The 49ers' season opener with the Steelers was expected to provide a stern examination of their Super Bowl credentials. After their 30-7 throttling of Pittsburgh in Week 1, there is no doubting this is a team once again ready to contend to go all the way.

With the first 16 games of the season in the books, the 49ers sit at the top of Sports Illustrated's power rankings.

The Steelers had no answer to the Niners in any facet of the game and, in his blurb about San Francisco, SI's Conor Orr predicted several teams will suffer the same fate against Kyle Shanahan's team in 2023.

He wrote:

"The 49ers simply have too many ways to win, and with a confident ball distributor running the helm, they are as close to unstoppable as any team we have in the NFL. Watch Christian McCaffrey’s first down scamper with 10 minutes to go in the first quarter. He has massive lanes on each side of the formation. On almost every play, there are two comfortable avenues for him, for Brock Purdy, for everyone. And when you are forced into man coverage, how do you win against someone like Brandon Aiyuk?"

Not every game will go as perfectly as the opener did for the 49ers but, if they can avoid being struck by the injury bug, it's tough to find holes in a team described by former Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett on Sunday as the "most complete" in the NFL.

Though nothing should be taken for granted in the NFL, the 49ers' next three games against the Rams, Giants and Cardinals are ones in which they will be anticipated to prevail.

Get used to seeing the 49ers at the top of the power rankings in the coming weeks.

49ers set to unleash Nick Bosa in Week 2 clash with Rams

Kyle Shanahan expects him to be full-go.

Featured Image Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports