Niner Noise
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NFL power rankings: Week 5 sees 49ers stay low, a new team at No. 1

By Peter Panacy

GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers shake hands after overtime of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. Arizona won 18-15. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ - OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Carson Palmer #3 of the Arizona Cardinals and quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers shake hands after overtime of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. Arizona won 18-15. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /
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GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers is hit by outside linebacker Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, AZ – OCTOBER 01: Quarterback Brian Hoyer #2 of the San Francisco 49ers is hit by outside linebacker Chandler Jones #55 of the Arizona Cardinals during the second half of the NFL game at the University of Phoenix Stadium on October 1, 2017 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) /

. San Francisco 49ers. 30. team. 42. . 0-4

Well, golly. The 49ers actually climb a spot in our NFL power rankings this week, despite their fourth consecutive loss this season.

In fairness, the Niners never trailed until the moment it mattered most — the final score.

Yes, Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald’s game-winning touchdown reception in overtime was a heartbreaker for Niners fans, as San Francisco’s defense was good enough to keep head coach Kyle Shanahan’s team in the game for four-plus quarters.

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This group sacked Cardinals quarterback Carson Palmer six times and recorded a whopping 16 quarterback hits.

Yet Shanahan’s offense failed to record a touchdown in the 18-15 loss. It’s now the third time in four games the Niners couldn’t find the end zone.

Simply put, quarterback Brian Hoyer isn’t working. But the 49ers don’t exactly have the answers under center to make a switch. C.J. Beathard? Probably not the solution.

San Francisco’s struggles are, essentially, what we expected this season. If there is a silver lining — there always is — the Niners have been in ballgames late over the first quarter of 2017. That’s something the 2016 49ers wouldn’t have been able to say.