The San Francisco 49ers' playoff chances plummeted following the team's Monday-night loss to the Buffalo Bills. Their place within most power rankings, however, did not. San Francisco didn't lose too much ground following its seventh defeat of the season.
The 49ers had a chance to inch closer toward the NFC's final wild-card spot but squandered the opportunity with a 34-24 defeat in Week 13.
"We've got four more games that we can account for, that we're in charge of, and we've got to win all of them," head coach Kyle Shanahan said after the game. "... I know with our team right now, the only thing we can count on and control is making sure we win the rest of these. It starts versus Washington next week. ... We know we've got to win all of these."
Five wins and seven losses keep the defending NFC champions at the bottom of the NFC West standings and drop them to the No. 11 spot in the NFC playoff picture.
Below is a sample of some of the more prominent power rankings around the web and where San Francisco currently stands within each.
ESPN
Current Ranking: 18
Previous rank: 16
"The 49ers remain in the NFC playoff mix, and although Garoppolo is still working his way back from a high ankle sprain, the opportunity to return and lead the Niners back to the postseason would be a big one. Coach Kyle Shanahan has said he expects Garoppolo to be his starter in 2021 but that no decisions have been made on anyone's future. Garoppolo's injury history and price tag could lead the Niners to seek other options to replace him or join him in San Francisco. A healthy finishing flourish would help Garoppolo's case to remain the starter beyond this season." — Nick Wagoner
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 18
Previous rank: 17
"We're all just kind of waiting around until Kyle Shanahan gets his veteran quarterback muse this offseason, right? Meanwhile, they will be a thorn in the side of every opponent from here on out in 2020 based solely on how well-schemed their offense is." — Conor Orr
USA Today
Current Ranking: 18
Previous rank: 14
"Two-game 'home stand' in Arizona began with potentially crippling loss to Buffalo. Niners can salvage season, but probably need to win out ... and probably need TE George Kittle and QB Jimmy Garoppolo to do it." — Nate Davis
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 19
Previous rank: 19
"The attrition caught up with them against the Bills. All of the issues and injuries have just been way too much for the 49ers." — Pete Prisco
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 20
Previous rank: 19
"Kyle Shanahan said the 49ers' county-mandated migration to Arizona had 'absolutely nothing, zero, to do' with his team's flat performance in a 34-24 loss to the Bills. It's what you expect most coaches to say, but we tend to believe him, based on how Buffalo just looked like the far better team on Monday night. Coordinator Robert Saleh has been rightfully praised for coaching up a San Francisco defense decimated by injuries and COVID-19 designations, but the Niners had absolutely no answers for Josh Allen. The Bills quarterback picked apart Saleh's defense, setting the stage for an Allen v. Nick Mullens shootout that had no chance of being competitive. At 5-7, the Niners likely need to win out and get help to defend their NFC title in January." — Dan Hanzus
Bleacher Report
Current Ranking: 21
Previous rank: 20
"The 2020 season has been a waking nightmare for the defending NFC champions. With Monday's loss to the Buffalo Bills, the San Francisco/Arizona 49ers dropped to 5-7. Barring reversals of fortune all over the conference, the Niners aren't making the playoffs this season. There have been a staggering level of injuries to key players on both sides of the ball. The 49ers had to move the entire team to Arizona as the result of COVID-19 restrictions in Santa Clara. The team has faced a staggering amount of adversity—and frankly the fact that San Fran has five wins speaks to the team's toughness and Kyle Shanahan's coaching." — NFL Staff
