Some see the Glass . . .

half empty when it comes to the playoffs.  Some see it already shattered.  I see it half full.  Here's why:

First of course, the 49ers must start playing better.  Playing up to their capabilities.  If they don't then they have no hope.  I think they will but that, of course,  remains to be seen. 

Assuming they start playing more like last years team and not the way they've started out in 2010, they need these three things to happen:

1.  Beat the Eagles. 

The 49ers are angry and desperate, and are playing at home again.  They must beat the Eagles tomorrow night.  There's no way they can go 0-5 and realistically make the playoffs.  John Madden used to say that winning was a great deodorant.  The 49ers desperately need the sweet smell of victory Sunday night.

While I hate to pencil in games as won or lost ahead of time, I'm going to do just that in this post.  They beat Philadelphia, they are now 1-4.

2.  Replicate last years divisional games. 

They went 5-1 in the division last season, losing only in Seattle.  They've already done taken care of losing in Seattle.  Now they just need to win the other five games.  The Rams are better, the Cardinals are worse and the 49ers owe Seattle big time in Candlestick.  It can be done and, quite honestly, if they can't (or come real close) then they don't deserve to win the division.

If they can replicate last season, they will now be at 6-4 ( with five divisional wins plus beating Philadelphia - to go along with their four losses)).  The Cards (now 2-2) will then be 2-4 with two 49er losses.  Same with the Rams.  The Seahawks will be 2-3 if they lose to the 49ers later this season.

3.  They need Atlanta & New Orleans to take care of business in the rest of the division.

The 49ers lost close games to both of those teams already.  Arizona has already been blown out by Atlanta.  They play the Saints tomorrow in the desert.  If they lose to NO,  the Cards would then be 2-5 in this scenario I have created..

Atlanta plays Seattle & St. Louis on the road.  New Orleans plays both those teams in the Superdome.

If Atlanta & New Orleans sweep those games (and that's a big 'if'), that leaves St. Louis at 2-6 and Seattle at 2-5.

Let's recap:

1. The 49ers must win tomorrow night.

2.  They repeat what they did in the division last season.

3..  Atlanta and New Orleans sweep the NFL West (so far they are 3-0 with 5 left to play).

If those things happen, the leaves the race like this:

SF:   6-4

Seattle:  2-5

Arizona:  2-5

St. Louis:  2-6

That leaves SF with six games to play:  Oakland, Carolina, Denver, Tampa Bay, Green Bay and San Diego.

If they split those six games they end up at 9-7 which almost assuredly wins the division.

Seattle & Arizona would have to go 7-2, St. Loius 7-1 the rest of the way to reach 9-7.

YES, there are a lot of 'What Ifs' here.   I already know that.  I don't need people telling me that.  They are realistic, however, to my way of thinking.  Many will no doubt disagree.  That's fine.

In closing:  Nobody is going to make me believe that Arizona, Seattle and St. Louis are better than SF.  Just my opinion.  And it's not how you start the race but how you finish it.

By stumbling out of the gate so badly, I think this team is angry and embarassed.  If they can just start to turn the corner, I think that anger and embarassment will fuel them for the rest of the season.

The Eagle game is the very definiton of 'Must Win.'  If they do, then I can see this scenario possibly playing out.  If they don't, well, then it's going to be real ugly at Niner Headquarters next week and for weeks thereafter..