The San Francisco 49ers achieved a milestone they hadn't reached since September—back-to-back victories. The team defeated the visiting Carolina Panthers 20-9 on Monday Night Football at Levi's Stadium, aiming to build momentum for the final stretch of the season and—hopefully—the postseason.
It wasn't a flawless performance. The 49ers committed three turnovers—all interceptions thrown by quarterback Brock Purdy—but still managed to improve to 8-4 on the season.
Despite the offensive miscues, San Francisco's defense stepped up, helping the team secure the win even as it missed key contributors during an injury-marred 2025 campaign.
"Ever since losing [LB] Fred [Warner] and stuff, it's been a bunch of young guys—guys who haven't had their ops yet," head coach Kyle Shanahan said of the defense. "I think each week you can feel them in practice get better and better."
Next up, the 49ers face a road matchup against the Cleveland Browns. A win there is crucial for staying in contention for a playoff spot.
How does the national media view the 49ers compared to the rest of the league? Below is a roundup of the latest NFL power rankings, highlighting where San Francisco currently stands in each. As always, the highest rankings are listed first.
One thing is clear: the win over the Panthers didn't sway analysts much, leaving the 49ers in a familiar spot in most national rankings.
ESPN
Current Ranking: 9
Previous Ranking: 9
"Thanksgiving game memory: 49ers trounce the Cowboys in 1972. There are a few to choose from here, but the Niners throttling one of their fiercest rivals 31-10 ranks at the top. The Cowboys were the defending Super Bowl champions, while the Niners were still finding their way with a young quarterback named Steve Spurrier replacing an injured John Brodie. Spurrier was efficient in Dallas, but linebacker Skip Vanderbundt stole the show. He returned a fumble 73 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter and capped the game with a 21-yard pick-six." — Nick Wagoner
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 9
Previous Ranking: 10
"Brock Purdy's three first-half interceptions were the last thing the 49ers needed, and you almost wondered if there might be a switch if that nonsense kept up. But Purdy looked locked in after halftime, and Christian McCaffrey and George Kittle played big roles, just like old times. San Francisco's defense also turned in a hellacious effort against a Carolina offense that had gained some steam one week prior. Robert Saleh's group has been through the ringer with season-ending injuries, and the Niners were undressed in the big loss to the Rams. But after a three-takeaway performance in Week 11 and a smothering showing Monday, the defense has regained some pride." — Eric Edholm
The Athletic
Current Ranking: 11
Previous Ranking: 11
"There's no QB competition … right? In his second game back from injury, Brock Purdy was intercepted three times (all in the first half) and managed only 193 passing yards. The 49ers leaned on Christian McCaffrey (for good reason), but they're going to need more from Purdy down the stretch." — Josh Kendall and Chad Graff
Sporting News
Current Ranking: 11
Previous Ranking: 13
"The 49ers are getting healthier offensively to help their injury-worn defense at the right time. They felt it more despite the mistakes from Brock Purdy after winning Monday night vs. the Panthers." — Vinnie Iyer
Pro Football Talk
Current Ranking: 12
Previous Ranking: 14
"Unlike 2020 and 2024, the injuries aren't slowing them down." — Mike Florio
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 13
Previous Ranking: 13
"The San Francisco 49ers have been repeatedly hampered by injuries, but they keep finding ways to hang around the NFC playoff race. On Monday night, they overcame a three-interception game by Brock Purdy to win fairly convincingly over the upstart Panthers. Defensive coordinator Robert Saleh has done a masterful job of reading a very young defense this season. When Purdy, Christian McCaffrey, George Kittle and Jauan Jennings are all healthy, the offense is formidable. With wins over the Seahawks and the Rams on their resume, the 49ers must be taken seriously." — Kris Knox
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 13
Previous Ranking: 14
"Kyle Shanahan didn't have the bullpen warming up during Brock Purdy's struggles early on during Monday Night Football but he's not exactly the sentimental type. Mac Jones has a body of work that could potentially make the remainder of this season subject to palace intrigue." — Conor Orr
Yahoo! Sports
Current Ranking: 13
Previous Ranking: 13
"Kyle Shanahan might not have a section of his play sheet other than 'Get the ball to Christian McCaffrey.' It was another 31 touches for McCaffrey, and he responded with 142 yards and a touchdown. Can McCaffrey last the whole season with this heavy of a workload?" — Frank Schwab
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 14
Previous Ranking: 15
"They beat the Panthers on Monday night, but Brock Purdy can't play the way he did if they are going to push for a playoff spot. He has to be better." — Pete Prisco
USA Today
Current Ranking: 14
Previous Ranking: 15
"RB Christian McCaffrey is on track for his third season with 2,000 yards from scrimmage and second with both 1,000 yards rushing and receiving − a feat no player in NFL history has managed on multiple occasions." — Nate Davis
The Ringer
Current Ranking: 17
Previous Ranking: 17
"The 49ers beat the Panthers on Monday night and seem like a safe bet to make the playoffs as long as they beat the Browns and Titans in the next two weeks. Use your eyes, though. This is not a real playoff team. Quarterback Brock Purdy had no velocity on his throws and threw three of the worst interceptions of Week 12. Head coach Kyle Shanahan has already done as much as possible to scheme up a real offense. This season is as cooked as your Thanksgiving dinner is about to be." — Diante Lee