The San Francisco 49ers fell heavily in power rankings a week ago after the team lost several players, many of whom were starters, to injuries. That didn't stop Kyle Shanahan's squad from embarrassing the home-team New York Giants on Sunday.
"It was a good learning experience for everyone," Shanahan told Peter King of NBC Sports on Sunday. "I just learned . . . our team likes football. People kinda counted us out, and that's how we felt a lot last year. It wasn't till we were about 7-0 I feel like people started taking us seriously. In football, you never stay the same; you're always a different team. You go through things together. But our depth and our love of the game—I think those things really helped us through a tough time."
The 49ers sit at 2-1 with the same record as two other division foes — the Arizona Cardinals and Los Angeles Rams.
The Seattle Seahawks are the only remaining undefeated team in the division. The 49ers and Seahawks will meet on November 1 and then again on January 3.
Those in charge of power rankings don't seem to know what to make of the injury-stricken 49ers. Some had San Francisco rising while others dropped the team despite its two-game win streak. It looks like the 49ers have more to prove during this upcoming home stretch.
San Francisco will host three games at Levi's Stadium over the next three weeks. The first will be on Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. Then the Miami Dolphins and Rams will visit.
Below is a sample of some of the more prominent power rankings around the web and where San Francisco currently stands within each.
ESPN
Current Ranking: 11
Previous rank: 9
"What we got wrong: Nick Bosa would make the leap to 16 sacks and finish in the top five of Defensive Player of the Year voting. Unfortunately for Bosa and the Niners, his breakthrough season never had the chance to take off, as he suffered a torn left ACL early in the second game of the season. Bosa was very good in the first week, and there's no reason to think he wasn't going to have a huge year before his injury. Alas, Bosa's injury means his season is over and his first double-digit-sack season will have to wait at least another year as the Niners look for new ways to generate pressure on the quarterback." — Nick Wagoner
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 12
Previous rank: 14
"No one's experienced worse injury luck than the 49ers this season. Luckily, they've had the schedule gods on their side. Kyle Shanahan's merry band of backups was more than good enough to take out the wretched Jets and Giants in consecutive weeks, and the Niners are 2-1 despite suffering a season's worth of setbacks in one month. Nick Mullens thrived in his first start in 21 months, throwing for 343 yards and a touchdown without the help tight end George Kittle, receiver Deebo Samuel or running backs Raheem Mostert and Tevin Coleman. How dominant was the Mullens-led offense vs. the G-Men? It ran 73 plays, held the ball for nearly 40 minutes and never punted ... the first time San Francisco managed that feat in nearly 27 years. That sound you hear is Jimmy Garoppolo furiously taping up his injured ankle." — Dan Hanzus
USA Today
Current Ranking: 12
Previous rank: 10
"After spending a week on the East Coast, shuttling between MetLife Stadium's turf and West Virginia, they head home to lick their copious wounds ... though reinforcements, including WR Deebo Samuel, seem to be inbound." — Nate Davis
Current Ranking: 13
Previous rank: 20
"It's a testament to the depth on the 49ers' roster that, despite missing 10 starters (and an extended stay out East amid a pandemic), they won decisively on Sunday. And it's a testament to the scheduling gods that they will ride out a soft part of the schedule as they wait for players with non-season-ending injuries to return." — Conor Orr
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 14
Previous rank: 16
"Winning the way they did Sunday against the Giants is a testament to the coaching staff considering all the injuries. But it will be hard navigating those hits for too long." — Pete Prisco
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 15
Previous rank: 14
"Someone forgot to tell the San Francisco 49ers they are toast. The Niners started their Week 3 tilt in New York short their starting quarterback (Jimmy Garoppolo). And their No. 1 running back (Raheem Mostert). And their No. 1 receiver (Deebo Samuel). And their star tight end (George Kittle). And their best cornerback (Richard Sherman). And their best edge-rusher (Nick Bosa). So of course the injury-ravaged 49ers drilled the Giants by 27 points." — NFL Staff
