Last week as we were discussing some of the various NFL power rankings around the web, I posted some of my own power rankings, put together for SB Nation Bay Area. I had the 49ers ranked No. 16 as the lowest ranked 3-1 team in the league. That was based in part on my concerns about some of the team's weaknesses following some close victories, and also based on some of the wins around them.
Well, a week later, I've rectified the ranking to some extent. In my latest NFL power rankings, I bumped the 49ers up from No. 16 to No. 10 (you can view the top ten after the jump). I kept the Raiders and Redskins ahead of the 49ers even though you could make a reasonable argument that the 49ers probably belong ahead of them.
I'm actually really high on this particular Raiders team and I also like what Washington is putting together. Part of the reason they remain ahead of the 49ers is they were ahead of them last week and I felt they did enough to stay there. Well, Oakland did enough with their road win and Washington has done enough that I didn't want to drop them below for now. If the 49ers beat the Lions this coming Sunday, though, there's no doubt the 49ers will get another solid bump no matter how the other teams ahead of them perform. If the 49ers beat Detroit on the road and Oakland beats Cleveland, the 49ers move ahead of Oakland. Pretty plain and simple.
The 49ers in general are getting more respect in the media, even if it doesn't translate to extensive highlights. ESPN bumped them seven spots to No. 9. CBS Sports increased them three spots to No. 13. SB Nation's NFL Power Rankings have them at No. 8. I could go on and on, but you get the point. People are starting to recognize the 49ers are not a fluke.
Fooch's SB Nation Bay Area NFL Power Rankings
1. (1) Green Bay Packers (5-0)
2. (2) Detroit Lions (5-0)
3. (3) New England Patriots (4-1)
4. (4) New Orleans Saints (4-1)
5. (5) Buffalo Bills (4-1)
6. (7) Baltimore Ravens (3-1)
7. (10) San Diego Chargers (4-1)
8. (11) Oakland Raiders (3-2)
9. (12) Washington Redskins (3-1)
10. (16) San Francisco 49ers (4-1)