by David Zizmor

SANTA CLARA–This is going to be an interesting weekend as the 49ers and Cardinals season finale will mean something for both teams. Seattle lost to these very same Arizona Cardinals whom the 49ers play this Sunday at Glendale. That does two things that keeps the Cardinals in a position to make the playoffs so they certainly have something to play for. It also puts the 49ers in a position to win the divison.

Now it’s not necessarily the most likely win for the 49ers, a couple things need to happen they need to beat Arizona to win the division but number two Seattle also has to lose to St.Louis in Seattle and while Arizona managed to beat Seattle on their home turf last week it seems very unlikely that Seattle will lost two in a row at Century Link.

The Seahawks have been so good for so long up there in their own stadium that losing two in a row would seem unlikely but for whatever stroke of luck if Seattle loses and the 49ers win and the Niners end up being the division champions at a bare minimum the number two seed and if Carolina ends up losing to Atlanta and the Niners won to become the number one seed and have home field through the playoffs that final game that everyone was talking about at the stick last week would end up being pushed back a little bit.

There will at least one playoff game at the stick for the 49ers before they close down that stadium there’s a lot going on in terms of the playoff race and let’s not forget that Arizona could still make the playoffs. So if they win New Orleans loses then Arizona winds up being the final Wild Card team. So there not going to be any sitting down and resting their guys and playing for nothing they have a legitimate goal in this game.

The Niners can’t rest because they have their own playoff hopes to try to fulfill but the Cardinals won’t be able to rest either their going to be aiming for that playoff spot. So this is going to be a big game New Orleans will be playing at the same time Seattle is playing.

So none of the outcomes will be known going into the game all these teams will be playing for that playoff spot their all going to be playing at their hardest everybody who can play will play. Your not going to see a lot of guys sitting out and resting this will be a very interesting game. If you look back earlier in the season the 49ers demolished the Cards.

That wasn’t even a very close game but the score looked a little closer than it was in the end it was a 32-21 victory for the Niners. Arizona always plays the Niners tough they have such a good defense Calais Campbell of the Cardinals on their defensive line is having an All-Pro year and the Cardinals are slightly higher up in the standings Campbell should get defensive player of the year considerations he’s really good.

David Zizmor is covering the NFL for Sportstalk