NFL power rankings: Where 49ers stand after win vs. Patriots originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
We’re a quarter of the way through the 2024 NFL season and the real hierarchy of the league is starting to take shape.
Early surprise candidates are starting to look like pretenders and top teams continue to show their vulnerabilities, while the worst teams are still… terrible. Shocking!
Can the Chiefs offense overcome the loss of Rashee Rice? Did the Vikings’ vaunted defense finally show cracks in a collapse near the second half? Are the bears finally ready to take off? Do the Lions have the best offense in the NFL?
Here’s where the 49ers and the rest of the league enter Week 5:
32. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 32)
Balance: 1-3
A primetime game featuring a team on their third-string quarterback versus a team that had to replace their terrible quarterback with another bad quarterback. We are all losers in this situation. A win is a win, but Mason Rudolph doesn’t exactly improve their position.
31. Carolina Panthers (Last week: 31)
Balance: 1-3
Andy Dalton will make them fill with pride. Another watchable week of Carolina football. They are now doing the bare minimum.
30. New England Patriots (Last week: 30)
Balance: 1-3
It’s Drake Maye time. It’s been Drake Maye time. What are we doing here? This violation is incalculable.
29. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last week: 29)
Balance: 0-4
A step in the right direction for Trevor Lawrence, but he cannot yet deny the fraud allegations. Is it Tank Bigsby time in Duval?
28. New York Giants (Last week: 27)
Balance: 1-3
They hung around in a game against the Cowboys, which is probably more of a slam against the Cowboys than a compliment to New York. Malik Nabers could break rookie records this season if Daniel Jones continues to force-feed him.
27. Miami Dolphins (Last week: 23)
Balance: 1-3
I understand not having starting and backup quarterbacks, but Tyler Huntley really can’t do better than 12 points and 96 passing yards with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and De’Von Achane? Real? Just throw screen passes, man.
26. Denver Broncos (Last week: 28)
Balance: 2-2
At one point in the first half, Bo Nix had completed seven passes for negative yards. Really impressive. This is the worst foul in the league. But… they won?
25. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 26)
Balance: 2-2
The Raiders are so funny. A win over the Ravens was followed by a loss to the Panthers, followed by a win over the Browns. They have that dog in them at the most random moments.
24. Chicago Bears (Last week: 25)
Balance: 2-2
A fairly clean game from Caleb Williams, who is improving every week. D’Andre Swift heard all the chatter and finally decided to be a good running back.
23. Indianapolis Colts (Last week: 24)
Balance: 2-2
Two very different scenarios, but Joe Flacco can do for the Colts what Dalton is doing for the Panthers. Competence at the quarterback position can go a long way.
22. Arizona Cardinals (Last week: 21)
Balance: 1-3
The defense is going to give up a lot of yards and a lot of points, and the offense can only hold up if Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison, and James Conner are all clicking. There will be some high highs and some low lows this season.
21. Los Angeles Rams (Last week: 20)
Balance: 1-3
No comeback this week. The offense could continue to look like this until Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua return. Run, Kyren Williams, run.
20. Cleveland Browns (Last week: 18)
Balance: 1-3
It’s week 4 and every week I’ve said how disgusting this violation is. A leopard does not change its spots.
19. Los Angeles Chargers (Last week: 19)
Balance: 2-2
The defense can hold its own. Ladd McConkey may be Justin Herbert’s only legitimate weapon in the air, but this offense still lacks the necessary star power.
18. Cincinnati Bengals (Last week: 22)
Balance: 1-3
No one expected them to lose to the Panthers and fall to 0-4, right? Right?! A necessary victory, but it doesn’t tell us much about who they are.
17. Atlanta Falcons (Last week: 15)
Balance: 2-2
If Kirk Cousins ​​can’t get it done through the air, it sure would be nice to turn to Bijan Robinson. But the ghost of Arthur Smith won’t let that happen.
16. Washington Commanders (Last week: 17)
Balance: 3-1
Are the Commanders a playoff… no, that’s crazy… Or are they? They look good. I want to believe. Really and truly.
15. Green Bay Packers (Last week: 14)
Balance: 2-2
Was Jordan Love rusty? Yes, he’s made too many costly mistakes. Did they also play some of the best defense in the league? Yes. It’s going to be a dogfight for this division, as evidenced by the second half of this match.
14. New York Jets (Last week: 11)
Balance: 2-2
I understand the Broncos defense isn’t half bad, but seriously? Nine points is all you can score against them? I still think things are going well for Aaron Rodgers and Co., but they’re not firing on all cylinders yet.
13. Seattle Seahawks (Last week: 13)
Balance: 3-1
Geno Smith continues to prove he’s an above-average quarterback, but if the running game doesn’t work early, he’s not the guy to pull off an epic comeback against an elite team. Seattle needed Kenneth Walker for all four quarters in the second half.
12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last week: 16)
Balance: 3-1
Just when I think I’m out, they pull me right back in. Baker Mayfield is the Eagles’ Boogeyman. Last week’s disaster could have been a blip.
11. New Orleans Saints (Last week: 9)
Balance: 2-1
Derek Carr is Derek Carr again. They called me a crazy man for not crowning them Super Bowl champions after week 2. They are moving into good, but not great, terrain.
10. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: 10)
Balance: 3-1
I think…Justin Fields could be the man in the Steel City. His floor is lower than Russell Wilson’s, but his ceiling is undoubtedly higher. Let him acclimatize, you have the defenses to support the growing pains.
9. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 12)
Balance: 2-2
Nothing screams “all is well” than barely pulling out a win over the Giants. They appear to be making the switch to Rico Dowdle as RB1, which is the right move to try and revive some semblance of a running game, but there are still issues.
8. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 3)
Balance: 2-2
This defense could be as much of a burden as it was last season. The offense isn’t the same without its top two receivers. Who would have thought that?
7. San Francisco 49ers (Last week: 8)
Balance: 2-2
Brock Purdy is a wizard. Fred Warner is a legitimate DPOY candidate. Both play their asses off. They beat a terrible team and the offense sputtered in the second half. Nothing to write home about.
6. Baltimore Ravens (Last week: 7)
Balance: 2-2
Lamar Jackson was peak Lamar Jackson, Derrick Henry continues to prove he still has a lot left in the tank, but perhaps most impressive was the defense returning to form and delivering against a high-powered offense.
5. Houston Texans (Last week: 5)
Balance: 3-1
CJ Stroud and his weapons do it through the air, but this offense is too one-dimensional without Joe Mixon.
4. Buffalo Bills (Last week: 2)
Balance: 3-1
Even on an off night, Josh Allen still made stunning plays, but it wasn’t enough against a Ravens defense that looks just as dominant as it did last season. Buffalo’s defense also surrendered… *checks notes*… 271 (!!!) rushing yards? That is worrying.
3. Detroit Lions (Last week: 4)
Balance: 3-1
Is Jared Goff catching touchdown passes here? Oh, this is a violation all the way back. He and Ben Johnson were in their bags. However, the defense showed flashes of the NFC Championship Game collapse in the second half.
2. Minnesota Vikings (Last week: 6)
Balance: 4-0
I want to preface this by saying that I think they are legit, BUT Sam Darnold showed flashes of his old self at inopportune times. In the second half the defense failed and came close to a 21-point lead.
1. Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: 1)
Balance: 4-0
Patrick Mahomes may have lost his new weapon of choice for a long time, if not the rest of the season. They always seem to find ways to get it done, but I have a feeling this offense will be tested from here on out.
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