Niner Noise
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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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CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 15: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers and Mike Person #68 celebrate after a touchdown during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO – SEPTEMBER 15: Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers and Mike Person #68 celebrate after a touchdown during the game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on September 15, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images) /

2-0. Previous: . San Francisco 49ers. 14. team. 42.

W, 41-17 @ Bengals

The 49ers get a nice spike in our NFL power rankings, made even more special by the fact they’re now 2-0 on the young season.

The last time San Francisco started a year with back-to-back wins was 2012, and the team went to the Super Bowl that year. And the fact both of these wins came on the road makes head coach Kyle Shanahan’s start even more impressive.

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This was about as lopsided a win the 49ers have enjoyed in some time. The ground game was key for the Niners, as running back Matt Breida led an effort that generated a whopping 259 yards on the ground.

Meanwhile, quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo bounced back from a lackluster Week 1 effort, tossing three touchdowns against just one interception, posting a passer rating of 131.2 in the process.

And rookie wide receiver Deebo Samuel, whom the 49ers selected in Round 2 of this year’s NFL Draft, managed 87 yards and his first pro-level touchdown, too.

Let’s see if San Francisco’s hot start is indicative of where Shanahan’s squad is heading this season. A crucial home matchup with the Steelers in Week 3 should be pretty revealing.