Niner Noise
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NFL power rankings: Close isn’t enough for 49ers entering Week 5

By Peter Panacy

CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: D.J. Reed #32 of the San Francisco 49ers fumbles the ball during a kick return as he is tackled by Michael Davis #43 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter of the game at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: D.J. Reed #32 of the San Francisco 49ers fumbles the ball during a kick return as he is tackled by Michael Davis #43 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter of the game at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Quarterback C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers lies on the ground after throwing an interception at the end of the game against Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA – SEPTEMBER 30: Quarterback C.J. Beathard #3 of the San Francisco 49ers lies on the ground after throwing an interception at the end of the game against Los Angeles Chargers at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

Niner Noise dishes out our Week 5 NFL power rankings, which saw the 49ers lose a close game on the road against the Chargers last Sunday. How does the rest of the league stack up?

The San Francisco 49ers‘ 29-27 road loss versus the Los Angeles Chargers won’t help their placement in Niner Noise’s Week 5 NFL power rankings.

Head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad had more than a few chances to pull off the upset. The team was driving late in the fourth quarter, trailing by only two points, only to see its hopes dashed by an untimely interception tossed by quarterback C.J. Beathard.

Beathard, who’ll retain the Niners’ starting duties now that Jimmy Garoppolo is done for the season with an ACL tear, had his share of positives, however. So, maybe, the 49ers’ season isn’t quite as daunting as we thought entering Week 4.

Still, San Francisco won’t be looking at an improvement over its standings in our last NFL power rankings entering Week 4.

Meanwhile, the Oakland Raiders and Cleveland Browns engaged in a wild back-and-forth contest that ultimately ended with a game-winning overtime field goal by the Raiders. The New England Patriots reminded us why we can never count them out.

And how about the Baltimore Ravens going into Heinz Field and knocking off the scuffling Pittsburgh Steelers in a crucial AFC North bout on Sunday Night Football?

There were more than a few surprises and noteworthy performances in Week 4, which surely shakes up our rankings heading into Week 5 — the beginning of the second quarter of the 2018 season.

Yet there’s one team still bringing up the rear, and thankfully, it’s not the 49ers. Yes, we’re talking about you, Arizona Cardinals.