49ers just outside top 5 of FanSided’s Week 15 NFL power rankings

The 49ers managed to climb a couple of spots in FanSided’s NFL power rankings with their big win over the Buccaneers but not quite in the top five.

Prior to last Sunday’s contest between the San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers, no quarterback making his first-ever NFL start had beaten the GOAT, Tom Brady, head to head in a game.

In fact, those first-start signal-callers had gone 0-6 up to that point with Brady getting the better of those matchups.

The problem? Someone forgot to tell Niners rookie quarterback Brock Purdy about falling into that trend.

Instead, Purdy was responsible for three touchdowns and wholly outplayed Brady and a woeful Bucs offense over the course of Week 14’s game at Levi’s Stadium, and San Francisco turned in yet another masterpiece of domination, beating Tampa Bay 35-7 in a game where, aside from injuries, everything went the 49ers’ way.

Purdy, who acknowledged before the game that he was younger than Brady’s NFL career, didn’t look the part of a fresh-faced rookie. And while one game won’t be enough to convince the skeptics that he can lead the Niners deep into the playoffs after they lost veteran Jimmy Garoppolo to a serious foot injury, Purdy’s performance will nevertheless ease a lot of doubts.

Not surprisingly, a Purdy-led San Francisco squad jumped up FanSided’s NFL power rankings this week.

49ers climb FanSided NFL power rankings but still not quite in top 5

Understandably, FanSided NFL insider Matt Verderame dropped the 49ers down to No. 8 in his NFL power rankings heading into last week, only because of the team having to shut down Garoppolo in favor of Purdy, Mr. Irrelevant, the last pick of this year’s NFL Draft.

No longer irrelevant, Purdy’s strong performance not only convinced Verderame to boost the Niners back up two spots but to also share some notable comments that read, “Brock Purdy, the greatest quarterback of all-time? People are whispering.”

OK, we won’t go that far. But it was fun to watch the 22-year-old rookie outplay the greatest quarterback of all time.

With San Francisco at No. 6, which teams are in the top five?

1. Philadelphia Eagles
2. Kansas City Chiefs
3. Buffalo Bills
4. Dallas Cowboys
5. Cincinnati Bengals

The 49ers won’t care too much about being in the top five, but they are going to be concerned about trying to clinch the NFC West crown, which they can do by beating the Seattle Seahawks in Week 15 on Thursday Night Football.

Perhaps Purdy backs up his stout outing last Sunday with another on a short week.