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Despite the loss, quarterback Brock Purdy delivered an impressive performance, completing 73.3 percent of his passes for 292 yards and three touchdowns. Wide receiver Jauan Jennings had a career day, catching 11 passes for 175 yards and three touchdowns on 12 targets.
Looking ahead, the 49ers will try to rebound when they host the New England Patriots at Levi's Stadium next Sunday. However, they will still be without two of their top offensive weapons, wide receiver Deebo Samuel (calf strain) and running back Christian McCaffrey (Achilles tendinitis), as they continue to recover from injuries.
What does the national media think about the 49ers compared to the rest of the league? Below is a sample of some of the most prominent power rankings from around the web, showing where San Francisco currently stands in each. As always, the highest rankings are listed first.
Yahoo! Sports
Current Ranking: 5
Previous Ranking: 4
"The positive from Sunday's loss to the Rams was that Brock Purdy played really well without Deebo Samuel Sr., George Kittle and Christian McCaffrey. He threw for 292 yards and three touchdowns, all of which went to Jauan Jennings. The 49ers will be fine when they get healthy." — Frank Schwab
Current Ranking: 8
Previous Ranking: 5
"The benefit of Shanahan being one of the NFL's best play callers is that his team is able to remain competitive no matter who's hurt. The curse is that he's expected to win all of those games, no matter the limitations. Against the Rams on Sunday, Shanahan had to scheme up an offense that didn't have Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel, or George Kittle, and he came up with a plan to feature receiver Jauan Jennings, a guy who has carved out a niche for himself on a star-studded roster by doing the dirty work as a blocker and running routes to open up space for his teammates. As the featured receiver in Week 3, he delivered 11 catches for 175 yards and three scores." — Diante Lee
ESPN
Current Ranking: 9
Preseason Ranking: 3
"Biggest issue on offense: A lack of YAC. It's almost hard to believe that the team known for yards after the catch (YAC) in 2023 has been so inefficient in that category through the first three games this season. The Niners are averaging just 3.1 YAC per reception, which ranks last in the NFL. Injuries to their three best players at YAC (receiver Deebo Samuel Sr., running back Christian McCaffrey and tight end George Kittle) haven't helped, but this offense is largely predicated on making big plays after the catch. The absence of that additional yardage has forced San Francisco to be more meticulous with its drives and has resulted in a red zone touchdown rate of 50%, which is tied for 15th in the league." — Nick Wagoner
Sporting News
Current Ranking: 9
Previous Ranking: 6
"The 49ers are managing their offensive injuries well because of Brock Purdy and Kyle Shanahan's scheming, but their defense hasn't played up to its standard early in losses against the Vikings and Rams. They need some time to put it all together, and now they get a few get-well games." — Vinnie Iyer
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 10
Previous Ranking: 6
"I walked away from the 49ers-Rams showdown even more confident in this 49ers team than the week prior. This should have been a win for San Francisco; a game where Purdy should have completed more the 90% of his passes and a kind of thumbing of the nose by Kyle Shanahan, who simply plucks the next healthy receiver off his bench and calls for him the best single 60 minutes for a 49ers wideout since Jerry Rice. Have a day, Jauan Jennings." — Conor Orr
Pro Football Talk
Current Ranking: 11
Previous Ranking: 6
"If they can weather the storm of injuries, they can still be very competitive." — Mike Florio
Current Ranking: 12
Previous Ranking: 6
"Last week, Knox (B/R analyst Kristopher Knox) said it was too early to panic for the 49ers following a loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Now, with injuries mounting and after blowing a double-digit fourth-quarter lead to a division rival, it may be another story. For his part, edge-rusher Nick Bosa told the media he knows the Niners are better than this—they just need to find a way to close out games." — NFL Staff
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 12
Previous Ranking: 2
"I figured that the 49ers would have some fits offensively here and there against the Rams, given their injury woes leading up to the game. But for three-plus quarters, they still had the right formula to win. Jake Moody's missed 55-yard field goal attempt late in the fourth quarter kept the door ajar, and Los Angeles kicked it down to pull out the stunner. But really, San Francisco's troubles went back to the second quarter, when they couldn't protect a 14-0 lead. A fake punt caught the 49ers flat-footed, helping the Rams score a critical touchdown before halftime that changed the arc of the game. Even with the Niners making it a two-score lead later, their special teams and defensive issues were back-breakers. Los Angeles drove for scores on each of its final four drives, aided by some huge penalties that changed field position and sunk San Francisco. Where do the reigning NFC champions go from here? George Kittle could be back soon; perhaps Deebo Samuel, too. But this team's problems appear to run deeper than early injuries." — Eric Edholm
USA Today
Current Ranking: 12
Previous Ranking: 8
"Injuries are generally the only factor which have undercut Kyle Shanahan's teams – in the regular season – and, boy, are they piling up. DT Javon Hargrave (triceps) is now out for the year, while QB Brock Purdy is dealing with a balky back and the first dip below .500 in his career. When RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles) returns remains anyone's guess." — Nate Davis
The Athletic
Current Ranking: 13
Previous Ranking: 8
"Brock Purdy had a 137.1 passer rating and Jauan Jennings had 11 catches for 175 yards and three touchdowns, but it wasn't enough to make up for Christian McCaffrey, Deebo Samuel and George Kittle being sidelined by injury. It should have been, though. The 49ers led by 10 points with 6:20 left. Purdy now has nine games with a passer rating of 130 or higher, more than any other quarterback in his first three seasons." — Josh Kendall
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 15
Previous Ranking: 8
"All the injuries have proven to be too much for this team. It's hard to believe they are 1-2, but when you lose stars it's tough to overcome it." — Pete Prisco
