NFL power rankings: Where 49ers sit after big win vs. Cowboys originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
SANTA CLARA – There are nine weeks remaining in the 2024 NFL season, but for some teams their playoff hopes may have ended today.
It was a put-it-or-shut-up week for many mediocre teams, and while some answered the call, others succumbed to the pressure.
Jayden Daniels played hero and delivered one of the most memorable games in league history. Jets fans are starting to PANIC and while some contenders got healthy, others continued to lose key pieces.
Here the 49ers sit heading into Week 9 after a blowout win over the Dallas Cowboys.
32. Carolina Panthers (Last week: 32)
Record: 1-7
If Bryce Young can throw for over 220 yards and two touchdowns every week – or close to it – it’s worth letting him develop. Even if he has multiple sales.
31. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 31)
Record: 1-6
There were signs of offensive competence, especially from Tony Pollard and Calvin Ridley. But the rest of this team is terrible.
30. New York Giants (Last week: 28)
Balance: 2-6
I officially call on Congress to draft and immediately pass legislation that will indefinitely ban the Giants from playing prime-time games. This is ridiculous. Daniel Jones was predictably terrible.
29. New England Patriots (Last week: 30)
Balance: 2-6
Jacoby Brissett is a great backup quarterback because he can take over as the starter and maybe keep you around long enough to win the game like he did today. Hopefully Drake Maye is back soon and Brissett can return as a backup.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 25)
Balance: 2-6
To be proud is to compete with the defending champions and lose by one score. Excellent work. They keep doing what they should do.
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last week: 27)
Balance: 2-6
More decent play from Trevor Lawrence, but it’s just not enough. Tank Bigsby should be RB1, but they’re not going anywhere.
26. New Orleans Saints (Last week: 23)
Balance: 2-6
Derek Carr is just an average quarterback, but this offense is absolutely rotten without him. I’m afraid they’ve dug themselves into too deep a hole for when he comes back.
25. Cleveland Browns (Last week: 29)
Balance: 2-6
Jameis. Winston. Lines. Jump on his back and let him carry you to .500 and nothing more. The atmosphere is infinitely better. Very impressive victory.
24. New York Jets (Last week: 20)
Balance: 2-6
This was a game you can’t lose and they lost. To the patriots. Embarrassing. Stick a fork in the Jets, they’re done.
23. Miami Dolphins (Last week: 26)
Balance: 2-5
Tua Tagovailoa is back, and so is this offense. Almost. However, at 2-5 they cannot afford many more losses. They need to be on the run, and fast, if there is any hope of turning the season around.
22. Indianapolis Colts (Last week: 21)
Balance: 4-4
Anthony Richardson is infuriating to watch. He’ll make some impressive big throws per game, but he’ll have 22 (???) incompletions along the way.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (Last week: 17)
Balance: 3-5
This could be one of the worst defenses in the league, and will be the main reason why they likely won’t make the playoffs. You can’t ask Joe Burow to win shootouts every week.
20. Los Angeles Rams (Last week: 24)
Balance: 3-4
This is a completely different team at full strength. Welcome back, Cooper Kupp. Welcome back, Puka Nacua. Kyren Williams, keep doing your thing. Time to run.
19. Arizona Cardinals (Last week: 22)
Balance: 4-4
This is the Cardinals offense we expected this season. Even against a pretty decent Miami defense. Their ascent will only continue as long as Marvin Harrison’s does.
18. Seattle Seahawks (Last week: 16)
Balance: 4-4
No run game, no win. It’s that simple now that DK Metcalf is out. Geno Smith can’t play hero without his full range of weapons.
17. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 14)
Balance: 3-4
How much money are you paying Dak Prescott? Good grief. Heads could roll any day now.
16. Los Angeles Chargers (Last week: 19)
Balance: 4-3
Justin Herbert has his man and it’s Ladd McConkey. Could we have a Cooper Kupp lite on our hands?
15. Denver Broncos (Last week: 18)
Balance: 5-3
I humbly admit that I was somewhat wrong about Bo Nix. I still don’t think he’s anything special, but he continues to develop as a passer every week. He’s actually pretty decent.
14. Chicago Bears (Last week: 13)
Balance: 4-3
Caleb Williams lost the starting quarterback battle in the first round and looked pretty bad in it. There will be growing pains. No reason to panic.
13. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last week: 11)
Balance: 4-4
Baker Mayfield can still get it done through the air without Mike Evans and Chris Godwin, but it won’t be pretty. It won’t get any easier from now on.
12. San Francisco 49ers (Last week: 15)
Balance: 4-4
The offense started slow, but man, they turned it on in the second half. A huge win heading into the bye week, where Christian McCaffrey could be waiting for them at the other end. Is this the starting point for the season?
11. Atlanta Falcons (Last week: 12)
Balance: 5-3
Kirk Cousins does wonders for this offense. He took a few weeks to shake off the rust and we’re starting to see the high-powered Falcons offense we expected. Kyle Pitts’ fantasy managers are pinching themselves.
10. Green Bay Packers (Last week: 10)
Balance: 6-2
Malik Willis filled in admirably for the injured Jordan Love. Where have I heard this story before? Oh yes, twice this season. Can they afford another absence of several weeks?
9. Washington Commanders (Last week: 9)
Balance: 6-2
What do we call this, the Maryland Miracle? Either way, what an incredible moment for Jayden Daniels. The Offensive Rookie of the Year campaign has started again. And possibly more?
8. Houston Texans (Last week: 6)
Balance: 6-2
CJ Stroud has been inconsistent this season, but Joe Mixon has been the straw that stirs the drink. They may have to rely on him more if Stefon Diggs misses an extended period.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: 7)
Balance: 6-2
Russell Wilson and the Steelers could have won this game blindfolded. Pittsburgh’s defense dominating Daniel Jones was the lock of the century. It’s also worth noting that Najee Harris is looking really good this season and no one is really talking about it.
6. Baltimore Ravens (Last week: 4)
Balance: 5-3
The Ravens’ defense on the road is all bark and no bite. A good Browns defense forced Lamar Jackson and Co. to deviate from their game plan.
5. Minnesota Vikings (Last week: 3)
Balance: 5-2
We have a controversy on our hands. Yes, the referees missed a call, but that can’t be the case the excuse for a 10 point loss. They just got defeated.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 8)
Balance: 5-2
Jalen Hurts was masterful, stuffing Saquon Barkley for touchdowns, but I don’t think they care. The Birds are back in the form of the first half of 2023.
3. Buffalo Bills (Last week: 5)
Balance: 6-2
A healthy James Cook and a more balanced passing attack do wonders for Josh Allen, who didn’t even have to get the ball to Amari Cooper.
2. Detroit Lions (Last week: 2)
Balance: 6-1
You can understand my surprise when I opened the box score and saw that Jared Goff had 85 passing yards in a game where Detroit scored 52 points. It’s hard to argue that this isn’t the best team in the league right now. I want to bring them out, I really do. But then there’s the…
1. Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: 1)
Balance: 7-0
The champions remain undefeated. They will keep this place as long as it stays that way. It may not always be pretty, but they find ways. Perhaps we wrote off the Patrick Mahomes-Travis Kelce connection too early.
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