The San Francisco 49ers jumped into the top spot in most power rankings this week. There is still the stubborn USA Today rankings, which list them at No. 2.
San Francisco was at No. 1 in Dan Hanzus' ranking over at NFL.com, and the writer joined "Good Morning Football" on Wednesday to explain why the 49ers, not the impressive New Orleans Saints, took the top spot.
"I have to say, 8-0 deserves respect," Hanzus told Kyle Brandt. "And especially what happened on Thursday night. The scariest thing that happened on Halloween was Jimmy Garoppolo playing like a star because when you factor in everything else that's going on with this team, what they can do on defense, how they move the ball (with) the running game, how they're so well-coached, and now, if Garoppolo is going to take the next step as a quarterback, that's truly frightening to the rest of the NFC."
The 49ers have found several different ways to win this season. Close games, poor-weather games, blowouts, it really hasn't mattered. But for much of this 8-0 run, it was the defense's dominance carrying the team. Last Thursday night, it was quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo putting on a show as the defense struggled.
Garoppolo finished the game having completed 75.7 percent of his passes for 317 yards with four touchdowns, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 136.9. It was the first four-touchdown performance of his career.
"I just think the Niners, 8-0 with a quarterback on the rise, it's their time," Hanzus added.
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