The San Francisco 49ers clinched the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs after defeating the Washington Commanders 23-12, despite an initial deficit. Running back Christian McCaffrey, who was essential in the victory, may be out for the remainder of the season due to a calf injury. With the top seed secured and a week off, the 49ers will face the highest seed remaining after the wildcard round. The team, which includes quarterback Brock Purdy and the 2019 Super Bowl-winning core, is a strong contender for the Super Bowl, despite past injuries like that of backup quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in the 2022 NFC Championship game.