Are 49ers out of the playoffs? Exploring Week 16 ramifications of TNF loss to Rams

The San Francisco 49ers came into their Week 15 game against the Los Angeles Rams, knowing they needed a win to keep their slim playoff hopes alive. However, a dour offensive showing saw them lose to their divisional rivals, leaving their postseason hopes hanging by a thread.

With Thursday Night's loss now in the books, let's look at whether the 49ers are officially out of playoff contention.

Are the San Francisco 49ers out of the playoffs?

No, the San Francisco 49ers are not out of the playoffs (just yet). However, according to NFL.com, they now have a less than 1% chance of making the postseason.

The 49ers came into the game with a stacked offense that featured Pro Bowlers Brock Purdy, George Kittle and Deebo Samuel. However, they could only muster six points against a Los Angeles Rams side set up by Sean McVay to stifle their offensive efforts. It had Kyle Shanahan trying everything to break down his side's divisional rivals, but nothing seemed to work.

Two field goals in a must-win game against a divisional rival won't cut it for most sides. Unfortunately, the 49ers couldn't crack the code against the Rams, and their postseason hopes are hanging by the slimmest of threads.

In order for the San Francisco 49ers to make the playoffs they'll need to win the rest of their games and hope that their rivals lose all their fixtures.

Unfortunately for the franchise, that's looking increasingly unlikely especially with how the 49ers performed on Thursday night. Even the wildcard round route is shaky as other teams in the NFC aren't letting up on their performances.

What next for the San Francisco 49ers?

The San Francisco 49ers will visit Miami to face off against the Dolphins in Week 16. The Dolphins are currently 6-7 and in the playoff hunt, so the 49ers won't get any freebies in that matchup.

After the 49ers' matchup against the Dolphins, they have fixtures against the high-flying Detroit Lions and playoff-chasing Arizona Cardinals to navigate. Both games are tricky ones, and there's a possibility that the 49ers will end the season with a losing record.

It's been a tough year for Kyle Shanahan's side, and tough decisions must be made during the offseason. The team must decide whether to run it back or trade away some assets in a retool to be competitive for the foreseeable future. This season's performances and injury issues won't cut it for a side with genuine Super Bowl aspirations.