Obviously we aren't winning out, but the spirit of this thread, I 100% agree with.
This week the Niners play the Chiefs....could they win? Definitely. But I'm not sure Shanahan has ever beaten Reid. Seattle plays at the Falcons, and after that hot start they have been exposed. The Cardinals play the Chargers who have looked good.
Just for kicks, lets play it all out:
Cardinals:
Chargers - L
@Dolphins - W
Bears - W
Jets - W
@Seahawks - L
@vikings - L
Seahawks - W
Patriots - W
@Panthers - W
@rams - L
Niners - L
This is probably the best case scenario for the Cardinals, and they end up at 8-9, 3-3 in division
Seahawks:
@Falcons - L
Bills - L
Rams - W
@Niners - L
Cardinals - W
@Jets - L
@Cardinals - L
Packers - W
Vikings - L
@Bears - W
@rams - L
Can flip some of the wins and losses around, but this feels close to what will happen for Seattle. Maybe best case they get two more wins, either way that's a max of 9-8. I think they finish 7-10 though.
Niners:
Chiefs - L
Cowboys - W
@Bucs - L
Seahawks - W
@Packers - L
@Bills - L
Bears - W
Rams - W
@Dolphins - W
Lions - L
@Cardinals - W
That would put them at 9-8, 4-2 in division - and that feels like their floor. They could easily beat one of the Chiefs, Lions or Bucs and go 10-7 or better. But for this exercise, we will say they finish 9-8.
Rams:
Raiders - W
Vikings - W
@Seahawks - L
Dolphins - W
@Patriots - W
Eagles - W
@Saints - W
Bills - W
@Niners - L
@Jets - L
Cardinals - W
Seahawks - W
10-7, division champs
Look at the road games remaining - the three "difficult" ones, we lose - and we could easily beat the Seahawks and Jets. The Patriots are bad, and either Derek Carr plays for the Saints who have never beaten us, or he doesn't and they are bad too.
Conversely will the Vikings, Eagles and Bills be tough at home? Definitely. This is optimistic and obviously the odds are somewhat stacked against us. But maybe we ride some momentum after winning this week into Thursday night, which is a long trip for the Vikings, who will have a tough and physical game against the Lions this week. Maybe we split with the Eagles/Bills but sweep Seattle. The Jets certainly don't look like juggernauts now either.