The Niners' second-half schedule sees them face multiple teams that are currently ahead of them in the NFC. The Bucs, Seahawks, Packers, Bears, Rams, and Cardinals will each have a say in the playoff race.

The NFC North still has a chance to send each team to the playoffs as they're all over .500. That's a feat that has never been done. It is still the best division in football, for my money, but it is beginning to show cracks. The Bears look hopeless and without direction. The Niners must win that game at home later in the season. I was wrong about Chicago's preseason, as I predicted they'll not only make the playoffs but advance beyond the Wild Card.

Minnesota owns the head-to-head battle against the 49ers, which will undoubtedly play a factor two months from now. Still, the more Sam Darnold plays, the less trustworthy he gets. I don't believe the Vikings will continue at their current pace.

Despite what we saw from Green Bay this past weekend, I still think they're the team to beat in the division and one of the three best teams in the NFC. I'm not putting too much stock into a game in which their quarterback played on one leg and their top defensive player didn't play.

As for the Lions, I'm waiting for somebody to push them. Jared Goff continues to play well, but Detroit isn't asking much of him. That'll change by necessity come playoff time. The 49ers may not be as buttoned up as the Lions are as far as playing a clean game in all three phases, but they can force the issue and get the Lions out of their comfort zone.

The New York Giants are all but eliminated at this point at 2-7 and 1-5 in the conference. The Dallas Cowboys aren't far behind. Dak Prescott will miss a month. We could see Trey Lance start on Monday Night Football against DeMeco Ryans in Week 11.

Adam Peters and Dan Quinn have the Washington Commanders looking legitimate. The acquisition of Marshon Lattimore fortifies their secondary. Jayden Daniels is the real deal, and their offense will cause problems for the Philadephia Eagles when they face off.

I can't trust the Eagles as long as Nick Siranni is pushing the buttons. They get exposed any time they go up against a competent coach or team. The Eagles are talented all over the place but should fall flat on their face come playoff time.

The 49ers beating Tampa Bay this week will put the Atlanta Falcons multiple games up in the division. It would take an epic collapse from the Falcons to lose the division. The New Orleans Saints went from 1-0 to 2-7 and just fired their head coach after losing to the 2-7 Carolina Panthers. The NFC South is a joke, but the Falcons are a quality team.

The West isn't far off from the North in the NFC. Only Seattle has a losing record. The Seahawks get a bye this week before traveling to the Bay Area in Week 11. But Seattle can't block or stop the run, which makes me think they're pretenders.

Quietly, the Rams have won three in a row and have a better conference and division record than the Niners. Never count out Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay. And now that they have Cooper Kupp, Puca Nucua, and a surprisingly good defensive line, Los Angeles is thinking about the playoffs and not just playing spoiler down the stretch. They're going to be a difficult opponent for anybody.

What do we make of the Cardinals? They're 2-0 in the NFC West, have won three in a row, and are playing quite well offensively, thanks to Kyler Murray and James Conner. But they leave a lot to be desired defensively.

Caleb Williams couldn't take advantage of that. I'm not sure if Aaron Rodgers and the New York Jets will this Sunday, either. Looking at Arizona's schedule, they play the Jets, Seahawks, Vikings, Seahawks, Patriots, Panthers, Rams, and Niners. Barring getting swept by the NFC West, the Cardinals could sneak into the playoffs and win the division.

On paper, I don't think the 49ers have a difficult second-half schedule. But it's a gauntlet when you put it side by side with the Cardinals. It makes these next two weeks feel like "must wins" and the same against "lesser" opponents like the Bears and Dolphins.

The Niners shouldn't need one of their patented 8-game winning streaks in the second half of the season to make the playoffs, but they can't afford to drop more than three if San Francisco wants to feel good heading into January.