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Over the last few days, I have been repeatedly asked who San Francisco 49ers fans should be rooting for this Sunday when the Seattle Seahawks host the Arizona Cardinals. I realize the 49ers just need to handle their own business, but as I've said before, that does not mean we can't figure out who we want to win some of these other games. The players need to focus on the task at hand, but we are allowed to have a wandering mind!
The Arizona Cardinals currently lead the division with a 9-1 record. The Seahawks are tied with the 49ers at 6-4. If the 49ers win, an Arizona win moves the 49ers clear of Seattle. A Seattle win would move the 49ers to within two games of the Cardinals. Arizona beat the 49ers in Glendale, and has the season finale at Levi's Stadium still left. Additionally, they will have a home game remaining against Seattle.
Why root for Seattle?
If you think the 49ers can realistically take the division, you root for Seattle to bring the Cardinals down a notch. Arizona has road games against San Francisco, St. Louis and Atlanta. They have home games against Seattle and Kansas City. There are several losses in there, so the division is certainly up for grabs.
Why root for Arizona?
If the Cardinals lose to Seattle and the 49ers, they need one more loss to get even with the 49ers. The next tiebreaker is division record. If the 49ers lose to Seattle, but otherwise win out, they would have three division losses. If Arizona loses one to Seattle and then the finale in San Francisco, they would have two division losses. If they lose at St. Louis or vs. Seattle, that's a third divisional loss, but if not, the 49ers would need to leapfrog them and not finish tied. It adds a certain degree of difficulty to the 49ers division chances.
My heart says root for Seattle and keep the division title in the mix, but my brain is leaning toward Arizona. How do you fall on this?