NFL power rankings leave the 49ers with a huge point to prove
The San Francisco 49ers have resumed normal service, their three-game losing streak now feeling like a distant memory after they made it back-to-back wins with victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. San Francisco sits at 7-3 going into a massive Thanksgiving night clash with NFC West rivals the Seattle Seahawks (6-4). The Niners won't to […]
The San Francisco 49ers have resumed normal service, their three-game losing streak now feeling like a distant memory after they made it back-to-back wins with victory over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
San Francisco sits at 7-3 going into a massive Thanksgiving night clash with NFC West rivals the Seattle Seahawks (6-4).
The Niners won't to look past a critical game in the NFC West race, but looming on the horizon is an NFC Championship Game rematch with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 13.
Right now, that game looks like a matchup between the two best teams in the league, with the 49ers remaining second in Sports Illustrated's NFL power rankings behind an Eagles team that shocked the Kansas City Chiefs in Monday's Super Bowl rematch to improve to 9-1.
In his 49ers blurb for SI.com, Conor Orr focused on their opening touchdown against the Bucs, comparing his experience watching it to the famous art gallery scene in 'Ferris Bueller's Day Off'.
"Sometimes, I just watch 49ers plays in slow motion. I feel like Cameron staring at “A Sunday Afternoon on the island of La Grande Jett.” Christian McCaffrey’s touchdown catch was so simple, but so exquisite. The way that McCaffrey stepped out to his left before darting right drew Devin White away from the eventual destination, making him have to deal with three 49ers receivers crashing from the opposite direction. It was a play destined to succeed from the moment White revealed he was responsible for McCaffrey."
McCaffrey's fingerprints were predictably all over the 49ers' latest victory, with Kyle Shanahan typically using his offensive personnel tremendously well to torment the Buccaneers' linebackers and create open windows for Brock Purdy.
With the linebacker position the weak point of the Eagles' defense, Shanahan utilizing McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and Co. to the same effect against Philadelphia will be key to the 49ers successfully proving they are worthy of the top spot in the power rankings and that they could have prevailed in last season's title game had Purdy not gotten hurt.
For the immediate future, however, it's all eyes on Seattle and a potentially huge step towards the 49ers retaining the NFC West title.
49ers release estimated injury report for Week 12, at Seahawks
There’s a new concern up front.
