Saturday, October 2, 2021

San Francisco 49ers Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the San Francisco 49ers rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 10.0 (T-10th)
  • Best ranking: 7th (Multiple)
  • Worst ranking: 15th (USA Today)

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the 49ers in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 11

Jimmy Garoppolo has been OK through three games, which is clear from his standing right in the middle of the pack. The Niners have to be encouraged by the fact that he has only one interception but frustrated by some of the inconsistency and the team's penchant for slow starts over the past couple of games. Garoppolo still struggles to push the ball down the field; he has attempted just four passes traveling 20-plus yards in the air, completing one and throwing his lone pick on another. That inability combined with a lack of dynamic running ability could lead to the drumbeat for rookie Trey Lance growing louder if a few losses pile up. -- Nick Wagoner

NFL.com -- Rank: 7

They left too much damn time on the clock. Kyle Juszczyk's touchdown catch capped a 75-yard drive that put the 49ers ahead late in the fourth quarter, but the Niners failed to bleed the maximum amount of time off the clock before giving the ball back to Aaron Rodgers. The final 37 seconds were just enough for the Packers to move into Niners territory and boot the game-ending field goal in a 30-28 loss for San Francisco. This had to be especially painful for Kyle Shanahan, who made Rodgers trade inquiries during the MVP's offseason of squabbling with Green Bay. He didn't get his man, and now he had to watch helplessly as Rodgers stole away a win that could have huge ramifications in the NFC.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 7

That was a tough loss to the Packers, but they showed a lot in rallying back to take a late lead. They lost because they messed up the end of the game in terms of clock management.

USA Today -- Rank: 15

If they're going to remain average while running the ball and defensively, they're not going to return to Super Bowl contention. Hosting the Seahawks and visiting the Cardinals over the next two weeks should be a good litmus test.

The Athletic -- Rank: 10

Surprise! I suppose we could give Kyle Shanahan credit for his commitment to the Jimmy Garoppolo plan. But it is somewhat surprising that we haven't seen Shanahan reveal more of the packages in place for Trey Lance, or that the head coach hasn't gotten more antsy to make a change at quarterback. Starting 2-0 certainly helped, but we do wonder just how long Shanahan will be OK using Lance in such a limited fashion (even if he is effective as a runner in the red zone).

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