It sure seems like the NFC title will run through Santa Clara. But if there's anyone who the 49ers should be concerned about, who is it?
Matt Barrows of The Athletic said there's one team he sees as posing a legitimate threat. Even after a 42-19 pasting in Philadelphia, Barrows thinks it's the Philadelphia Eagles.
Listen to the full interview above, starting at the 10:15 mark
Why Philly? Their offensive line.
"Let's just say there's a scenario where the Eagles win the No. 1 seed, and the 49ers have to go back to Philadelphia," Barrows said. "The thing that is scary about Philadelphia is that they've got a really good offensive line. There are weaknesses on that team, for sure. But when you've got a really good offensive line, it enables you to control a game and that's what the risk would be for the 49ers, is that they get in there, and as talented as their defense is, the Eagles go really simple and just kind of push their way and control the ball and keep the ball out of Purdy's and McCaffrey's hands and win the game."
The Eagles, of course, are reeling after three-straight losses to the 49ers, Cowboys (33-13) and Drew Lock-led Seattle Seahawks (20-17).
But what about a team like the Rams? Los Angeles looked dynamic Thursday night against the New Orleans Saints in a 30-22 win. There's an argument that they may pose a stronger threat.
Barrows acknowledged how impressive the Rams looked, and addressed a Week 18 scenario where the 49ers, having secured the No. 1 seed, could try and keep the Rams out of the playoffs. He still thinks the 49ers would prioritize rest.
"You could look at it two ways," Barrows said. "You could look at it that yeah, you want to keep the Rams and Puka Nacua, Kyren Williams... you want to keep them out of the playoffs.
But the Rams could also take out one of your your big conference opponents. They could take out the Eagles. They could take out the Cowboys. They could be an ally in doing that.
I think that the 49ers would [prioritize] rest, keeping Trent Williams, keeping Brock Purdy from getting an injury. Brock Purdy almost got a big one, a couple of inches away from something that could have been much more serious Sunday in Arizona. So I think that taking all of that, all those bad scenarios out of the equation would be paramount for the 49ers in that scenario."
It's an interesting assessment of rest versus reward, and it might all be moot if the 49ers have something to play for in Week 18. They could also throttle their next two opponents and secure the top seed in the NFC.