Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: 49ers surge in Week 3, while Saints fall

By Peter Panacy

CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: Richie James #13 and Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after Goodwin made a catch for a first down in the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OH - SEPTEMBER 15: Richie James #13 and Marquise Goodwin #11 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrate after Goodwin made a catch for a first down in the third quarter of the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Head coach Bruce Arians of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NORTH CAROLINA – SEPTEMBER 12: Head coach Bruce Arians of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during their game against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium on September 12, 2019 in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images) /

Previous: . Tampa Bay Buccaneers. 22. team. 48. . 1-1

W, 20-14 @ Panthers

Maybe the Tampa Bay Buccaneers aren’t quite as bad as many of us thought.

This, after the Bucs upended the Carolina Panthers on the road on Thursday Night Football. That’s pretty impressive, despite all the issues and injuries the Panthers are dealing with right now.

One has to give credit to defensive coordinator Todd Bowles, who might not be a great head coach. But as a coordinator, he’s transformed Tampa Bay’s defense from nearly unwatchable to respectable.

It helped having some key playmakers come aboard during the offseason, too, including EDGE Shaquil Barrett, who was a force in Week 2 with three sacks.

Still, the Buccaneers focus remains on quarterback Jameis Winston, who wasn’t perfect, but still tossed for over 200 yards and had a touchdown. And while having a third-down conversion rate of just 17 percent isn’t usually a winning formula, a team in transition like the Bucs will happily take a road win over a division rival.

Now, Tampa Bay doesn’t have to look at itself as the laughingstock of the NFC South.