Niner Noise
FanSided

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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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 30: Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates a touchdown during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 30: Andy Dalton #14 of the Cincinnati Bengals celebrates a touchdown during the third quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

W, 37-36 @ Falcons. Previous: . Cincinnati Bengals. 16. team. 56.

If the Falcons don’t feel like a 1-3 team, the Bengals certainly don’t feel like a 3-1 squad a quarter of the way through the season.

But they are. Weird.

It’s weird to think the much-maligned head coach, Marvin Lewis, is getting this kind of effort out of his Cincinnati squad, which has now included wins over possible playoff contenders in both the Falcons and the Ravens.

Oh, and Andy Dalton and the Bengals offense is averaging 35 points per game in each of those three victories.

Dalton wasn’t quite as sharp as Matt Ryan in Week 4, tossing an interception against his three touchdowns. But he was good enough, especially in the fourth quarter with the game swaying back and forth. That’s crunch time where Dalton has historically struggled in recent seasons.

Looks like running back Giovani Bernard is back too.

In all seriousness, though, let’s hope tight end Tyler Eifert makes it back from what was arguably the worst injury we’ve seen this season. Brutal.