NFL power rankings, Week 11: 49ers to go on a hot streak soon

The 49ers move up a spot in FanSided’s NFL power rankings entering Week 11, but the forecast looks much better than just the move-up.

Sometimes, teams that are destined for great things in the postseason have to win a handful of ugly, challenging games along the way. Not just dominating each opponent on a week-to-week basis.

It’s anyone’s guess whether or not the San Francisco 49ers will make a lot of headway in the playoffs this season (and they’re yet to get there anyway), but their 22-16 win over the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football in Week 10 was awfully telling.

There were few things pretty about that game. The Bolts largely corraled head coach Kyle Shanahan’s rushing efforts over the first half, while quarterback Justin Herbert seemed to carve up San Francisco’s secondary with ease over the first quarter-plus.

After halftime, though, the script completely flipped with the 49ers finally getting their offense going, while coordinator DeMeco Ryans’ defense pitched a second-half shutout against Herbert and the rest of LA’s offense.

Nice work by the Niners, who improve to 5-4 and get within half a game of the Seattle Seahawks for the NFC West lead.

So, it shouldn’t be a surprise that San Francisco climbs up in FanSided’s NFL power rankings heading into Week 11.

NFL power rankings: 49ers move up one spot in Week 11

FanSided NFL insider Matt Verderame dished out his weekly NFL power rankings following up Week 10’s slate of games, and the 49ers ended up climbing up from No. 9 to the eighth spot in the wake of Sunday night’s victory.

The Niners may not be the top team in the NFC, but they’re ranked highest in the NFC West with the first-place Seahawks ranked by Verderame at No. 12.

But that isn’t Verderame’s kicker about San Francisco. It’s what might be on tap going forward in the upcoming weeks:

"Gutsy win by the 49ers, who judging from their schedule, could get white-hot for the next two months."

Read More: Niners stay put in NFC West standings, but Rams fall after Week 10

The 49ers play the Arizona Cardinals in Mexico City on Monday Night Football in Week 11, then they host the New Orleans Saints, Miami Dolphins and Tampa Bay Buccaneers the following three weeks before traveling on Thursday Night Football to take on those Seahawks in Week 15.

Arizona and New Orleans figure to be relatively easy contests (if there is such a thing at the NFL level), but challenges could arise versus the Dolphins and Bucs.

At any rate, should the Niners wind up getting hot as Verderame suggested, it wouldn’t be too shocking to see them also climb in NFL power rankings to within the top five en route to a top playoff berth.