There’s no “what if the season ended today and the playoffs started”. No, none of that. No scenarios or whatever. Let’s just think about these teams that were in the playoffs as a wild card team. Honestly, I wouldn’t want to play them. As a Niner fan, I want to avoid these NFC teams that happen to be in the same damn division too. I was called out by one football fan about how bad the NFC West is and who’s good past the 49ers? Apparently, he doesn’t pay attention to our division. No matter how good or how bad we are, when we face each other, it’s a slugfest. Fans of teams from the NFC West even know that.

I said this countless times; the Browns’ presence in the playoffs shouldn’t be taken likely. That roster is built to compete with any AFC team and be a potential Super Bowl contender (as long as Myles Garrett’s not hurt). Despite losing Nick Chubb and Deshaun Watson, Joe Flacco, Jerome Ford, Amari Cooper, David Njoku, and the offensive line will help the defense carry as far as possible. If opposing teams aren’t prepared for Cleveland, you are in trouble.

While no one should forget about the Bills’ current Madden curse, they’re playing with urgency. If Josh Allen and Buffalo 100% realizes for sure that they should let “James Cook”, then that’s the player that Allen and the rest of the offense needs to take the next step and find their way into the conference championship. Divisional winners should be wary of Buffalo.

Seattle continues to find ways to win. Staying with teams like Detroit, Cleveland and Philly through the fourth quarter and winning with two different quarterbacks while staying with the Rams and Cowboys in losses makes them an underlying threat in the NFC. If I were any team outside the 49ers as division winners, I would take caution to the cardiac Hawks.

If CJ Stroud’s healthy and on the field, be wary of them. No matter the situation, he will carry this team to the very end. If he gets hot, so does the rest of Houston. DeMeco Ryans knows what it takes to compete for the Super Bowl and Stroud’s mature enough to compete with a postseason mindset. Whether it’s the Ravens, the Chiefs, or even the Bills, those opposing defenses better bring their A game.