NFL Power Rankings: Where the 49ers stand after loss to Dolphins originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
Welcome to mock draft season, 49ers fans.
San Francisco and a handful of other mid-tier teams were officially eliminated from the playoffs this week, and while the fight for playoff seeding continues, we know just about the 14 teams that won’t be flying to Cancun in three weeks.
For the penultimate time of the season…
Here’s where the 49ers stand in the NFL’s Week 17 power rankings after a 29-17 loss to the Miami Dolphins and heads to “Monday Night Football.”
32. New York Giants (last week: 32)
Recording: 2-13
With the first pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select…
31. Jacksonville Jaguars (last week: 30)
Recording: 3-12
Well, we know they won’t draft a quarterback after giving Trevor Lawrence $55 million per season. If the season ended today, they would be drafted third. Please don’t let Travis Hunter end up in Jacksonville…
30. Tennessee Titans (last week: 29)
Recording: 3-12
As a society, we must never forget how Mason Rudolph East. He went a little under the radar instead of Will Levisbut he gave us a reminder on Sunday.
29. New England Patriots (last week: 28)
Recording: 3-12
Just a week after calling Drake Maye forgettable, he faces Josh Allen and invoices. Touch.
28. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 31)
Recording: 3-12
Congratulations, you probably just ruined your chances of getting the first overall pick. Was a meaningless win against the… *checks notes*… Jaguars worth it?
27. Cleveland Browns (last week: 27)
Recording: 3-12
Whatever, put James Winston return. The people’s quarterback at least scored points by turning the ball over. Dorian Thompson-Robinson is a tough watch.
26. Chicago Bears (last week: 25)
Registration: 4-11
Caleb Williams shows enough that Chicago ultimately doesn’t have to use its first pick on a quarterback. Take the best offensive lineman and call it a day.
25. Carolina Panthers (last week: 26)
Registration: 4-11
Bryce Young responded well after a bad game against Dallas last week. I still think there could be a great foundation in Carolina.
24. New York Jets (last week: 24)
Registration: 4-11
New York might actually be high enough to grab one of the top quarterbacks. If Aaron Rodgers is ready to mentor another rookie in 2025, the Jets’ future might not be a complete disaster.
23. New Orleans Saints (last week: 23)
Recording: 5-9 (Monday Night Football)
There are certainly better things you can do on a Monday night than watch an injury-decimated New Orleans team get blown out at Lambeau.
22. San Francisco 49ers (last week: 19)
Recording: 6-9
It’s absolutely crazy to think that a team that almost won the Super Bowl last year and, if fully healthy, still has one of the best teams in the league, could have a top-10 pick in the draft next spring. Perhaps a blessing in disguise? However, they are too proud, so it wouldn’t surprise me if they beat the Lions next week.
21. Indianapolis Colts (last week: 22)
Registration: 7-8
Jonathan Taylor made sure to keep the football while crossing the goal line. Then he made sure to do it again. And again. Just for good measure.
20. Arizona Cardinals (last week: 17)
Registration: 7-8
Not once this season have they looked like a team deserving of a playoff spot. We should have called a spade a spade a few weeks ago.
19. Dallas Cowboys (last week: 21)
Registration: 7-8
Brandon Aubrey is one of the best kickers in the league and Cooper Rush is one of the best backup quarterbacks. I didn’t expect to have any of these conversations this season.
18. Miami Dolphins (last week: 20)
Registration: 7-8
As with Cincy, it’s probably too little, too late. De’Von Achane I finally had a good match. They could have used this version of him weeks ago…
17. Cincinnati Bengals (last week: 18)
Registration: 7-8
Joe Burrow is to have a Patrick Mahomes-esque MVP caliber season. He puts up mind-blowing numbers and makes supernatural throws that defy gravity.
16. Seattle Seahawks (last week: 15)
Check-in: 8-7
Like I said, congratulations to the Los Angeles Rams for (eventually) winning the NFC West. Geno Smithyou’re not that guy, buddy.
15. Atlanta Falcons (last week: 16)
Check-in: 8-7
Considering the unusual situation he found himself in, it was a pretty decent start for Michael Penix Jr. The then-questionable draft pick could prove very useful.
14. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (last week: 12)
Check-in: 8-7
It wouldn’t be the NFC South if none of the competing teams wanted to win the division. You have a very simple schedule, and the other division rival just benched their quarterback for a rookie. What are you doing?
13. Los Angeles Rams (last week: 14)
Check-in: 9-6
Matthew Stafford and the passing game is in a serious funk. They are lucky to have Kyren Williams and a defense that plays the lights out as they inch closer to a division title.
12. Los Angeles Chargers (last week: 13)
Check-in: 9-6
It appears Jim Harbaugh will lead Los Angeles back to the playoffs in his first season with the Chargers. If they can run the ball like they did against Denver, they might have a chance in the playoffs.
11. Denver Broncos (last week: 11)
Check-in: 9-6
Denver’s season, however it ends, will be a resounding success. Bo Nix can still prove a lot in the next two matches.
10. Houston Texans (last week: 9)
Check-in: 9-6
I’m sounding the alarm about Houston’s offense. Not just because of Dell Tank devastating injury, but because they looked like a shell of themselves in 2023.
9. Washington Commanders (last week: 10)
Registration: 10-5
Jayden Daniels might have locked up the Offensive Rookie of the Year with a thrilling five-touchdown performance and has the ‘Manders on the verge of clinching a playoff spot. What a special season.
8. Pittsburgh Steelers (last week: 7)
Registration: 10-5
Russell Wilson needs an effective solution Najee Harris and good health George Pickens so that this offense hums. Defense doesn’t win championships like it used to.
7. Green Bay Packers (last week: 6)
Record: 10-4 (Monday Night Football)
If there’s a wild-card team in either conference that has the best chance of going the distance, it’s Green Bay. They can officially win their ticket Monday evening.
6. Baltimore Ravens (last week: 8)
Registration: 10-5
Derrick Henry’s running angrier and angrier as the weather gets colder. It’s a terrifying sight for any AFC playoff team. Baltimore looks unbeatable when both sides of the ball play well.
5. Buffalo Bills (last week: 5)
Record: 12-3
Barely earning a win against a deep player this late in the season isn’t exactly what you’d expect from one of the best teams in the league. Oh wait, yeah, it is. That’s what Kansas City does almost every week. A victory is a victory.
4. Philadelphia Eagles (last week: 3)
Record: 12-3
not even Saquon Barkley could lead Philadelphia to victory without Jalen hurts. Their chances of securing first place are slim, but they’ll need help from their friends in San Francisco and Green Bay next week.
3. Minnesota Vikings (last week: 4)
Record: 13-2
This was supposed to be a retooling year, right? Record 13-2. Journeyman quarterback playing like a franchise stud. Still looking for the No. 1 seed. Kevin O’Connell is Coach of the Year, and there’s no debate about that.
2. Kansas City Chiefs (last week: 2)
Record: 14-1
Three things in life are certain; death, taxes, and Patrick Mahomes playing despite an ankle injury. It looks like the AFC playoffs will be played in Arrowhead.
1. Detroit Lions (last week: 1)
Record: 13-2
It’s crazy to think there are still three teams competing for the top seed in the NFC, because it feels like Detroit should have locked it up weeks ago. They are much better than everyone else.
