NFL San Francisco 49ers

San Francisco 49ers Drastically Improve Playoff Hopes With Win Over New Orleans Saints

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By @calling_allfans

Saints vs. 49ers

Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports

Both the New Orleans Saints and San Francisco 49ers came into their Week 10 matchup with 4-4 records, and both teams were dealing with injuries to key players. The 49ers entered the game leading the overall series with the Saints 47-25-2 and a record of 24-14-0 in the Superdome, but the Saints have been almost impossible to beat at home. Saints QB Drew Brees and head coach Sean Payton came into Sunday’s game looking to win their 12th consecutive game at home.

Teams with a 4-5 record reach the playoffs 13 percent of the time, but teams with a 5-4 record make the playoffs 49 percent of the time. That being said, the 49ers needed a win more based on the division in which they play. The Saints, who are currently leading the NFC South, could wind up winning the division with a record of 9-7 or possibly even 8-8 based on how the rest of that division is playing.

The 49ers, on the other hand, are currently in third place in the NFC West, trailing the Arizona Cardinals (7-1) and the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks (5-3). The Cardinals look like the best team in the NFC right now, and it will be extremely difficult for the 49ers to catch them for the division title. But a loss to the Saints on Sunday would have made it infinitely harder for QB Colin Kaepernick and company to win the division title or even make the playoffs as a Wild Card.

That’s just the trouble the 49ers face in their own division. The Philadelphia Eagles are 6-2, the Dallas Cowboys are 7-3, the Detroit Lions are 7-2 and the Green Bay Packers are 5-3. San Francisco also faces a tough schedule down the stretch — they still have to play the Seahawks twice, the Cardinals again and the San Diego Chargers, which could still be a formidable matchup with a lot to play for in Week 16. The 49ers needed this win.

Even after this loss to the 49ers the Saints will still win their division, but San Francisco needed this win to realistically have a shot at the playoffs.

Justin Patrick is a New England Patriots writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @calling_allfans, like him on Facebook and add him to your network on Google. You can also email him at [email protected]

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