The San Francisco 49ers knocked off the struggling Carolina Panthers, getting the latter's head coach, Matt Rhule, fired after the 37-14 beating. It was the Bay Area team's first matchup in a two-game East Coast trip. The 49ers didn't return to the West Coast, opting to spend the week practicing at The Greenbrier in West Virginia.
Sunday's win in Charlotte, North Carolina, improved the 49ers' record to 3-2, enough for the team to take sole possession of first place in the NFC West. It was a solid victory for head coach Kyle Shanahan's squad, but there is still room for improvement.
"Some drives (were good)," quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo said after the win. "I think we've still got room for improvement. There were some drives where we just killed ourselves. Simple things we can fix. But today, it was a good day. We were rolling pretty good."
Below is a sample of some of the more prominent power rankings around the web and where San Francisco currently stands within each.
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 4
Previous rank: 5
"The 49ers took care of business against a Panthers team set adrift, coasting to a 37-15 road win that put San Francisco in sole possession of first place in the muddled NFC West. The victory came at a cost, however: Emmanuel Moseley, a rising star at cornerback who registered a pick-six on Sunday, tore the ACL in his left knee and is out for the season. San Francisco also finished the game without star pass rusher Nick Bosa (groin) and kicker Robbie Gould (knee). Any length of absence for Bosa will be felt: The two-time Pro Bowler entered Sunday leading the NFL in sacks and pressures." — Dan Hanzus
ESPN
Current Ranking: 6
Previous rank: 12
"Injuries threaten the 49ers' playoff hopes. This has been a common refrain for the Niners in recent years, with a wide range of results. In 2019, they were fortunate enough that most of their injuries weren't season-ending, and so far, that has been the case again this year. But the 49ers are walking a fine line and have dug deep into their depth already. If they can manage to weather the storm, they should be able to stay in the mix to win the NFC West into December and January." — Nick Wagoner
USA Today
Current Ranking: 6
Previous rank: 11
"The injuries keep mounting – the loss of CB Emmanuel Moseley (torn ACL) was Sunday's worst – yet the Niners keep winning, by a collective 61-24 the last two weeks. They're the only team in the NFC West above .500." — Nate Davis
Yahoo! Sports
Current Ranking: 6
Previous rank: 9
"Not that it's hard to shut down the Panthers these days, but the defense continues to look like the best in the NFL. The issue now is injuries. Defensive end Nick Bosa injured his groin, safety Jimmie Ward has a broken hand and cornerback Emmanuel Moseley has a torn ACL. Those are big concerns." — Frank Schwab
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 7
Previous rank: 10
"The San Francisco 49ers are hitting their stride. Granted, beating the hapless Panthers hasn't been especially difficult this season. But the manner in which the 49ers dispatched Carolina was still impressive. Running back Jeff Wilson Jr. picked up 120 rushing yards and a touchdown, while quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo threw for 253 yards and a pair of scores. The defense held the Panthers to just 308 yards and three third-down conversions in 15 attempts. There were some notable injuries Sunday. But as (writer/analyst Maurice) Moton noted, the Niners have as much momentum right now as just about any team in the NFC." — NFL Staff
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 7
Previous rank: 9
"That defense traveled well to face Carolina, which will be their calling card all year long. The Nick Bosa injury bears watching." — Pete Prisco
Pro Football Talk
Current Ranking: 7
Previous rank: 11
"There's one team in the NFC that could give the Eagles all they could handle in the playoffs. And that's this team." — Mike Florio
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 10
Previous rank: 12
"The 49ers were the knockout blow to the Matt Rhule era in Carolina. They are a great test of preparation for an opponent. We don't expect every team to beat the 49ers, but who is giving up more than seven yards a carry against them?" — Conor Orr