Week 7 NFL Power Rankings and the 49ers

by Fooch on Oct 28, 2009 3:00 PM PDT in News Comment 11 comments

And with another loss comes a continued drop in the power rankings. I missed the end of the Cardinals-Giants game and upon seeing the score the next day was just a little bit surprised. Given the late start on the east coast (really never can get used to that when I head back) I actually went to bed before the game even ended. Last week when the 49ers were on a bye and the 49ers beat Seattle, I thought it was still a little premature to push them past the 49ers in most power rankings. It wasn't horrible judgment to do so, but I thought it might have been just a little bit too quick.

However, that win over the Giants, coupled with the 49ers own loss definitely gives them a legit reason to be up high. These next few weeks are going to be really important for both teams. The 49ers face a mix of good and bad teams, while the Cardinals toughest game between now and early December is at Chicago. And given how the Bears have looked at times, that might not be so tough. If the Cardinals don't blow it, they could very well be 9-2 heading into their December 6 home game with the Vikings, the week before they face the 49ers in prime time.

ESPN - #20 (15) - Alex Smith and Michael Crabtree renew interest in the 49ers as they try to revive the offense.

Arizona - #10 (16)
Seattle - #23 (23)
St. Louis - #32 (32)

The Big Lead - #17 (17)

Arizona - #11 (13)
Seattle - #23 (23)
St. Louis - #30 (30)

Fox Sports - #17 (12) - Although some hopes were certainly being extinguished as the Niners fell behind the Texans 21-0 early last week, backup QB and former No. 1 overall pick Alex Smith emerged to lead a near-comeback win.

Arizona - #9 (18)
Seattle - #22 (20)
St. Louis - #31 (30)

CBS Sports - #18 (17) - Alex Smith is in as the new quarterback. It has to be that way. They have to find out if he can be the long-term answer.

Arizona - #12 (13)
Seattle - #23 (23)
St. Louis - #31 (31)

Pro Football Talk (via NBCSports.com) - #18 (14) - The return of Alex Smith means that it's one big step closer to the arrival of the Nate Davis era.

Arizona - #12 (16)
Seattle - #23 (23)
St. Louis - #31 (31)

NFL.com (Brandt) - #19 (15)

Arizona - #9 (10)
Seattle - #24 (24)
St. Louis - #31 (31)

NFL.com (Brooks) - #18 (12)

Arizona - #10 (13)
Seattle - #22 (23)
St. Louis - #32 (32)

NFL.com (Carucci) - #20 (15)

Arizona - #7 (10)
Seattle - #21 (21)
St. Louis - #31 (30)

WhatIfSports.com - #14 (11)

Arizona - #7 (9)
Seattle - #23 (21)
St. Louis - #26 (29)

Average 49ers Ranking: 18.11 (14.22)
Average Cardinals Ranking: 9.33 (13.11)
Average Seahawks Ranking: 22.67 (22.33)
Average Rams Ranking: 30.56 (30.67)

0 recs | Comment 11 comments | Add comment | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I'm calling it right now...

Alex Smith will be our starter of the future…He will play well this season and eventually be a Pro-bowl caliber QB….He will be as good if not better than Aaron Rodgers (whom he will forever be linked to), he will be the feel good comeback story of the year and everyone will jump on his bandwagon…Just remember who called it first…I know most people will scoff at this post and say I’m just being a homer, but I just have this gut feeling that the light will finally click and he will resurrect his career a la Drew Brees (not saying that he will be as good just that he will be successful) .

by Jay-skee on Oct 28, 2009 3:20 PM PDT reply actions 0 recs

Smith v. Rodgers

Speaking of Rodgers, I completely forgot this could mean we get the Rodgers-Smith showdown in week 11.

by Fooch on Oct 28, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was thinking the same thing last night

5 years in the making!!!!

by bignerd on Oct 28, 2009 3:43 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Haha

It will be fun if it happens.

by Brendan Scolari on Oct 28, 2009 8:13 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Yeah it really will be

And I hope we do get it. That means Smith is playing well enough to keep his job and is healthy.

You gotta bring ass to get ass.

by SpurredOn on Oct 29, 2009 9:53 AM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

Whoa

One good half of football and people forget about his past. I want to see Alex do well as much as the next guy. But hold your horses for a few games before naming Smith the savior of the season and franchise.

I will wait before throwing caution to the wind and jumping on that bandwagon as I once did before with Smith. I don’t trust him just yet

by Drew K on Oct 28, 2009 3:26 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I Agree

But while trepidation is certainly warranted, something Alex himself said made me take pause:

When asked about his sudden new calmness and maturity, he said something like “I’ve been that way for years, you just haven’t seen it.”

Which is true- I don’t think we’ve ever seen Alex at this combination of familiarity with the offense, raw hunger and maturity in a 49er uni. Only time will tell, I’m not ready to crown him, but I sure am excited.

49er 'til I die! (if they don't kill me first)

by LA49er on Oct 28, 2009 4:38 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’m excited as well…it was nice to see velocity on the passes and true spirals. He ended the game and last drive with a pick though which killed the opportunity in which he, Vernon Davis and most of all, the defense worked hard to put us in. Did not finish the game and there were some mental errors there at the end but there certainly is potential. However, potential doesn’t mean anything until it formally materializes; so I will sit back and cross my fingers in the meantime.

Just not gonna wear the battered wives syndrome hat…figuratively speaking.

by Drew K on Oct 28, 2009 4:56 PM PDT up reply actions 0 recs