After a strong first half, the San Francisco 49ers suffered a heartbreaking 40-34 loss to the Detroit Lions on Monday night in their final home game of the season. The defeat marked the team's 10th loss of the season, securing last place in the NFC West regardless of the outcome of their Week 18 matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.
Quarterback Brock Purdy had a mixed performance, throwing for a career-high 377 yards and three touchdowns. However, his effort was overshadowed by two costly interceptions that helped swing the momentum in the Lions' favor. Late in the game, Purdy exited with an elbow injury, leaving the NFL world anxiously awaiting updates following further tests on Tuesday morning.
Kicker Jake Moody's struggles continued. He missed both of his field goal attempts and an extra point, raising questions about his future with the team.
Rookie wide receiver Ricky Pearsall and All-Pro tight end George Kittle delivered standout performances, but their efforts weren't enough to carry the 49ers to victory. Pearsall showed flashes of his potential, while Kittle reaffirmed his status as an elite tight end.
The 49ers now turn their focus to Sunday's game against the Cardinals, aiming to snap a three-game losing streak and finish the season on a positive note.
What does the national media think about the 49ers compared to the rest of the league? Below is a sample of some of the most prominent power rankings from around the web, showing where San Francisco currently stands in each. As always, the highest rankings are listed first.
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 16
Previous Ranking: 21
"In the first half Monday, Brock Purdy was delivering in a game that may not have meant much for the 49ers, but meant a great deal to a quarterback who is still struggling to prove that he is worthy of a long-term deal commensurate with the market. In the second half, Purdy was playing like a quarterback who was going to be subject to the most grating and frustrating offseason-long conversation in recent NFL history. After the game, Purdy's medical evaluation on his throwing shoulder became one of the biggest stories in the NFL with massive ramifications for the free agent QB market on tap depending on the prognosis." — Conor Orr
The Ringer
Current Ranking: 19
Previous Ranking: 22
"There was a time not all that long ago when the 49ers played like the current Detroit Lions. They used to be the team on the cutting edge of the run- and play-action games, and the motion offense that's popular in Detroit and elsewhere largely started with San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan's framework. When the 49ers were dominating the NFC as recently as last season, they looked like the faster and more physical football team no matter who they played. Now, the 49ers are watching their window for Super Bowl contention close. Detroit now holds the title as the best-coached team in football, and Shanahan's aging and battered roster just doesn't have enough juice to hang anymore." — Diante Lee
ESPN
Current Ranking: 20
Previous Ranking: 22
"There are a lot of important contract situations to monitor for the Niners, but how those play out will depend largely on what happens with Purdy (and when). They have a strong track record of getting deals done with players they value, but they've often taken longer than either side would prefer. This time, expect the 49ers to try to work quickly to ensure Purdy's deal is done, so they have cost certainty heading into free agency. Since Purdy took over as starter in 2022, he ranks among the top seven in QBR, touchdown passes, passing yards and EPA/dropback, all of which positions him for the largest raise in NFL history." — Nick Wagoner
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 20
Previous Ranking: 21
"If you're a 49ers fan, you had to love what you saw from Ricky Pearsall against the Lions on Monday. His opportunities have been limited, but he gave the team an early spark and turned in the best game of his career four months after being shot in the chest. You can just envision all the wonderful ways Kyle Shanahan will scheme up plays to this dude the next few years. We also saw a highly motivated and dialed-in Brock Purdy, looking like a man eager to answer questions about a potential forthcoming extension with as sharp a first half as he's had this season. Then again, his two second-half interceptions turned the game in the Lions' favor, and he left late with an elbow injury and will have an MRI on Tuesday. It's been that kind of year, and it's feeling more and more like a redux of 2020. The debate over Purdy's contract will dominate the coming weeks, but there are still plenty of reasons to think a bounceback for this team is entirely possible, even if the Niners truly missed the window in which Purdy was paid at a pauper rate." — Eric Edholm
USA Today
Current Ranking: 20
Previous Ranking: 22
"Drink this in – over the past 22 seasons, they've either advanced as far as the NFC championship game or (like this year) have missed the playoffs entirely." — Nate Davis
Yahoo! Sports
Current Ranking: 20
Previous Ranking: 21
"Brock Purdy was excellent on Monday night, with 377 yards, but the troubling part was him leaving the game with a right elbow injury in the last two minutes and not being able to return. Injuries have been a part of Purdy's NFL journey, so that wasn't a good sign." — Frank Schwab
The Athletic
Current Ranking: 21
Previous Ranking: 22
"It seems like Kyle Shanahan ages a decade and everyone writes the 49ers' obituary with every loss this season, but things are probably fine. Brandon Aiyuk and Christian McCaffrey should be healthy next year. Deebo Samuel, George Kittle and Brock Purdy will be back next year. Purdy looked great for much of Monday night's game before leaving with an injury in the final two minutes. He led San Francisco to touchdowns on four of its first five drives and threw for a career-high 377 yards." — Josh Kendall
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 21
Previous Ranking: 22
"Purdy is going to get paid. And at least some of his regression in 2024 can be traced to all the injuries around him. But this contract could define the next few years for the 49ers. Once teams have that massive quarterback deal on the books, it has a significant effect on roster construction. So, John Lynch would well-served to bake some insurance into the deal, whether it's an out a few years in or just a shorter-term deal. Because while Purdy was a lock to be San Fran's quarterback for the long term at this time a year ago, that certainty is shakier now." — Gary Davenport
The 33rd Team
Current Ranking: 22
Previous Ranking: 22
"San Francisco's offense moved the ball up and down the field, but two interceptions and two missed field goals sealed its fate. The 49ers couldn't get a stop all night on defense, and that has been their biggest issue for most of the season. John Lynch and Kyle Shanahan must need to find a way to address that unit this offseason if they want to get back to contending for Super Bowls." — Marcus Mosher
Pro Football Talk
Current Ranking: 22
Previous Ranking: 22
"Next year's team will likely look a lot different than this year's team." — Mike Florio
Sporting News
Current Ranking: 22
Previous Ranking: 22
"The 49ers' offense still has a lot of pride under Kyle Shanahan, and the defense is what needs some real reinforcing next season. But this Super Bowl hangover shouldn't be more than a one-season, injury-related hiccup." — Vinnie Iyer
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 23
Previous Ranking: 23
"The injuries proved to be too much for them this season, but they showed some real fight against the Lions. That was veteran heart showing up." — Pete Prisco