NFL Power Rankings Week 9: 49ers Return to Slot No. 2

This weeks NFL power rankings has the San Francisco 49ers returning to their No. 2 slot after they fell to No. 3 following an unconvincing win over Washington in week seven.

Going into week eight, the San Francisco 49ers were slotted at No. 3 in the NFL power rankings. They dropped from No. 2 prior to week eight due to their unconvincing win over the Washington Redskins. It really wasn't a fair assessment of the 49ers since it was a 10am game on the west coast, including the pouring rain conditions.

After the beat down they gave to the Carolina Panthers this past Sunday, the 49ers return to slot No. 2 in the rankings. There was just no way that the 49ers would stay at No. 3 with the way they easily handled the Panthers. Carolina had been riding a four game winning streak as well as coming off of a bye. 

They had plenty of time to rest and prepare for the ensuing battle with the 49ers, yet they still got steam rolled. San Francisco, for the second week in a row, switched spots with the New Orleans Saints. This game of tug-and-pull between the two teams will likely last all season long. 

Now that the 49ers are 7-0, the "pretenders' narrative is once again looking like a delusional statement.There is starting to become full on acknowledgement that the San Francisco 49ers are an elite football team. For any team to open up a season 7-0 is not an easy feat. That is something elite teams can do, not something a "pretender" is capable of regardless of their opponent. 

The main the drawback from people becoming believers in the 49ers is because of the strength of their opponent. However, the 49ers can only play who is in front of them. Not to mention that when they do face low-level teams they outright demolish them. The 49ers have to be doing something right and have to be legitimate to continually reel off wins. 

Week nine will not be an easy outing for the Niners since they have to quickly turnaround and face the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night. A win on the road against a division opponent on such short rest will just further give credence to the legitimacy of this team.