We should no longer assume the 49ers will get a playoff bye.
After Sunday’s 21-19 loss in Arizona, the 49ers shouldn’t consider anything a sure thing. The 49ers have avoided losses like this all year, but their big weakness as a team showed up in the desert.
The 49ers are just a terrible red zone offense. They came into the game 31st in the league in touchdown percentage and went 0-for-3 against the Cardinals Sunday.
They dominated the game after knocking Kevin Kolb out, but couldn’t close the deal because they kept blowing opportunities inside the ten-yard line early in the game. John Skelton hasn’t played well, but he’s now 3-1 as a starter and beat the 49ers coming off the bench.
At 6-7, the Cardinals have kept their faint playoff hopes alive. At 10-3, the 49ers are now tied with the Saints for the No. 2 spot in the NFC.
The 49ers have the tiebreak and would clinch a bye if they won the next three games. But they host the Steelers next week on Monday Night Football.
San Francisco’s offense needs to pick it up a notch with the playoffs approaching, but they appear to be regressing.