Saints put pressure on 49ers for No. 2 seed

The New Orleans Saints on Sunday kept the pressure on the 49ers, as the teams vie for the No. 2 seed in the NFC playoffs.If the 49ers and Saints finish with the same record, the 49ers will win the tie-breaker based on a better record against NFC teams.The No. 2 seed earns a first-round playoff bye and a home game in the divisional round. The No. 3 seed plays host to the No. 6 seed in the first round of the playoffs. With a victory, the No. 3 seed then would play at the No. 2 seed in the divisional round.
The Saints won their final road game of the season on Sunday with a 42-20 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. The 49ers, of course, have a stiff test Monday night against the Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3).REMAINING GAMES
49ers (10-3)
vs. Steelers, Monday
at Seahawks, Saturday, Dec. 24
at Rams, Sunday, Jan. 1Saints (11-3)
vs. Falcons, Monday, Dec. 26
vs. Panthers, Sunday, Jan. 1Here is a look at the complete NFC playoff picture through Sunday's games (a 49ers victory Monday night will vault them back into the No. 2 spot):Division leaders
1. Green Bay (North) 13-1. (NFC record: 10-0)
2. New Orleans (South) 11-3. (NFC record: 7-3)
3. 49ers (West) 10-3. (NFC record: 8-2)
4. Dallas (East) 8-6. (NFC record: 6-4)Wild card
5. Atlanta (South) 9-5. (NFC record: 6-4)
6. Detroit (North) 9-5. (NFC record: 6-5)
Next in line
7. Seattle (West) 7-7. (NFC record: 6-4)
8. Chicago (North) 7-7. (NFC record: 6-4)
9. Arizona (West) 7-7. (NFC record: 6-5)
10. N.Y. Giants (East) 7-7. (NFC record: 4-7)
11. Philadelphia (East) 6-8. (NFC record: 4-6)
12. Washington (East) 5-9. (NFC record: 5-5)
13. Carolina (South) 5-9. (NFC record: 3-8)
14. Tampa Bay (South) 4-10. (NFC record: 3-7)
15. Minnesota (North) 2-12. (NFC record: 2-8)
16. St. Louis (West) 2-12. (NFC record: 1-11)Tie-breakers
Head-to-head, if applicable
Best won-lost-tied percentage in games played within the conference
Best won-lost-tied percentage in common games, minimum of four
Strength of victory
Strength of schedule