49ers win vs. Cardinals doesn’t outweigh injuries in newest NFL power rankings

After beating the Seattle Seahawks and New Orleans Saints to start the season, the San Francisco 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals 16-15 at Levi’s Stadium on Sunday to move to 3-0 and claim the top spot in the NFC West.

San Francisco didn’t look great, but without Brock Purdy, Brandon Aiyuk and George Kittle, and without Nick Bosa for most of the game, they did just enough to squeak out a last-second victory off of an Eddy Pineiro 35-yard field goal as time expired.

Advertisement

Through three weeks, NFL analysts like USA Today’s Nate Davis still weren’t buying in on San Francisco, playing the 49ers 12th in his Week 3 power rankings. After this win, Davis has dropped the 49ers down a spot to No. 13.

“A 3-0 start is obviously nice,” Davis wrote. “But when you’re winning by an average of 3.3 points then lose Pro Bowl DE Nick Bosa (torn ACL) for the duration? It’s got the potential to become fool’s gold awfully fast.”

The teams ahead of San Francisco at this point are the Seattle Seahawks (No. 12), Indianapolis Colts (No. 11), Kansas City Chiefs (No. 10), Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 9), Washington Commanders (No. 8), Baltimore Ravens (No. 7), Detroit Lions (No. 6), Green Bay Packers (No. 5), Los Angeles Rams (No. 4), Los Angeles Chargers (No. 3), Buffalo Bills (No. 2) and Philadelphia Eagles (No. 1).

Seattle is the team that jumped the 49ers after beating the New Orleans Saints in Week 3. However, this move is interesting to note, considering San Francisco downed the Seahawks 17-13 in Week 1.

Advertisement

A win against the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 4 and moving to 4-0 should move the 49ers up a bit next week, but if they keep losing significant players, their journey to the postseason will keep getting harder.

More 49ers: 49ers HC Kyle Shanahan explains how team will replace Nick Bosa

This article originally appeared on Niners Wire: NFL power rankings: Where are 49ers after Week 3 win vs. Cardinals

Related Posts

📅 Mark your calendar NOW!!! The Official Kickoff Time vs. Seahawks Is Finally Set…Stay locked in for official announcements and everything you NEED to know before the Patriots face off with the Seahawks in what could be a game everyone talks about all week.

 CONFIRMED: The expected start time for the New England Patriots vs. Seattle Seahawks game has been changed – here’s everything you need to know  The NFL has…

🚨 DAK PRESCOTT DECLARES: ‘I’M NOT GOING DOWN WITHOUT A FIGHT!’ — READY TO LEAD COWBOYS TO GREATNESS IN 2026 👇

DаK рReѕCOTT DeCLаReѕ: “і’M NOT GOіNG DOWN WіTHOUT а FіGHT!” — ReаDY TO LeаD THe COWBOYѕ TO GReаTNeѕѕ іN 2026 Dаk рreѕcott dіdn’t heѕіtаte. He dіdn’t ѕoften…

🚨BREAKING NEWS: Bаltіmore Rаvenѕ Send Blockbuѕter Trаde Offer for Mаxx Croѕby аѕ Pаѕѕ Ruѕh Fіx Becomeѕ Prіorіty👇

аѕ the 2025 offѕeаѕon unfoldѕ, the Bаltіmore Rаvenѕ аre no longer oрerаtіng wіth раtіence. The rebuіld рhаѕe іѕ comрlete, аnd the orgаnіzаtіon hаѕ ѕhіfted fіrmly іnto wіn-now…

Brian Angelichio, Legend OC in Vikings History, Arrives in Steelers and Immediately Submits Plan to Cut Two Key Offensive Names – Art Rooney II’ Response Shocks the NFL

In a move that has rocked the NFL, Brian Angelichio, a legendary offensive coordinator in Vikings history, has officially joined the Pittsburgh Steelers as their new offensive…

🔥 A NIGHT TO REMEMBER: TAYLOR SWIFT AND TRAVIS KELCE ELEVATE THE RED CARPET WITH A CLASSIC EVENING GOWN OF PURE ELEGANCE 🔥

🔥 а Red Cаrрet аrrіvаl Thаt іnѕtаntly ѕhіfted the Nіght 🔥 The moment Tаylor ѕwіft аnd Trаvіѕ Kelce ѕteррed onto the red cаrрet, the аtmoѕрhere recаlіbrаted. Converѕаtіonѕ…

BREAKING NEWS: 49ers Owner Jed York Stuns Fans by Awarding Christian McCaffrey a Jaw-Dropping Financial Bonus After His Epic Comeback Player of the Year Win—But What Secret Message Did York Whisper About CMC’s “Hidden Injury Battle” That Could Change Everything for the Team?

BREAKING NEWS: The San Francisco 49ers have made a bold and generous move to reward one of their star players, Christian McCaffrey, with a substantial financial bonus…