How the 49ers defied the odds to battle for the NFC's top seed

SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — When defensive stars Nick Bosa and Fred Warner went down with long-term injuries early in the season, it seemed like any chance for the San Francisco 49ers to contend for a title went away, too.

Yet somehow the Niners head into a showdown against Seattle in the regular-season finale with the opportunity to clinch the No. 1 seed in the NFC playoffs with a win against the Seahawks.

“Back when Fred got hurt, if you told anybody we’d be 12-4 and be battling Week 18 for that one seed, you’re absolutely crazy,” fullback Kyle Juszczyk said. "Nobody would’ve believed you. So it’s been a special season already, and one I definitely don't take for granted. But we’re not done. I have all the confidence in the world that we can get this thing done.”

The 49ers (12-4) are in position get home-field advantage for a postseason that will end with the Super Bowl on their home field Feb. 8 after holding off the Chicago Bears in a thrilling 42-38 win Sunday night.

They will have a quick turnaround, with the game against the Seahawks moved to Saturday night to get a national television window.

“It’s a hell of a deal to have the opportunity to play for the one seed,” coach Kyle Shanahan said. "These guys have earned it. We’ve got to go to bed early and get ready to come back because we found out it’s Saturday, so it’s going to happen soon.”

Brock Purdy overcame a pick-6 on the opening play from scrimmage to become the seventh player ever to post back-to-back games with at least five combined touchdowns passing and rushing.

Purdy threw for 303 yards and three scores — including a late, go-ahead strike to Jauan Jennings — and ran for two scores to lead the 49ers to their sixth straight win since he returned from a toe injury.

Purdy has thrown for 893 yards with 11 TD passes, two TD runs and a 131.5 passer rating in the last three games for San Francisco.

“I thought Brock had a hell of a game, again,” Shanahan said. "He made some huge plays in this game, kept some drives alive with his legs, made some off-schedule plays and was an assassin out there throughout the whole day.”

Running game. The 49ers have found their running game the last few weeks after struggling to generate consistent yardage on the ground early in the season. San Francisco had season highs with 200 yards rushing and 5.9 yards per carry as Christian McCaffrey looked as fresh as he has all season despite 399 scrimmage touches this season.

Pass defense. San Francisco had no sacks or takeaways for the third this season as the pass defense again didn't generate big plays or slow down the opposing offense. Caleb Williams beat them for two deep TD passes in the first half and threw for 330 yards on the game. The 49ers have allowed a passer rating of 100.6 for the season. Only two teams have ever made the playoffs in a season with passer rating allowed of at least 100.

TE Jake Tonges. With George Kittle sidelined by an ankle injury, Tonges stepped up again like he did early in the season. He had seven catches for 60 yards and a touchdown after catching just two passes the last nine games when Kittle was healthy.

DE Bryce Huff provided a nice boost to the pass rush early in the season but hasn't been productive of late. He had only one pressure against the Bears. Huff has no sacks in his last seven games after getting four in his first seven.

The Niners are hoping to get Kittle back for this week. ... LT Trent Williams (hamstring), CB Upton Stout (concussion) and DL Keion White (groin) all left the game with injuries, putting their status in question on a short week.

4 — The 49ers have trailed at the start of four drives during their six-game winning streak since Purdy returned and have scored to tie or take the lead on all of them. They had two TDs on two drives when trailing Chicago, scoring a TD after the game-opening pick-6 and then scoring the go-ahead touchdown in the fourth quarter.

The 49ers host Seattle on Saturday night.

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San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey (23) runs against Chicago Bears safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, bottom, during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Eakin Howard)

San Francisco 49ers' Brock Purdy (13) dances in the end zone after scoring a touchdown during the first half of an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (Carlos Avila Gonzalez/San Francisco Chronicle via AP)

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Jauan Jennings (15) runs toward the end zone to score against the Chicago Bears during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

San Francisco 49ers tight end Jake Tonges (88) runs against Chicago Bears linebacker T.J. Edwards (53) during the second half of an NFL football game in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy jogs off the field after an NFL football game against the Chicago Bears in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, Dec. 28, 2025. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)

RABAT, Morocco (AP) — Host nation Morocco and South Africa advanced to the Africa Cup of Nations’ knockout stage on Monday, when Egypt star Mohamed Salah got a rest with his team already through.

Morocco made sure of its place in the last 16 with a 3-0 rout of Zambia. The hosts topped Group A to stay on course for having all their knockout games in Rabat’s near 70,000-capacity Prince Moulay Abdellah Stadium, which will also stage the final on Jan. 18.

Results in Group A, where Comoros finished third with two points, and Group B, where Angola also finished third with two points, prompted celebrations elsewhere. That's because teams with more than two points and already assured of at least third place in their groups have reached the last 16.

The four best third-placed teams from the six groups progress, along with the top two in each.

It means 2021 winner Senegal and Congo are through ahead of their final games in Group D, and defending champion Ivory Coast and five-time winner Cameroon are through from Group F.

Angola, which has a better goal difference than Comoros, can still go through with two points if already-qualified Nigeria beats Uganda and Tunisia beats Tanzania in Group C on Tuesday.

This time there were only cheers, after Morocco fans had whistled the team during its previous game, prompting a rebuke from team captain Achraf Hakimi on Sunday.

Ayoub El Kaabi headed the opener in the ninth minute, Brahim Díaz swept the second inside the left post in the 27th, and El Kaabi made sure of the win in the 50th with a spectacular bicycle kick – his second of the tournament.

An offside flag added to the drama as the goal was ruled out and then allowed after a VAR check confirmed El Kaabi was onside, setting off more joyous celebrations among the vast majority of fans in the stadium.

They had further reason to cheer when Hakimi went on as a substitute in the 64th for his first appearance since recovering from an ankle injury. Hakimi drew a brilliant save from Willard Mwanza on an otherwise perfect comeback.

The African Footballer of the Year will likely start on Sunday, when Morocco will play one of the third-placed finishers from Groups C, D or E, the first of what the home fans hope will be four wins to lift the title.

Mali’s 0-0 draw with Comoros was enough to finish second in Group A with three draws. Mali midfielder Amadou Haidara was sent off late.

“If we keep playing like this, we won't stay long in the tournament,” Mali coach Tom Sainfiet said.

The Eagles will play the second-placed finisher in Group D in Casablanca on Saturday, possibly Congo.

Oswin Appollis fired South Africa into the last 16 with a hard-fought 3-2 win over Zimbabwe.

The Bafana Bafana progressed in second place in Group B, behind Egypt, which drew 0-0 with Angola in Agadir. Both final group games were played at the same time.

With his team already through, Egypt coach Hossam Hassan rested his regulars including Salah, Omar Marmoush, and Trézéguet. They’re set to return for the Pharaohs’ first knockout game, also in Agadir, against a third-place finisher from Groups A, C or D on Jan. 5.

"Regardless of who we face, we are ready,” Hassan said.

South Africa needed a win in Marrakech to be sure of progress without relying on a favor from Egypt. But Zimbabwe twice came from behind and pushed for an equalizer late on.

“We repeated the same mistakes as in previous games – poor passing and bad positioning,” said South Africa coach Hugo Broos, who has complained about the lack of an ”AFCON vibe" at the tournament.

South Africa awaits results in Group F as it will play the second-placed finisher from that group – Ivory Coast, Cameroon or Mozambique – on Sunday.

AP at the Africa Cup: https://apnews.com/hub/africa-cup-of-nations

Morocco's Achraf Hakimi comes on during the second half of the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Morocco's fans celebrate during the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Morocco's Ayoub El Kaabi celebrates after scoring his side's first goal during the Africa Cup of Nations group A soccer match between Zambia and Morocco in Rabat, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Themba Hadebe)

Angola's Beni Mukendi and Egypt's Mahmoud Saber compete for the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Egypt's head coach Hossam Hassan during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Angola's Gelson Dala, right, controls the ball past Egypt's Ahmed Zizo during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Angola's Gelson Dala, right, kicks the ball during the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)

Egypt's Mohamed Salah, center, smiles as he sits on the bench ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations group B soccer match between Angola and Egypt in Agadir, Morocco, Monday, Dec. 29, 2025. (AP Photo/Mosa'ab Elshamy)