NFL Power Rankings: Where the 49ers stand after blowout loss to Bills originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Thanksgiving week in the NFL, a tradition like no other.
After eating ungodly amounts of food, we happily decide to sit back and watch some of the worst teams in the league play against some of the best.
You have the choice to watch Drew Lock against. Cooper RushMatt Eberflus attempts to coach a football game and a matchup between the defending champions and a team fighting for the No. 1 pick the following night.
I, for one, was grateful for the weekend’s slate of games.
Here’s where the 49ers sit after a 35-10 loss to the Buffalo Bills and heads to “Monday Night Football.”
32. New York Giants (last week: 32)
Recording: 2-10
Please tell me you didn’t sit on the couch with your family on Thanksgiving and willingly watch Lock vs. Rush. You better have a political debate with this uncle. It’s a three-horse race for the No. 1 pick.
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (last week: 31)
Recording: 2-10
A frightening blow led to Trevor Lawrence’s early departure. After returning to the field for the first time in three weeks, it appears he could miss some more time. A very unhappy season continues.
30. Las Vegas Raiders (last week: 30)
Recording: 2-10
Three things in life are certain: death, taxes, and the Raiders (as terrible as they are) playing well against the Chiefs. I don’t know how they keep doing this — or almost — but they are so close to being Patrick Mahomes Kryptonite.
29. New England Patriots (last week: 27)
Recording: 3-10
Drake Maye is having a productive rookie season, the team is competitive most weeks and losing games. What more could you ask for as a rebuilding team?
28. Tennessee Titans (last week: 28)
Recording: 3-9
Surprisingly, the loss was not Does Levis mistake. Their defense has just been completely destroyed.
27. Cleveland Browns (last week: 26)
Recording: 3-8 (Monday Night Football)
James Winston might throw two or three picks against a very good Denver defense on Monday night, but at least he’ll have fun doing it.
26. Carolina Panthers (last week: 29)
Recording: 3-9
Bryce Young plays his ass off and deserves to reap the rewards of the high profile pick this team should have next spring. His turnaround in the second half is like a movie. Without doubt the best story of the season.
25. New York Jets (last week: 25)
Recording: 3-9
I don’t think there’s anything Aaron Rodgers can do on the field to negatively impact his legacy at this point. It was cemented before he was forced to leave Green Bay. But man, those two seasons in New York couldn’t have been a bigger disaster.
24. New Orleans Saints (last week: 23)
Recording: 4-8
Derek Carr I just can’t stream it like I used to. Your mini winning streak fooled no one. Get back to the bottom third of the league you belong to.
23. Chicago Bears (last week: 20)
Recording: 4-8
Firing Matt Eberflus after another close, heartbreaking loss won’t fix the pain and suffering Bears fans have experienced time and time again this season, but it should provide them with at least a glimmer of optimism about the future of the team, right?
22. Dallas Cowboys (last week: 24)
Registration: 5-7
This team is going to do everything in its power to finish the season at .500, right? Of course they won’t, but they certainly could have used this version of Rico Dowdle earlier.
21. Cincinnati Bengals (last week: 22)
Recording: 4-8
Joe Burrow is going to put up the best numbers of his career, and it won’t matter. Put a fork in Cincy, it’s done.
20. Miami Dolphins (last week: 19)
Registration: 5-7
They really, really needed this win, but it should come as no surprise that Miami couldn’t hang on to the Frozen Tundra. Their path to the playoffs is not impossible, but rather improbable at this point.
19. San Francisco 49ers (last week: 18)
Registration: 5-7
As if 49ers fans needed another sign that the team is done, Christian McCaffrey suffered what will likely be a season-ending knee injury. I’m officially putting a fork in San Francisco. The good news is that there is still a foundation to build on. Re-tool during the offseason.
18. Indianapolis Colts (last week: 21)
Registration: 6-7
It certainly wasn’t without mistakes, but a serious performance from Anthony Richardson and an even more exciting call from Shane Steichen at the end of the game.
17. Arizona Cardinals (last week: 17)
Recording: 6-6
They probably would have succeeded in creating a surprise if it hadn’t been for two costly Kyler Murray choice. This offense continues to be a huge disappointment.
16. Atlanta Falcons (last week: 13)
Recording: 6-6
It was a HARD show for Kirk Cousins recently, who has no touchdowns and six interceptions in his last three games. Atlanta hands the division to the Bucs on a silver platter.
15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (last week: 16)
Recording: 6-6
Food. Bucky. Irving. This match shouldn’t have been this close, but Mayfield Baker and Co. held off a motivated Carolina squad to move into a tie with Atlanta for first place in the NFC South.
14. Los Angeles Rams (last week: 15)
Recording: 6-6
Matthew Staffordsimilar to Jalen hurts in the Eagles offense, has a pretty easy job when his star running back runs well. Take quick strikes to your elite receiving core and let Kyren Williams do the heavy lifting.
13. Seattle Seahawks (last week: 14)
Check-in: 7-5
They’re the only team in the NFC West that is even remotely interested in winning the division. The defense has been playing exceptionally well lately.
12. Denver Broncos (last week: 11)
Check-in: 7-5 (Monday Night Football)
Bo Nix has firmly planted his flag in the Rookie of the Year race, and with a big game Monday night, he could keep pace with Jayden Daniels.
11. Washington Commanders (last week: 12)
Registration: 8-5
NOW This is the Jayden Daniels we used to see at the start of the season. The Titans are terrible overall, but their defense is half-decent, so this is an encouraging bounce-back performance for the rookie.
10. Houston Texans (last week: 10)
Registration: 8-5
It wasn’t exactly the stranglehold of a horrible Jags team that it should have been, even after Lawrence’s exit, but a win nonetheless. One without turnover as well.
9. Los Angeles Chargers (last week: 9)
Registration: 8-4
While the Chargers may not have the flashy offensive weapons they need to be a legitimate championship contender, they certainly have the defense. Four interceptions, including a pick-six, will do the trick.
8. Baltimore Ravens (last week: 6)
Registration: 8-5
Lamar Jackson and Baltimore’s offense is elite. Defense? Poor. Justin Tucker? A major handicap at the moment. Nobody saw this coming.
7. Pittsburgh Steelers (last week: 8)
Registration: 9-3
I didn’t think Russell Wilson I could still cook like that. Touch. If he has that up his sleeve, then Pittsburgh could be pretty scary.
6. Green Bay Packers (last week: 7)
Registration: 9-3
I don’t think they’ll catch Detroit for the division, which is a shame, because a home playoff game — or two, or three — at Lambeau would be great. They’ll probably have to settle for being the wild-card team that no one wants to face.
5. Minnesota Vikings (last week: 5)
Record: 10-2
Sam Darnold went from “seeing ghosts” to seeing Justin Jefferson open in the middle of the field. Talk about an upgrade.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (last week: 4)
Record: 10-2
Play proper defense, dink and dunk in the air and let Saquon Barkley go wild. Philadelphia’s recipe for success is simple.
3. Buffalo Bills (last week: 3)
Record: 10-2
Josh Allen is built for this time. What an absolute maniac this guy is. The MVP race has a new leader.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (last week: 2)
Record: 11-1
Another ugly victory against a much inferior opponent. Don’t get me wrong, finding ways to win these types of games is important, but when it’s week in and week out…it raises eyebrows. Unsurprisingly, the first team to clinch a playoff spot.
1. Detroit Lions (last week: 1)
Record: 11-1
For years, the Lions were the team no one wanted to watch on Thanksgiving. Boy, how much has it changed. The NFL’s best continue to roll after a nail-biter in the NFC North.
