It’ll be a rollercoaster season if you’re tracking where the 49ers land weekly in the power rankings
The 49ers sit atop the NFC West following Arizona’s loss to Green Bay and defeating Seattle on Thursday Night Football. Are the 49ers back on track? Possibly. The team has won two of their last three games with a chance to head into their bye week on a three-game winning streak if they defeat Kansas City and Dallas.
How are the 49ers being viewed by the NFL media heading into Week 7?
ESPN.com – The 49ers climb three spots to #10
Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com says the 49ers’ lesson learned through six weeks is “nothing will come easy.” Wagoner added: “In 2023, San Francisco ran roughshod over opponents, winning 12 regular-season games by a second-best average of 19.08 points, with a third-best 11.35 average point differential in all games. Those Niners were healthy and loaded with stars. Without RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles), DT Javon Hargrave (triceps), LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), S Talanoa Hufanga (wrist), and others because of injury, this year’s edition is decidedly not. That has left San Francisco in more tight games. Through six weeks, San Francisco has lost three one-score games and has a 5.33 average point differential. It will need to start pulling some of the close games out to make another playoff run.
Bleacher Report – The 49ers move up one spot to #13
Gary Davenport of Bleacher Report writes: “San Francisco may be in first place, but they have yet to hit their stride—this is a team that blew two double-digit leads to division opponents this year and let the Seahawks hang around in this game after racing out to a 23-3 lead. The 49ers are moving the ball offensively and playing good defense at times, but to reclaim their status as a true power in the NFC San Francisco is going to need to play more consistently and start stacking some victories.”
There is no doubt the team hasn’t played their best game and has things to clean up. The 49ers have been a team that peaks at the end of the year typically.
NFL.com – The 49ers move up four spots to #14
Eric Edholm of NFL.com praised the 49ers rookies on Thursday night and added: “Brock Purdy had a good game overall, while Deebo Samuel and George Kittle both stepped up in Thursday’s important win at Seattle. It was also a rare big night for San Francisco rookies, as Isaac Guerendo, Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha (before he left with an injury) played big roles in the victory. The 49ers absolutely could not afford to crawl into a matchup against a rested Chiefs team this week with a 2-4 mark, and now they have a chance to get back over .500 with a statement by beating their AFC nemeses. Getting another rookie back in first-round receiver Ricky Pearsall would help, as his practice window opened Monday. Expecting instant coffee from Pearsall might be optimistic, but it’s never a bad thing adding a potential playmaker to the mix.
Edholm has Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, and Atlanta ranked ahead of the 49ers and I disagree with that assessment. Given Philadelphia’s struggles offensively, Pittsburgh’s change in quarterback despite winning four of six games, and Atlanta’s limited track record with Kirk Cousins under center, the 49ers are still better than those three teams.
CBS.com – The 49ers climb three spots to #11
Pete Prisco thinks the 49ers haven’t played their best game (which is true), and thinks it’s the worst time for that with the Chiefs up next while adding: “Winning at Seattle was big for this banged-up team. They still aren’t quite clicking all the way, which is not a good thing with the undefeated Chiefs on tap this week.”
Prisco agrees with my assessment of the 49ers being ahead of Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, but not the Falcons who come in at number nine.
Sunday is a big one for the 49ers, not just in the standings, but psychologically to prove they can beat Kansas City and Patrick Mahomes.