NFL power rankings, Week 14: 49ers slip slightly after loss to Ravens
By Peter Panacy
Niner Noise’s NFL power rankings reflects the San Francisco 49ers’ hard-fought loss to a top contender, the Baltimore Ravens, who stay atop our list entering Week 14. Where does the rest of the league stand?
It shouldn’t be too big a surprise the bout between Niner Noise’s last top two NFL power rankings teams, the Baltimore Ravens and San Francisco 49ers, would be such a phenomenal, back-and-forth slugfest between two heavyweights.
Because it was.
The Niners eventually lost in Baltimore 20-17 amid the rainy, wet conditions at M&T Bank Stadium. And it took a game-winning field goal by Ravens kicker Justin Tucker to ensure it with time expiring.
The 49ers’ second loss of the season has an effect on their standings in our Week 14 NFL power rankings. But the bigger question might be what happens in the playoff picture in the NFC. After all, it’s a pretty heated race between the 49ers, Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings and New Orleans Saints.
Considering how well each of those aforementioned teams are playing, it’s almost shameful a team like the 6-6 Dallas Cowboys might slip into the postseason, merely because they are leading a weak NFC East.
The 49ers, meanwhile, are dealing with and NFC West crop featuring three teams with better-than .500 records.
While the top of our NFL power rankings is heated, there were some shakeups and changes in the lower tiers, too. The Miami Dolphins exposed the Philadelphia Eagles’ apparent free fall. And those lowly, poor Cincinnati Bengals did something they haven’t done all year: win a game.
So, while the 49ers and Ravens enjoyed a possible Super Bowl preview (and we’ll get there in a moment), Niner Noise kicks off this week’s NFL power rankings with our lowest-third tier.