The 49ers don't play on Thanksgiving this year, but that doesn't mean they won't have something at stake.

The NFL's Turkey Day slate contains three games: Chicago at Detroit in the morning, Buffalo at Dallas in the afternoon and New Orleans at Atlanta in the evening. Of those three, the final one will be of the most interest for San Francisco.

Forget the fact that the 49ers travel to New Orleans the following week. Yes, San Francisco will scout the Saints-Falcons game, but right now, Baltimore is the main focus, and rightfully so.

No, this is all about playoff positioning, as the 49ers could clinch a postseason berth as soon as this weekend. San Francisco (10-1) currently would be the No. 1 seed in the NFC and get a first-round bye, but New Orleans (9-2) is currently No. 2 and right on the 49ers' heels.

If the Saints were to beat the Falcons on Thanksgiving, that would further increase the pressure on San Francisco heading into its highly-anticipated game against the 9-2 Ravens. A 49ers loss in Baltimore, combined with a Saints' win in Atlanta, would allow New Orleans to overtake the Niners for the No. 1 overall seed in the NFC, and San Francisco could fall as low as fifth, depending on what happens in the Seahawks-Vikings game on Monday night. That is not a position the 49ers want to find themselves in, as it basically would make their Week 14 game in New Orleans a must-win if they want that first-round bye.

Of course, if the Saints lose, it could have the opposite effect on San Francisco. If New Orleans falls to the Falcons to drop to 9-3, the 49ers could lose to the Ravens and still potentially be the No. 1 seed in the NFC -- again, depending on the Seahawks-Vikings game. If the Saints lose to the Falcons and the 49ers beat the Ravens, San Francisco would have -- at worst -- a one-game cushion atop the conference and a two-game cushion over New Orleans heading into the 49ers-Saints game in Week 14.

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Now, the Saints rightfully are favored against the Falcons, but there is reason to believe New Orleans will be in for a tougher challenge than some expect. Atlanta has won two of its last three games, including a rather convincing 26-9 win over the Saints in New Orleans in Week 10.

In fact, one could make the case the Saints need to beat the Falcons far more than the 49ers need to beat the Ravens. Regardless of what happens in Week 13, though, their head-to-head matchup in Week 14 will be premium viewing.