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How might expanded NFL playoffs help 49ers’ encore?

The NFL’s 55th annual Lombardi Trophy hunt will welcome an additional two teams, thus statistically improving the 49ers’ — and all teams’ — postseason chances.

Repeating as the NFC’s No. 1 playoff seed just got more imperative.

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With NFL owners on Tuesday approving the 14-team field that is part of the new collective bargaining agreement, one catch is that only one team per conference will draw a bye for the wild-card round.

The 49ers narrowly garnered that top spot last season, by way Dre Greelaw’s goal-line tackle that preserved their Week 17 win at Seattle.