Are they good? Are they bad? Maybe it depends on the week. No one really seems to be sure what to make of the San Francisco 49ers when it comes to power rankings. One week they are being walloped by the Miami Dolphins. The next, they are knocking off the Los Angeles Rams.
The 49ers finally earned their first home win of the season by beating the favored Rams 24-16 at Levi's Stadium on Sunday night as many were prepared to write off Kyle Shanahan's squad. Things don't get any easier for the 49ers, who will travel to Foxborough this weekend to face the New England Patriots before matchups against the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, and New Orleans Saints.
The 49ers received some more bad news on the injury front. Coach Shanahan informed reporters that featured running back Raheem Mostert and center Ben Garland are likely headed to injured reserve. Mostert suffered a high-ankle sprain on Sunday night while Garland is dealing with a calf strain.
The win over the Rams did give the 49ers a boost in national power rankings, though. While the team still sits at the bottom of the NFC West standings, the division win proved that critics shouldn't be quick to dismiss the defending NFC champions.
Below is a sample of some of the more prominent power rankings around the web and where San Francisco currently stands within each.
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 15
Previous rank: 21
"The 49ers' last couple games have given us a perfect example of why you can't overreact to each game. You might have thought the season was spiraling two Sundays ago when they received a beatdown from the Dolphins. They came right back with a smart game plan to get the ball out of Jimmy Garoppolo's hands quickly and let his receivers do the rest. For a team that is ravaged with injuries and facing as brutal a schedule stretch as any team faces this year, that was a massive win against the division rival Rams." — Mitch Goldich
ESPN
Current Ranking: 17
Previous rank: 17
"The Niners have had more impactful injuries than just about every team in the league, but none has hurt more than Bosa's season-ending torn ACL. This is a team that is built around the idea of the defense creating pressure on opposing quarterbacks with its front four. Bosa is the team's best defensive player and leads that defensive line. Without him, the Niners are blitzing at a much higher rate after bringing extra rushers the fifth-fewest times in 2019. Simply put, Bosa was one of the players on the roster the Niners could least afford to lose, and he won't be back until 2021." — Nick Wagoner
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 17
Previous rank: 21
"Just a huge win on Sunday night for the 49ers, whose season was teetering on the brink after last week's blowout home loss to the Dolphins. Jimmy Garoppolo looked healthier and much more like himself against the Rams, throwing three touchdown passes in an efficient performance. The offensive line didn't allow a sack and managed the near-impossible by neutralizing Aaron Donald, who finished with just two tackles and one quarterback hit. With the game on the line in the final minutes, Kyle Shanahan called for a toss to a healthy and dangerous Deebo Samuel, who powered his way for the game-sealing first down. The schedule ahead remains foreboding, but the Niners might be up to the challenge." — Dan Hanzus
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 18
Previous rank: 21
"The San Francisco 49ers aren't easy to get a bead on. One week after looking terrible against the Miami Dolphins, the 49ers played perhaps their best game of the 2020 season while downing the Los Angeles Rams 24-16. ... It was important for the Niners to wash off the stink of their blowout loss to the Dolphins and get some positive momentum. Week 6 was the beginning of a seven-game gauntlet that will define their season. Next up is a trip face the New England Patriots, followed by a trip to Seattle to lock horns with the rival Seahawks." — NFL Staff
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 19
Previous rank: 21
"Beating the Rams is a good sign for this beat-up team. Kyle Shanahan did a heck of a job. Now Jimmy Garoppolo gets to face his former team in the Patriots." — Pete Prisco
USA Today
Current Ranking: 19
Previous rank: 20
"ICYMI, Deebo Samuel deemed himself, fellow WR Brandon Aiyuk and TE George Kittle the "YAC Bros." earlier this month. Samuel is producing second-best 12.5 YAC per reception, better than his brothers combined (10.7)." — Nate Davis