placeholder image

Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports


Top-10 team? 49ers’ climb in power rankings continues after 3-0 start

Sep 24, 2019 at 12:11 PM--


Videos are auto-populated by an affiliate. This site has no control over the videos that appear above.
The San Francisco 49ers' hot start to the 2019 season has made those in the national media take notice. Of course, some still question the collective strength of the team's opponents so far, which makes them question the team itself.

Still, the 49ers sit at 3-0 after their latest victory, a 24-20 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday.

While power rankings don't typically mean a whole lot, they can be entertaining and give fans a good indication of how their favorite teams are perceived nationally. The 49ers have seen a significant jump since the start of the season, and the climb up several rankings continues.

San Francisco is entering its bye week and won't play another game until Monday, October 7 when it hosts the Cleveland Browns at Levi's Stadium.

The 49ers lost starting cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon to a foot sprain on Sunday but could get a boost with the return of several other players. Head coach Kyle Shanahan remains hopeful that running back Tevin Coleman (ankle), and wide receivers Jalen Hurd (back) and Trent Taylor (foot) could return for the game against the Browns.

Below is a small sample of some of the more prominent power rankings around the web and where San Francisco stands within each.

H/t to Patrick Tulini for letting me know the power rankings were up.

CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 7
Previous rank: 11
"Do you believe in this team? So far, so good, even if they haven't exactly faced a big-time schedule. But you are what your record says you are, right?" — Pete Prisco

NFL.com
Current Ranking: 7
Previous rank: 13
"Sunday's win was a minor miracle; not many teams finish a game with five turnovers -- including three inside the opponent's 20-yard line -- and come out clean on the other side. Consider it a testament to the team's resolve, and the continued progress of Jimmy Garoppolo, who wiped away two Steelers second-half leads with touchdown drives." — Dan Hanzus

Pro Football Focus
Current Ranking: 11
Previous rank: 16
"After a 3-0 start, the 49ers have risen steadily in the PFF ELO rankings from 23rd to 11th. Jimmy Garoppolo has been good, not great (14th-ranked passing grade, 72.6). He has benefited greatly from Kyle Shanahan's generous usage of play-action passing (11.0 yards per attempt with, 6.6 without). The team's improvement has been largely driven by its defense, which has risen from the league's worst overall grade in 2018 all the way to third in 2019." — Kevin Cole and Timo Riske

Interestingly, the 49ers saw a slight drop in USA Today's power rankings.

USA Today
Current Ranking: 10
Previous rank: 9
"Yes, they were lucky to survive five turnovers Sunday. But aside from Patriots, Niners only team with a top-five offense and defense so far." — Nate Davis

And then there was no movement from the group over at The MMQB.

Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 11
Previous rank: 11
"Third straight AFC North opponent coming up after the break. Hard to judge where this unbeaten team fits into the NFC picture until it starts facing serious conference opposition." — The MMQB Staff



Facebook Comments



More San Francisco 49ers News


placeholder image

Will 49ers' position in one power ranking stir debate?

By David Bonilla
Mar 25

Power rankings in March don't mean much, given that the draft has yet to occur, but they offer an early glimpse into the media's perspective regarding each team's chances during the upcoming season. Fresh off a Super Bowl appearance and coming agonizingly close to securing their sixth Lombardi Trophy, the San Francisco 49ers approach the 2024 season with optimism. Despite enduring a gut-wrenching loss, their offseason moves signal a determined effort to bolster their roster for another run at Super Bowl glory. The 49ers' defensive front underwent significant renovations in free agency. The team parted ways with Arik Armstead but welcomed potential impact players like Leonard Floyd and Maliek Collins. In the


placeholder image

49ers view Isaac Yiadom as leading candidate to start at CB, says insider

By David Bonilla
Mar 21

The San Francisco 49ers' signing of cornerback Isaac Yiadom to a one-year deal wasn't a headline-grabbing move. It wasn't even the Bay Area team's most significant free-agency move thus far. That would be defensive end Leonard Floyd signing a two-year deal with the 49ers. However, San Francisco hopes Yiadom proves to be one of its more underrated signings. The 28-year-old defensive back is coming off his best NFL season. Yiadom's 81.1 overall grade and 80.4 coverage grade from Pro Football Focus were career highs. Opposing quarterbacks completed 50 percent of their passes (22 of 44) and owned an 84.4 passer rating when targeting the former New Orleans Saints defender in 2023. RELATED:


placeholder image

49ers' Brock Purdy delivers post-game speech to Iowa State women's basketball team

By David Bonilla
Mar 26

San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy and his new wife, Jenna, attended Sunday's college basketball game to support their alma mater, Iowa State, as they faced Stanford in the second round of the women's NCAA basketball tournament. "It means so much [to be here]," Purdy told the Associated Press. "As an alumni you're so proud to see the program do so well and going through this tournament and having the success that they've had. I've had their back. Blessed to be here to support them." However, Stanford's fans were the last ones cheering. The Cardinal beat the Cyclones in a thrilling game that featured 18 lead


placeholder image

49ers still favored to win Super Bowl 59 after first wave of free agency

By David Bonilla
Mar 20

After falling just short of championship glory in February, the San Francisco 49ers are eyeing another opportunity in Super Bowl 59, and oddsmakers are backing their ambitions. The latest defeat was the second unsuccessful Super Bowl trip of the Kyle Shanahan and John Lynch era. Now, the Niners own the best odds in the league (+550) to finally hoist the Vince Lombardi Trophy once more. Super Bowl 59 will be held on Sunday, February 9, 2025, at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The team that dashed the 49ers' championship dreams in February, the Kansas City Chiefs, boast the second-best odds (+600) in the NFL to win Super Bowl 59. Among the NFC West teams, the Los Angeles Rams have the next-best odds after the 49ers, with distant +3500 odds,


Latest

Trending News

Share 49ersWebzone