Shaken NFC confidence: Seattle's overtime comeback reorders the playoff deck and puts the 49ers back in the driver's seat of their own destiny. Seattle’s 38-37 overtime victory over the Rams at Lumen Field on Thursday reshapes how the conference chase might unfold. Both teams now hold a path that they can steer, with San Francisco holding a potential route to the No. 1 seed and the NFC West if they win their final three games, while Seattle also controls its own fate for the conference crown and the division, especially with a Week 18 showdown against the 49ers looming. Sam Darnold, the Seahawks’ quarterback who briefly wore a different team’s jersey in San Francisco, nearly handed Seattle’s lead to his former club by getting picked off twice in the second half—once in the third quarter and again in the fourth—before Seattle surged back from a 16-point hole. The rally culminated in a 30-30 tie with just over six minutes remaining thanks to an unconventional two-point try, and Seattle added another two-point conversion in overtime to seal the win. That result gives both teams a shot at dethroning the Rams for the top seed. If San Francisco can beat the Indianapolis Colts and the Chicago Bears, then close the regular season with a Week 18 matchup against its longtime rival at Levi’s Stadium, the division—and likely the conference—would belong to the 49ers. For fans seeking more insight, you can download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast (https://49ers-talk-with-matt-maiocco.simplecast.com/episodes). NBC Sports Bay Area and California offer the latest San Francisco 49ers news, highlights, and analysis. Now, a quick question to spark discussion: with three straight wins still on the table for SF and Seattle hot on their heels, which path do you think is more likely to win the NFC—San Francisco clinching the No. 1 seed or Seattle riding this late surge to claim it? Share your thoughts in the comments.}
