Thanksgiving football is in the books after Thursday's competitive set of games. The games had significant ramifications not only for the NFC playoff picture but for the San Francisco 49ers playoff picture as well.

In a way, the day created separation between the Niners and the rest of the NFC squads vying for the No. 7 seed. In other ways, the road to the playoff is getting more heated.

Three NFC squads and three AFC squads played on Thanksgiving Day. All three NFC teams are contenders for a spot in the playoffs.

The first game took place between the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions. A win for either team could have been to the detriment of the Niners, but Thursday's result was probably the best outcome for the team.

The Niners' two-game resurgence in wins over the Carolina Panthers and Carolina Panthers coincides with the Detroit Lions' free fall out of the playoff picture. The Lions fell to 7-5 having lost four of their last seven games. With that they are a game behind the 49ers (8-4) in the wild card standings.

The loss further buried the team in the NFC North behind the Chicago Bears (8-3) and Green Bay Packers (8-3-1). And while it's possible for a young Bears squad to fall out of playoff positioning due to inexperience and injury woes, the Lions really needed to win on Sunday. The loss solidified the Niners as the clear favorite to take the last playoff spot.

While the Lions' loss brought good news, the Packers' win might have pigeonholed San Francisco into the No. 7 seed. There's still plenty of football left, and the Niners could certainly overtake the Packers, but it will be difficult.

Green Bay certainly has tough tests left with two games against the Bears (8-3), and AFC tests against the Baltimore Ravens (6-6) and Denver Broncos (9-2). The Niners schedule is not much easier, though. San Francisco's last three games come against the Indianapolis Colts (8-3), Chicago Bears (8-3) and Seattle Seahawks (8-3).

Niners fans don't want to hear it, but the Cowboys (6-5-1) are charging hard toward the final NFC playoff spot. Earlier in the season, Dallas led Green Bay 40-37 before the Packers opted to play for the tie in overtime.

In the last two weeks, the Cowboys earned a 21-point comeback over the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles (8-3) and took down the Super Bowl runner-up Kansas City Chiefs in a tight win in which they controlled the game before running out the clock, 31-28. 

With the race more competitive than it was expected to be two weeks ago, the Niners will need to bring their A-game to close out the year.