The San Francisco 49ers did what good teams are supposed to do on Sunday: they handled business, rolled past the Las Vegas Raiders 38-17, and did it by leaning on a defense that forced five turnovers. It was the kind of complete win that keeps a team sitting near the top of the league, and at 7-1, the 49ers are still tied with the Buffalo Bills for the NFL’s best record.
So after that lopsided victory, where did the 49ers land in the Week 10 NFL Power Rankings? Across the major outlets, the answer was mostly the same: right near the top.
ESPN kept San Francisco at No. 2 behind Buffalo, which had just beaten the Minnesota Vikings on Monday Night Football in a matchup of one-loss teams. ESPN’s top three stayed intact from last week, with the Jacksonville Jaguars still in the mix.
The Chicago Bears moved up to No. 4, the Denver Broncos slipped to No. 5, and the rest of the top 10 stayed the same overall, just shuffled around. Kansas City remained No.
6, Cincinnati climbed from No. 10 to No. 7 after its 34-17 win over Atlanta, Minnesota dropped to No. 8, Seattle fell to No. 9 despite beating Arizona 17-3, and Detroit slid to No. 10 after beating Miami.
ESPN also pointed to Week 12 against the Seattle Seahawks as the most important game left on the schedule.
The Athletic also held the 49ers at No. 2, again trailing the Bills, and gave San Francisco a midseason grade of an “A”. “The Niners have the second-best point differential in the NFL (plus-79), and they hardly broke a sweat Sunday in another multi-touchdown game from Christian McCaffrey,” The Athletic’s Chad Graff and Josh Kendall wrote.
“His 37 career touchdown receptions are the most by a running back in the Super Bowl era, surpassing Marshall Faulk.” In that ranking, Denver stayed at No.
3, Kansas City moved up to No. 4, and Jacksonville climbed to No. 5.
The Bears, Bengals, Lions, Packers, and Vikings filled out the rest of the top 10.
CBS Sports kept the 49ers at No. 2 as well, with no changes inside its top five. Pete Prisco wrote, “They just keep playing as well as anybody in the NFC, despite their many injuries,” and added, “Brock Purdy is in the MVP talk.”
Buffalo, San Francisco, Jacksonville, Chicago, and Denver remained the top five there. Kansas City, Cincinnati, Detroit, Pittsburgh, and Green Bay rounded out the top 10, while Minnesota fell five spots to No.
FOX Sports was the one outlet that had San Francisco a little lower, but the 49ers still held steady at No. 3, behind Buffalo and Denver. Ralph Vacchiano wrote, “The 49ers clearly fixed whatever it was that happened to them before the bye week when they lost to the Falcons - a game that now looks like a weird blip on their otherwise stellar season.”
He added, “They came out strong and fast, putting the Las Vegas Raiders in their place quickly.” Vacchiano also said, “And the fact that they did it without WR Mike Evans made it even more impressive.
Of course, that’s what they do best: Overcome injuries. They’re that good and they’re that deep.
They still look like they deserve to be the NFC favorites. And they’re clearly the NFC’s best team.”
Behind the 49ers in FOX’s top 10 were Kansas City, Chicago, Jacksonville, Minnesota, Cincinnati, Green Bay, and Detroit, with the Packers making the biggest jump, from No. 15 to No. 9.
In Other News...
49ers Just Added A New Wrinkle To Their Mike Evans Question
The 49ers added another proven pass catcher to their offense, landing Keenan Allen from the Indianapolis Colts for a 2027 sixth-round pick. It is the kind of move that usually signals a team is looking for more stability and more answers in the passing game, and Allen brings plenty of both after a long track record of production.
What makes this one especially interesting in San Francisco is the overlap with Mike Evans, who is still working back from injury. Allen was asked about the history between the two and made it clear the issue is in the rearview mirror, which removes one potential distraction as the 49ers wait for Evans to return and sort out how all the pieces fit together. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Trade Deadline Push For A Star Receiver Went Further Than Fans Knew
The 49ers were active behind the scenes as the trade deadline approached, and their search for help went beyond the usual rumor mill. According to ESPNs Rich Cimini, San Francisco checked in on Jets wide receiver Garrett Wilson, a sign the team was at least exploring a major swing to bolster its passing game. New York never opened the door to real negotiations, but the inquiry fits the broader picture of a front office looking for impact talent if the right opportunity surfaced.
San Francisco also had its eye on Chargers edge rusher Khalil Mack, another move that would have addressed a different need with a proven veteran. Los Angeles never made Mack available, leaving the 49ers to keep working through alternatives, including a possible pivot to Keenan Allen once those earlier avenues stalled. It is the kind of deadline posture that says plenty about the teams ambitions, even if the biggest names never got close to changing uniforms. [Read more 🡒]
49ers Receiver Move Reveals A Bigger Wrinkle In Their Injury Plan
The 49ers latest receiver addition did not come together overnight, and John Lynch said the path to Keenan Allen started with interest in another player before conversations shifted to Allen about two and a half weeks ago. For San Francisco, the move fits a familiar late-season pattern: patching together depth while trying to keep the offense functional, especially with the wide receiver room still dealing with a mix of players coming back and others staying out.
What makes the situation more delicate is the learning curve waiting for Allen once he gets in the building. Lynch and Kyle Shanahan both acknowledged how difficult it can be to absorb the 49ers playbook on the fly, so the team has already added extra meetings to help him get ready for upcoming games. It is the kind of adjustment San Francisco has had to make before, but this one comes with the added pressure of an injury picture that is still shifting around him. [Read more 🡒]