How 49ers Loss Impacts Lions Playoff Seeding

The Lions have a path to the NFC No. 1 seed.

With two games remaining in the 2023 regular season, the Detroit Lions are in a tie for the NFC's best record. 

Three teams, including the Lions, San Francisco 49ers and Philadelphia Eagles possess 11-4 records through 15 games. As it stands, the 49ers hold the tiebreaker for the top seed based on their record amongst NFC opponents. 

The 49ers dropped to 11-4 with a 33-19 loss to the Baltimore Ravens Monday night. As a result, the race for the No. 1 seed has evened entering Week 17. 

The Dallas Cowboys aren't out of the race yet, sitting just a game behind the trio with a 10-5 record. A Week 17 matchup between Detroit and Dallas will be massive for playoff seeding, as the Lions could take the top seed with a win and losses by the Eagles and 49ers Sunday. 

Meanwhile, Dallas is a game behind Philadelphia for the NFC East lead and a win against Detroit would keep pressure on the Eagles to win.  

There's still a path to the top seed for the Lions, but it will require help. Winning out ensures the best possibility, and both the 49ers and Eagles would have to lose one of their final two games. 

Entering Week 17, the 49ers hold the top NFC seed, while the Eagles rank second and the Lions are third. Tampa Bay, leaders of the NFC South, round out the division leaders as the fourth seed. 

The wild card spots belong to Dallas, the Los Angeles Rams and the Seattle Seahawks, respectively. 

Detroit cannot finish lower than the No. 3 seed. 

Should the Lions secure the No. 2 seed, Dan Campbell's squad could host their second playoff game at Ford Field, should they defeat their first round playoff opponent. 

Here's a look at the remaining schedule for each of the contenders for the NFC's No. 1 seed, in order of their current playoff seeding.

San Francisco 49ers

• Week 17 -- at Washington Commanders (Sunday, 1:00 p.m.)
• Week 18 -- vs. Los Angeles Rams`(Sunday, Jan. 7, TBD)

Philadelphia Eagles

• Week 17 -- vs. Arizona Cardinals (Sunday, 1:00 p.m.)
• Week 18 -- at New York Giants (Sunday, Jan. 7, TBD)

Detroit Lions

• Week 17 -- at Dallas Cowboys (Saturday, 8:15 p.m.)
• Week 18 -- vs. Minnesota Vikings (Sunday, Jan. 7, TBD)

NFC playoff standings

1.) 49ers (11-4)

2.) Eagles (11-4)

3.) Lions (11-4)

4.) Buccaneers (8-7) 

5.) Cowboys (10-5)

6.) Rams (8-7)

7.) Seahawks (8-7)