NFC West Recap: The 49ers aren’t doing themselves any favors when it comes to tiebreakers

Brace yourselves for a bad Monday, San Francisco 49ers fans. The 49ers had an excellent opportunity to climb in the NFC West and take first place on Thursday against the Seattle Seahawks. Unfortunately, since this team has an issue finishing, that is put on hold.

The loss to the Arizona Cardinals puts the 49ers into third place. Even with a win over Seattle, the two divisional losses are going to factor in.

The Seahawks are in control, but given how early into the season we are and no one is pulling away, it's still anyone's division. Seattle has yet to play a divisional game, so a loss on Thursday would hurt them in more ways than one.

Regarding the Cardinals, the win over the 49ers puts them at 2-3. Obviously, having two divisional wins against the Los Angeles Rams and 49ers, respectively, gives them the tiebreaker. The 49ers have lost two divisional games. Aren't numbers fun?

This is also a second team the 49ers could have made it hard to make a divisional comeback, the first being the Rams. There's plenty of blame to go around, but the big thing we can take away from the 49ers is they simply cannot finish.

Seattle Seahawks (3-2) Meanwhile, while the 49ers defense is getting 4th downs converted on them, the Seahawks defense managed a nice 4th down fumble at the goal line—and the takeaway to the endzone. Not a great start for the Giants. They managed to tie the game up 7-7 in the second quarter and get a three-point lead a minute before the first half ended.

The Seahawks kept pace and managed to tie things up before the half ended, but they would not see the lead again. The Giants made it 20-13 before the third quarter ended, and their defense would not lay off Seahawks quarterback Geno Smith in some key plays. With a minute to go in the fourth quarter, the Seahawks had a game-tying field goal blocked and returned for a touchdown.

Los Angeles Rams (1-4) The Green Bay Packers came to Los Angeles and started out hot against the Rams. The Rams kept coming, starting with a touchdown in the second quarter to tie things up 7-7 and then a pick six of Jordan Love to take the lead, including a ridiculous pick-six by Jordan Love. Love was clearly trying to throw the ball away and avoid the safety, but Jalen McCollough was in the right place at the right time and grabbed it with only a foot between him and the endzone. The Packers would regain the lead in the 3rd quarter.

The Packers also returned the pick in kind with Rams quarterback Matthew Stafford throwing a pick of his own, setting the Packers up at midfield. This allowed them to get up to 24-19, and that pretty much put a stop to things. The Rams would score in the final few minutes of the game but fail the two-point conversion. That pretty much solidified things. The Packers' defense cleaned up and kept the Rams from doing anything to get back into the game.

The loss puts the Rams at 1-4. Given the divisional race, they are far away from being out of this one, but they have to weather the storm over injuries. 1-4 may give you the impression they are circling the drain, but as I said in the open, this division is up for grabs.

Onto Week 6 The Seahawks and 49ers will meet on Thursday for Thursday Night Football. Should the 49ers win that game, they would go to first place, but the two divisional losses would put them on shaky ground. If they lose, that would be three divisional losses in just as many divisional games. This is a game the 49ers should be able to win, but we've seen some very sketchy football.

The Cardinals will travel to face the Green Bay Packers. The Packers had their issues with the Rams today, but they managed to take care of business and put them away.

The Rams go into their bye. So, bye.

Seattle Seahawks ; Next: vs. San Francisco 49ers

Arizona Cardinals ; Next: at. Green Bay Packers

San Francisco 49ers ; Next: at Seattle Seahawks