 29 | vs. Lions | 8:15p |
| 18 | Jan. 5 | at Cardinals | TBD |
The 49ers host the Lions and Cardinals in their last two games of the season. The game will effectively serve as time for evaluation for general manager John Lynch and his fellow front office executives.
49ers updated playoff chances
With their defeat on Sunday evening, the 49ers are officially eliminated from postseason contention.
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