NFL power rankings, Week 6: 49ers defense, run game still respected

The San Francisco 49ers claimed their second straight win on Sunday, bulldozing the Houston Texans thanks to their defense and run game. NFL power rankings are discussing the nature of the 49ers win, and how the run game and defense remain keys to the team's success.

This is not exactly shocking. The 49ers offensive line can do great work in pass protection, but the run blocking is where they really make their bones. The passing game was quite limited on Sunday, but given the way the game played out, it is not entirely surprising to see the 49ers hold back there. Questions still surround Colin Kaepernick, but the 49ers upcoming schedule potentially gives them time to clean things up.

The most important thing will be getting a guy like Mario Manningham back. Even if he does not return to game action until after the bye week, that gives the team eight weeks to figure out how he can fit into the offense. And given the 49ers are getting nothing in the passing game outside of Anquan Boldin and Vernon Davis, I'd say that's a pretty big deal.

For now though, the 49ers are winning with the game plan that got this turnaround started in 2011. Strong defense, strong rushing. This may be a pass heavy league, but the 49ers have the talent to win with that formula. And it buys them time to clean up the passing game in the meantime.

SB Nation NFL

1. Denver Broncos
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Seattle Seahawks
4. Indianapolis Colts
5. Kansas City Chiefs
6. Cincinnati Bengals
7. New England Patriots
8. Baltimore Ravens
9. San Francisco 49ers
10. Green Bay Packers

CBS Sports (Prisco)

1. Denver Broncos
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Indianapolis Colts
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. New England Patriots
7. San Francisco 49ers
8. Cincinnati Bengals
9. Baltimore Ravens
10. Green Bay Packers

CBS Sports (Kirwan)

1. Denver Broncos
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Indianapolis Colts
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. San Francisco 49ers
7. Cincinnati Bengals
8. New England Patriots
9. Dallas Cowboys
10. Green Bay Packers

MLive.com

1. Denver Broncos
2. New Orleans Saints
3. Kansas City Chiefs
4. Indianapolis Colts
5. Seattle Seahawks
6. New England Patriots
7. San Francisco 49ers
8. Cincinnati Bengals
9. Green Bay Packers
10. Baltimore Ravens

The folks at Beat Graphs are back with their weekly rankings. You can see their interesting angle on power rankings. They create "BeatPaths" and you can try and figure it out HERE. It seems like if A beats B, A will be ahead of B. And if A beats B and B beats C, A will be ahead of both. It's not quite as simple as that, but it's an interesting way to look at something that is mostly for entertainment value anyway. They have the 49ers in 8th place, a climb of two spots from last week.