Still, the 49ers are 5-2 and in the thick of the playoff race.

They are on the outside looking in at the playoff race.

The Falcons are all but out of the playoff race.

More important, it will keep them in the playoff race.

That's how close the Jets have come to being in the playoff race.

But tonight's game was more than just a part of the playoff race.

But the life they showed last night was a necessary development in this end stage of the playoff race.

This is not proper behavior for a team in a playoff race.

A loss means dropping further out of the playoff race.

And both teams are in the thick of the playoff race.