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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PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 15: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the fourth quarter after being injured against the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field on September 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA – SEPTEMBER 15: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers looks on during the fourth quarter after being injured against the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field on September 15, 2019 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /

Previous: . Pittsburgh Steelers. 19. team. 55. . 0-2

L, 28-26 vs. Seahawks

Wait, so how can the Steelers, who have yet to win a game in 2019, be ahead of the Bills in our NFL power rankings?

Well, if you had to pick one team between the two for a must-win game, betting all your money on it, the Steelers would certainly be the safer choice. And besides, Pittsburgh was viewed as a top-10 team in many NFL power rankings, now falling all the way into the lower tier of squads two weeks into the season.

And now, quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will be out for the season, according to reports from both the Steelers and NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport:

Roethlisberger was lost to injury in the Week 2 loss to the Seahawks, and so was running back James Conner. And the Steelers offense looked out of sorts through most of the game, even when backup QB Mason Rudolph entered the contest for Roethlisberger.

Now, Pittsburgh has to travel to San Francisco and face a Niners run offense, which trashed Cincinnati. The Steelers have had trouble defending the run over these first two games, which doesn’t spell good news for head coach Mike Tomlin.

Imagine the Steelers starting 0-3, which is a real possibility. At least winning the Minkah Fitzpatrick sweepstakes is a nice consolation prize.