49ers hit the dirt in analysts' NFL power rankings in Week 6

The San Francisco 49ers handed the Arizona Cardinals their first win of 2018 in ugly, turnover fashion. So it’s no surprise the Niners fall hard in experts’ Week 6 NFL power rankings.

Well, Week 5 sure was ugly for the San Francisco 49ers.

At home against the previously winless Arizona Cardinals, the Niners dominated the stat sheet, accumulating 33 first downs and having over 40 minutes’ possession time compared to the Cardinals’ 10 and 19:48, respectively.

And yet head coach Kyle Shanahan’s squad lost 28-18.

The key difference? Turnovers, of course. San Francisco lost five turnovers in total, which completely negated Arizona’s overall lack of offense during the game. And it’s just one more indication just how far things have fallen for the 49ers since losing quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo to his season-ending ACL tear.

So it shouldn’t be that big a surprise the Niners tumbled towards the very bottom of experts’ NFL power rankings entering Week 6. And in some cases, all the way to the basement.

Let’s take a look at what those experts are saying about San Francisco after last Sunday’s debacle.

Elliot Harrison, NFL.com: 32 (-3)

"Spent much of Sunday afternoon watching C.J. Beathard, who is not nearly as bad as people have made him out to be. Unfortunately, his inaccuracy and miscommunication with receivers late totaled any opportunity for the 49ers to speed to their second win. As the game progressed, Kyle Shanahan stayed conservative, sticking with the run and short passing game while Beathard took few chances down the field. Made sense when the defense was keeping the Josh Rosen-led offense stuck in neutral — outside of the deep ball to Christian Kirk early — but it makes you wonder if Shanahan is utilizing the full breadth of the playbook sans Jimmy Garoppolo. If not, then he was calling the same plays over and over. San Francisco ran an astonishing 92 plays from scrimmage."

ESPN Power Panel: 30 (-3)

"The 49ers’ toughest remaining game is a Week 17 matchup at the Rams, where they have a 11 percent chance to win, according to FPI. The last time these two teams met without Jimmy Garoppolo playing was Week 3 last season, when the Rams won 41-39."

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 32 (-1)

"They just don’t have enough talent right now. This is about 2019."

Nate Davis, USA Today Sports: 32 (-2)

"Bravo to the NFL for implementing a scheduling provision that allows it to flex games earlier in the schedule … otherwise you would’ve seen Niners in prime time four of next five weeks."

light. Related Story. 49ers' Week 7 game vs. Rams flexed out of Sunday Night Football

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: 32 (-1)

"When you’re No. 31 and you lose to the No. 32 team at home, no matter how much you outplay them, there’s only one place to go. I don’t anticipate the 49ers will be here the rest of the season; they played hard and decently well in their two games since the Jimmy Garoppolo injury. The question is how long they’ll keep up that effort level."

Bleacher Report Staff: 31 (-5)

"In a season that’s been one low after another, the San Francisco 49ers found a new nadir on Sunday by losing at home to the only team in the NFL that entered Week 5 without a victory.There were some bright spots in the game. For the second straight week, C.J. Beathard threw for two scores. The 49ers also ran for over 140 yards.Oh, who are we kidding? The Niners are hot garbage. Despite outgaining the Cards 447-220, San Fran lost—because Beathard turned the ball over four times. As a team, the Niners committed five.San Francisco doubled Arizona’s yards and time of possession. But when you turn the ball over five times and the other team has zero, you’re going to lose in the NFL—even to a team as awful as Arizona.There’s no light at the end of the tunnel for the 49ers. Just 11 more games in a wasted season ruined by injuries."

49ers hit the dirt in analysts’ NFL power rankings in Week 6

By Peter Panacy | Oct 9, 2018