As the 49ers filed into their locker room following Sunday's win over the Commanders, they were greeted by team CEO Jed York with a handshake and a score update.

The Cardinals had just taken the lead against the Eagles with 32 seconds remaining, leaving the Niners a few plays away from wrapping up the NFC's No. 1 seed, along with the first-round bye and home-field advantage.

Niners players and coaches rushed to a tiny corner and huddled around a small television showing the final seconds. When Jalen Hurts' last-gasp throw was intercepted, the room burst into loud cheers and a wild celebration.

With the Niners' 27-10 win, the Cardinals' victory against Philadelphia and the Dallas Cowboys' controversial win against the Detroit Lions on Saturday night, the NFC's road to the Super Bowl runs through Levi's Stadium.

 In need of additional depth on the interior of the defensive line, the San Francisco 49ers landed defensive tackle Sebastian Joseph-Day on Tuesday.

According to a team source, Joseph-Day and the Niners agreed to terms on a one-year deal, with it expected to become official before San Francisco resumes practice Wednesday. The Los Angeles Chargers released Joseph-Day on Friday, a move that was somewhat surprising because he was a team captain who had started all 14 games with the team.

The Baltimore Ravens are underdogs heading into Monday's showdown with the San Francisco 49ers, just the second time this season they haven't been favored.

The Ravens and Niners are tied for the best record in the NFL at 11-3.

"We feel a little disrespected by that," Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton said. "I feel like we are the best team in the league, and we have an opportunity in front of the country to show it."

The Ravens are 5.5-point underdogs, according to ESPN Bet. 

This would be the second-largest underdog role of Lamar Jackson's six-year career.

Jackson and Baltimore were a seven-point underdog at the Kansas City Chiefs in 2018. The Ravens lost to the Chiefs 27-24 in overtime in what was Jackson's fourth career NFL start.

"I don't want them to pick us," Jackson said. "I like being the underdog. I believe we play better when we're doubted and [when] people aren't choosing us to win the game. I feel like we play better all the time, so just do it all the way to February. That's all I ask."

After San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey had finished shredding the Arizona Cardinals for the second time this season to clinch the Niners' second consecutive NFC West division crown, he received a significant show of support in the race for the league's Most Valuable Player award.

Roughly 30 minutes following the Niners' 45-29 throttling of the Cardinals to improve to 11-3, quarterback Brock Purdy was asked what the case would be for McCaffrey to win MVP. Instead of offering arguments, Purdy provided an endorsement.

"I think Christian should be MVP," Purdy said. "I really do believe that. He does everything for us ... and so in my eyes that's an MVP."

The San Francisco 49ers secured a playoff berth with the Green Bay Packers' loss to the New York Giants on Monday night.

The Niners will be in the playoffs for the third consecutive season and fourth time in the past five years.

The 10-3 49ers now sit in the top spot in the NFC playoff picture because they hold tiebreakers over the Eagles and Cowboys and beat both teams.

San Francisco can wrap up the No. 1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs if it can win its final four games.

The San Francisco 49ers are now the fifth best ever DVOA through 13 games, according to Aaron Schatz. 

The 49ers trail only the 2007 New England Patriots, 1991 Washington Commanders, 1985 Chicago Bears and 1998 Denver Broncos. All four teams reached the Super Bowl while only the Patriots lost it.

The Baltimore Ravens are 11th all-time despite dropping this week.

The San Francisco 49ers run a quarterback-friendly offense, but Trent Williams wants to make it known that Brock Purdy isn't a system quarterback.

Drew Lock will start as the Seattle Seahawks quarterback for Sunday's game against the San Francisco 49ers as Geno Smith is inactive because of a groin injury

The Seahawks, already double-digit underdogs, will now try to snap a three-game losing streak and avoid falling any further out of the NFC playoff picture with their backup QB.

San Francisco 49ers wide receiver Deebo Samuel believes his quarterback is the clear leader to be named MVP this season.

Brock Purdy saw his MVP odds skyrocket after the 49ers dismantled the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday afternoon.

"Man, my boy number one right now," Samuel said during an appearance on Up & Adams. "It ain't even up for debate."

Purdy has completed 70.2% of his passes at an average of 9.6 yards per attempt, with 23 touchdowns against 6 interceptions. He leads the league in completion rate, yards per attempt, passer rating, QBR, and EPA/play.

Brock Purdy has emerged as the betting favorite to win the 2023 NFL Most Valuable Player, while the San Francisco 49ers also have the best odds to win the Super Bowl.

The 49ers, Chiefs and Eagles had been co-favorites last week, but oddsmakers believe San Francisco is clearly the team to beat at 3-1.

Purdy entered Sunday at 9-1 to win the NFL regular-season MVP, behind four other players. 

Dak Prescott has MVP odds of +325, followed by Jalen Hurts at +350. Patrick Mahomes (6-1), Lamar Jackson (7-1) and Tua Tagovailoa (9-1) round out the candidates with single-digit odds.

Tyreek Hill improved to 18-1 to win NFL MVP this week, the shortest odds of any non-quarterback.