NFL Power Rankings: Where 49ers stand after defeating Philadelphia Eagles
The Bears took a week off after defeating the Vikings, but they still managed to pick up two critical wins in the quest for the No. 1 overall choice.
The game in Philadelphia was the focus of Week 13 of the NFL season.
After being stuck in neutral in the first quarter, the 49ers stepped on the pedal and crushed the Eagles 42-19. When fully healthy, the Niners are in a league of their own.
Jordan Love is still dealing in Green Bay. Love completed 25 of 36 passes for 267 yards and three touchdowns as the Packers defeated the Kansas City Chiefs on “Sunday Night Football” to increase their playoff chances to 65%.
Meanwhile, the Detroit Lions continue to struggle in the fourth quarter, the Miami Dolphins continue to demolish bad teams, the Texans’ other great rookie shined, and the Patriots have elevated losing to an art form.
Here’s where each team stands after Sunday’s Week 13 action:
How 49ers’ offense rallied past Eagles after sluggish first quarter.
Carolina Panthers (1-11): The Panthers were officially eliminated from postseason contention on Sunday. Carolina’s biggest difficulty is that it is unable to fire or cut ties with the organization’s primary problem: owner David Tepper.
31. New England Patriots (2-10): The Patriots have now lost three consecutive games in which the opponent has scored 10 points or less. Since 1938, no team has accomplished this feat. Drake Maye, please come down!
30. Washington Commanders (4-9): Paddleboard Ron Rivera took over as defensive coordinator this week, and nothing has changed. The Dolphins won 45-15 after scoring 24 points in the first half. The Commanders have now lost nine of their previous eleven games. That’s all she had for Rivera in D.C.
29. Tennessee Titans (4-8): The Titans lost four critical players against the Colts on Sunday and missed an extra point with 5:25 remaining. They were defeated in overtime. Woof.
28. New York Giants (4-8): After a shaky start to his NFL career, Tommy DeVito turned in back-to-back strong performances in victories over the Commanders and Patriots. His agent also informed NFL Media that the undrafted rookie turned down much more money from Washington to play for the Giants in his hometown. Cult hero status is on the rise.
27. Arizona Cardinals (3-10): The Cardinals enter their bye week after defeating the Steelers at The Big Mustard Bottle. With the Panthers and Patriots in full tank gear, the Cardinals’ win Sunday might be the difference between Caleb Williams and Drake Maye and keep Kyler Murray in the desert for at least one more season.
26. New York Jets (4-8): After the Jets’ loss to the Falcons, Aaron Rodgers’ “comeback” is all but finished. At the very least, we can put that storyline to rest.
25. Cincinnati Bengals (5-7): In Cincy, 2024 can’t come soon enough.
24. Chicago Bears (4-8): The Buccaneers’ victory over the Panthers and the Cardinals’ victory over the Steelers increased the Bears’ odds of obtaining the No. 1 overall choice through Carolina to more than 70%. The Bears stay hot during their bye week.
23. Las Vegas Raiders (5-7): Antonio Pierce deserves credit for helping to right the ship in Sin City. But I don’t think it’ll be enough to earn him a full-time job. Mark Davis will go big fish fishing once more.
22. New Orleans Saints (5-7): Derek Carr departed the game again with a shoulder injury and to be evaluated for a concussion. Saints supporters booed Carr early in the game. Saints, the moment has come. Place the keys in the hands of Jameis Winston.
Death, taxes, and Mike Evans all have 1,000-yard seasons for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-7). The Buccaneers’ star made it 10 straight 1,000-yard seasons on Sunday, tying him with Randy Moss for the second-most in NFL history. Jerry Rice, of course, towers over them all.
20. Los Angeles Chargers (5-7): In the midst of the Brandon Staley debate this season, Kellen Moore has turned into a pumpkin as offensive coordinator. After squandering Justin Herbert’s rookie deal, the Bolts need to clean house this offseason.
19. Atlanta Falcons (6-6): After defeating the Tim Boyle/Trevor Siemian Frankenstein Jets, the Falcons now lead the NFC South. On Sunday, Atlanta had less than 200 yards of offense. Desmond Ridder and company must improve their consistency if they want to win the NFL’s weakest division.
18. Minnesota Vikings (6-6): Joshua Dobbs’ pixie dust ran out last week against the Bears, and now Kevin O’Connell must make a quarterback selection as the Vikings head into the bye week. Jaren Hall, a rookie, was the first name O’Connell named following the Bears setback. Will Minnesota put its playoff hopes in the hands of the fifth-round pick?
17. Seattle Seahawks (6-6): Seattle was knocked out of the NFC playoff race on Sunday and will have to work hard to get back in. In the following two weeks, the Seahawks will face the 49ers and Eagles. In the absence of an upset, Seattle will be 6-8 with three games remaining and will lose the tiebreaker to the Rams. Pete Carroll trudges upward.
16. Denver Broncos (6-6): A plus-13 turnover differential aided the Broncos’ five-game winning streak. Russell Wilson threw three interceptions in a key loss for Denver’s playoff prospects on Sunday. The Broncos’ playoff chances aren’t over, but they’ll need some help down the line to make it.
15. Pittsburgh Steelers (7-5): The Steelers were pushed around at home by the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, losing quarterback Kenny Pickett and lineman Isaac Seumalo. Pickett was wearing a boot on the sideline, indicating that Mitchell Trubisky will start against the Patriots on Thursday. Gross.
14. Indianapolis Colts (7-5): The Colts rushed for only 55 yards against the Titans in their first game since Jonathan Taylor’s thumb injury. To make life easier on the unreliable gunslinger Gardner Minshew, Indianapolis must find a way to get the ground game working while Taylor is sidelined.
Green Bay Packers (6-6): The Packers’ downfall lasted only six weeks. Jordan Love has been dealing for a month, looking like the franchise quarterback drafted by the Packers to succeed Aaron Rodgers. Green Bay continues to be blessed.
12. Cleveland Browns (7-5): Joe Flacco performed admirably in his Cleveland debut. Whether Cleveland sticks with Flacco or goes back to rookie Dorian Thompson-Robinson, the Browns should be able to stamp their postseason ticket thanks to games against the Bears, Jets, and Bengals in the final three weeks of the season.
11. Los Angeles Rams (6-6): According to ESPN, the Rams’ win over the Browns moved them to 6-6 and increased their odds of making the playoffs to 47 percent. Los Angeles holds the tie-breaker over the Seahawks and will face only one other team with a winning record the rest of the way. That will happen next week against the Ravens. The Rams should be right there at the end of the month if Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Puka Nacua, and Kyrie Williams stay healthy.
10. Buffalo Bills (6-6): Buffalo will enter its bye week in 10th place in the AFC, but only one game out of the No. 7 seed in terms of losses. The Bills face a difficult stretch of games against the Chiefs, Cowboys, Dolphins, and Chargers. To get Buffalo back to the dance, Josh Allen will have to don his Superman cape and not take it off.
9. Houston Texans (7-5): On Sunday, the Texans’ defense saved the day against the Broncos. Will Anderson Jr., a rookie defensive end, had two sacks and two tackles for loss, and second-year cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. intercepted Russell Wilson twice. If DeMeco Ryans’ defense continues to improve, the Texans will humiliate one of the Super Bowl hopefuls on Wild Card Weekend.
8. Detroit Lions (9-3): The Lions continue to struggle to put teams away. The Lions jumped out to a 21-0 lead over the Saints on Sunday, but New Orleans rallied to within one score in the second half. Aaron Glenn’s defense has several concerns that need to be addressed immediately if they want to be a legitimate threat.
7. Jacksonville Jaguars (8-3): The Jaguars are unbeaten on the road, having only fallen to the 49ers, Chiefs, and Texans. Don’t underestimate the Duval Jungle Cats.
6. Miami Dolphins (9-3): As of Dec. 3, Brock Purdy leads my MVP list, but Tyreek Hill has a strong case to become the first wide receiver in NFL history to win the award.
5. Dallas Cowboys (9-3): Dak Prescott has thrown for 2,173 yards, 21 touchdowns, and only two interceptions in his previous seven games while completing 70.5 percent of his attempts. With games against the Eagles, Bills, Dolphins, and Lions on the schedule, the Cowboys quarterback has a chance to surge to the top of the MVP discussion during the next four weeks.
4. Kansas City Chiefs (8-4): Even Patrick Mahomes and Taylor Swift can’t hide the Chiefs’ problems. Kansas City still qualifies in the “legitimate contender” category, but the Chiefs are more vulnerable than in previous years.
3. Baltimore Ravens (9-3): The AFC is wide open for Lamar Jackson to produce in the postseason. The Ravens have what it takes to win the Super Bowl, but they must overcome their postseason demons.
2. Philadelphia Eagles (10-2): Given their recent performance, the Eagles deserved a beating. With their present safeties and linebackers, the 49ers are a horrible mismatch for them. They’ll almost certainly face the Niners again, but I doubt the outcome will be much different.
1. San Francisco 49ers (9-3): After losing the NFC title game to the Eagles, the 49ers marched into Philadelphia on Sunday and delivered a back-alley thrashing to the defending conference champs. The rematch was a shambles. In the City of Brotherly Love, the championship favorites made a Super Bowl statement.
