The San Francisco 49ers finally ended their NFC West drought last Thursday night with a 36-24 victory over the Seattle Seahawks. This win ended their 0-2 start against division rivals and marked their sixth consecutive victory over Seattle, a streak that includes the 2022 season's Wildcard Playoff matchup.
In addition, the Week 6 matchup was the 49ers' first victory over an NFC opponent this season, providing a much-needed boost for the team. The 49ers' record improved to 3-3, which propelled them to the top of the NFC West standings.
After a rocky start to the season, San Francisco looks to build on this momentum as they traverse a challenging upcoming schedule. Up next is a formidable test: a Super Bowl LVIII rematch against the Kansas City Chiefs, one of only two undefeated teams remaining.
For the 49ers, this upcoming game represents an opportunity to prove they can compete with the NFL's elite and dispel any doubts about their status as Super Bowl contenders.
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.
Current Ranking: 7
Previous Ranking: 8
"This team had been playing high-variance football for a month, living and dying on Brock Purdy's ability to create explosive plays in the dropback passing game. Thursday's win over Seattle was a step forward for this team as it reestablishes its offensive identity; the 49ers mashed the Seahawks up front to the tune of 228 rushing yards. When the 49ers are in control of the trenches on offense, Purdy's creativity in the pocket is more impactful, and he has more passing lanes to work with. A Super Bowl rematch against Kansas City is up next, and that will be a serious measuring-stick game for San Francisco's progress this season." — Diante Lee
Yahoo! Sports
Current Ranking: 7
Previous Ranking: 7
"The 49ers would be happy to get through a game without a significant injury. If Jordan Mason misses time, that might not be great for the 49ers, though their dominant win over the Seahawks was a reminder that they're still one of the NFL's elite teams." — Frank Schwab
The 33rd Team
Current Ranking: 8
Previous Ranking: 10
"The San Francisco 49ers started to look like themselves again with a double-digit win in Seattle on Thursday Night Football. The offense moved the ball up and down the field, and the defense got three takeaways. Yet, they let the Seahawks back into the game despite a 23-3 lead. The 49ers are still a good team; make no mistake about that. But they lack the killer instinct to close out some of these games. Maybe that will develop as the season goes on, but there is no way that a team this talented and well-coached should only be 3-3 after six games." — Marcus Mosher
Sports Illustrated
Current Ranking: 8
Previous Ranking: 9
"The 49ers are in the thick of their schedule right now, with a long-rest matchup against the Chiefs followed by games against Dallas, Tampa Bay, Green Bay and Seattle a second time. While I'm dying to see what Mike Macdonald does against Kyle Shanahan the second time in a matter of weeks, we're looking to see if San Francisco can play against some of the best teams on their schedule still without a full complement of healthy skill position players, given that it may simply be its reality in 2024." — Conor Orr
The Athletic
Current Ranking: 10
Previous Ranking: 14
"Will Christian McCaffrey play this season? The 49ers could have opened the running back's window to return from IR this week. They did not. That's not an encouraging sign. An NFL Network report last week suggested the 49ers are targeting Week 10 for the running back's return, but that sounded more hopeful than anything. Ricky Pearsall, who was shot six weeks ago, likely will play sooner than McCaffrey, who is suffering from Achilles tendinitis. Jordan Mason is second in the league in rushing (609 yards) filling in for McCaffrey, but he doesn't provide the same headaches for opponents." — Josh Kendall
Current Ranking: 10
Preseason Ranking: 13
"In 2023, San Francisco ran roughshod over opponents, winning 12 regular-season games by a second-best average of 19.08 points, with a third-best 11.35 average point differential in all games. Those Niners were healthy and loaded with stars. Without RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles), DT Javon Hargrave (triceps), LB Dre Greenlaw (Achilles), S Talanoa Hufanga (wrist) and others because of injury, this year's edition is decidedly not. That has left San Francisco in more tight games. Through six weeks, San Francisco has lost three one-score games and has a 5.33 average point differential. It will need to start pulling some of the close games out to make another playoff run." — Nick Wagoner
CBS Sports
Current Ranking: 11
Previous Ranking: 14
"Winning at Seattle was big for this banged-up team. They still aren't quite clicking all the way, which is not a good thing with the undefeated Chiefs on tap this week." — Pete Prisco
Pro Football Talk
Current Ranking: 12
Previous Ranking: 14
"When they find the gas pedal, everyone else might need to get out of the way." — Mike Florio
Sporting News
Current Ranking: 12
Previous Ranking: 13
"Brock Purdy is lighting it up in the downfield passing game at the exact right time before getting his rematch chance vs. Patrick Mahomes. The 49ers might need to stay aggressive passing amid another backfield injury." — Vinnie Iyer
USA Today
Current Ranking: 12
Previous Ranking: 13
"They don't hit the road again until Nov. 10. In the interim? Might be a good idea to keep feeding 'wide back' Deebo Samuel, the first wideout in league history with 20 career TDs both rushing and receiving." — Nate Davis
Current Ranking: 13
Previous Ranking: 14
"After downing the Seahawks in Seattle, the San Francisco 49ers have reclaimed first place in the NFC West. But the Niners haven't looked like the defending NFC champions, largely because of injuries that have continually dogged the team. Those injuries kept coming in Week 6. Running back Jordan Mason, who has been a revelation in place of Christian McCaffrey, left the win over Seattle with what was diagnosed as a sprained AC joint. Rookie Isaac Guerendo and fourth-year pro Patrick Taylor Jr. combined for 89 yards on 14 carries with Mason out, and San Francisco head coach Kyle Shanahan told reporters the Niners are confident they can carry the load if Mason misses time." — NFL Staff
NFL.com
Current Ranking: 14
Previous Ranking: 18
"Brock Purdy had a good game overall, while Deebo Samuel and George Kittle both stepped up in Thursday's important win at Seattle. It was also a rare big night for San Francisco rookies, as Isaac Guerendo, Renardo Green and Malik Mustapha (before he left with an injury) played big roles in the victory. The 49ers absolutely could not afford to crawl into a matchup against a rested Chiefs team this week with a 2-4 mark, and now they have a chance to get back over .500 with a statement by beating their AFC nemeses. Getting another rookie back in first-round receiver Ricky Pearsall would help, as his practice window opened Monday. Expecting instant coffee from Pearsall might be optimistic, but it's never a bad thing adding a potential playmaker to the mix." — Eric Edholm
