NFL power rankings: Where 49ers sit after loss to Dolphins originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Welcome to mock draft season, 49ers fans.
San Francisco and a handful of other mediocre teams were officially eliminated from the playoffs this week, and while the battle for postseason seeding is underway, we pretty much know the fourteen teams that won’t be on a flight to Cancun in three weeks are.
For the penultimate time this season…
Here are the 49ers in the NFL Week 17 power rankings after a 29-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins and heading into “Monday Night Football.”
32. New York Giants (Last week: 32)
Record: 2-13
With the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select…
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last week: 30)
Record: 3-12
We know they won’t draft a quarterback after giving Trevor Lawrence $55 million per season. If the season ended today, they would be third. Please make sure Travis Hunter doesn’t end up in Jacksonville…
30. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 29)
Record: 3-12
We as a society should never forget how bad Mason Rudolph is. He flew a little under the radar in place of Will Levis, but he gave us a reminder on Sunday.
29. New England Patriots (Last week: 28)
Record: 3-12
Just a week after I basically called Drake Maye forgettable, he’s going at odds with Josh Allen and the Bills. Touche.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 31)
Record: 3-12
Congratulations, you probably just ruined your chances at the No. 1 overall pick. Was a meaningless win over the… *checks notes*…Jaguars worth it?
27. Cleveland Browns (Last week: 27)
Record: 3-12
Never mind, put Jameis Winston back in. At least the People’s Quarterback scored points while turning the ball over. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a cool watch.
26. Chicago Bears (Last week: 25)
Record: 4-11
Caleb Williams shows enough that Chicago finally doesn’t have to use its top pick on a quarterback. Take the best offensive lineman and call it a day.
25. Carolina Panthers (Last week: 26)
Record: 4-11
Bryce Young responded well after a bad game against Dallas last week. I still think a nice foundation could emerge in Carolina.
24. New York Jets (Last week: 24)
Record: 4-11
New York might just draft high enough to get one of the top quarterbacks. If Aaron Rodgers is open to mentoring another rookie in 2025, the Jets’ future might not be a complete disaster.
23. New Orleans Saints (Last week: 23)
Record: 5-9 (Monday evening football)
There are certainly better things to do on a Monday night than watch an injury-decimated New Orleans team get blown out in Lambeau.
22. San Francisco 49ers (Last week: 19)
Record: 6-9
Absolutely wild to think that a team that almost won the Super Bowl last year, and when fully healthy, still has one of the best rosters in the league, could possibly have a top-10 draft pick next spring. Perhaps a blessing in disguise? They have too much pride though, so I wouldn’t be surprised if they somehow beat the Lions next week.
21. Indianapolis Colts (Last week: 22)
Record: 7-8
Jonathan Taylor made sure to hold onto the ball as he crossed the goal line. Then he made sure he did it again. And again. Just for good measure.
20. Arizona Cardinals (Last week: 17)
Record: 7-8
Not once this season have they looked like a team deserving of a playoff spot. We should have called everything together weeks ago.
19. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 21)
Record: 7-8
Brandon Aubrey is one of the best kickers in the league and Cooper Rush is one of the best backup quarterbacks. I didn’t expect to be having any of these conversations this season.
18. Miami Dolphins (Last week: 20)
Record: 7-8
Like Cincy, it’s probably too little too late. De’Von Achane finally had a good game. They could have used this version of him weeks ago…
17. Cincinnati Bengals (Last week: 18)
Record: 7-8
Joe Burrow is having a Patrick Mahomes-esque MVP-caliber season. He racks up eye-popping numbers and makes otherworldly gravity-defying throws.
16. Seattle Seahawks (Last week: 15)
Record: 8-7
Like I said, congratulations to the Los Angeles Rams for (eventually) winning the NFC West. Geno Smith, you’re not that guy, buddy.
15. Atlanta Falcons (Last week: 16)
Record: 8-7
Considering the unusual situation he found himself in, it was a pretty decent debut for Michael Penix Jr. The then-questionable draft pick could prove to be quite useful.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last week: 12)
Record: 8-7
It wouldn’t be the NFC South if none of the competing teams wanted to win the division. You have a cakewalk of a schedule, and the other division rival just benched their quarterback for a rookie. What are you doing?
13. Los Angeles Rams (Last week: 14)
Record: 9-6
Matthew Stafford and the passing game are in a serious funk. They are fortunate to have Kyren Williams and a defense that turns out the lights as they inch closer to a division title.
12. Los Angeles Chargers (Last week: 13)
Record: 9-6
It appears Jim Harbaugh will lead Los Angeles back to the playoffs in his first season with the Chargers. If they can run the ball like they did against Denver, they might have a shot at the postseason.
11. Denver Broncos (Last week: 11)
Record: 9-6
Denver’s season will be an overwhelming success regardless of how it ends. Bo Nix still has a lot to prove in the next two games.
10. Houston Texans (Last week: 9)
Record: 9-6
I’m sounding the alarm about Houston’s offense. Not just because of Tank Dell’s devastating injury, but because they looked like a shell of their 2023 selves.
9. Washington Commanders (Last week: 10)
Balance: 10-5
Jayden Daniels may have just clinched Offensive Rookie of the Year with a thrilling five-touchdown performance and has the ‘Manders on the verge of clinching a playoff spot. What a special season.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: 7)
Balance: 10-5
Russell Wilson needs an effective Najee Harris and a healthy George Pickens to keep this offense humming. Defense doesn’t win championships like it used to.
7. Green Bay Packers (Last week: 6)
Balance: 10-4 (Monday evening football)
If there’s one wild-card team in either conference that has the best chance to go the distance, it’s Green Bay. They can officially score their ticket with a win on Monday evening.
6. Baltimore Ravens (Last week: 8)
Balance: 10-5
Derrick Henry gets angrier as the weather gets colder. That’s a terrifying sight for any AFC playoff team. Baltimore seems unbeatable when both sides of the ball play well.
5. Buffalo Bills (Last week: 5)
Balance: 12-3
Barely getting a win this late in the season against a bottom-ranked player isn’t exactly what you’d expect from one of the league’s top teams. Oh wait, yes it is. That’s what Kansas City does almost every week. A win is a win.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 3)
Balance: 12-3
Even Saquon Barkley couldn’t carry Philly to victory without Jalen Hurts. Their chances of securing the top seed are bleak, but they’ll need some help from their friends in San Francisco and Green Bay next week.
3. Minnesota Vikings (Last week: 4)
Balance: 13-2
This was supposed to be a re-tooling year, right? 13-2 record. Journeyman quarterback plays like a franchise stud. Still chasing the No. 1 seed. Kevin O’Connell is the Coach of the Year, and that’s not up for debate.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: 2)
Balance: 14-1
Three things in life are certain; dead, taxes, and Patrick Mahomes is playing through an ankle injury. It appears the AFC playoffs will be via Arrowhead.
1. Detroit Lions (Last week: 1)
Balance: 13-2
It’s wild to think there are still three teams vying for the NFC’s top seed, because it feels like Detroit should have locked this one up weeks ago. They’re just way better than everyone else.
Download and follow the 49ers Talk Podcast
