The San Francisco 49ers have claimed the number one spot in many NFL power rankings heading into Week 13 after an impressive win over the Saints on Sunday. The 49ers replaced the Philadelphia Eagles, who narrowly held on to beat the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night.
49ers Dominate Saints to Solidify #1 Position
The 49ers thoroughly dominated the Saints, winning 13-0 and allowing under 200 total yards. Their defense was suffocating, sacking Andy Dalton four times and forcing two turnovers [1]. On offense, rookie QB Brock Purdy was efficient, Christian McCaffrey ran for 112 yards, and Deebo Samuel and Brandon Aiyuk both topped 90 receiving yards [2]. After their performance, many experts now view San Francisco as the most complete team in the NFL.
"The 49ers have everything a legitimate Super Bowl contender needs. They have difference-makers on both sides of the ball, they’re well coached and they have elite depth thanks to their aggressive approach last offseason," said NFL analyst Conor Orr [3].
| 2022 Season | W | L |
|---|---|---|
| 49ers | 8 | 4 |
| Eagles | 10 | 1 |
The 49ers have won five straight games, with their defense allowing just 12 points per game during that stretch [4]. Many rankers now see San Francisco as the Super Bowl favorite from the NFC.
Close Call Drops Eagles Behind 49ers
The Eagles narrowly survived against the Packers on Sunday night, winning 40-33 after Jalen Hurts scored the go-ahead touchdown with under two minutes left. The Eagles blew a 27-20 fourth quarter lead before Hurts led the game-winning drive [5].
While Hurts strengthened his MVP case with 363 total yards and three touchdowns, the Eagles defense struggled without several injured starters. Aaron Rodgers threw for 353 yards and two scores against Philadelphia’s depleted secondary [6].
Most rankers still have Philadelphia as a top-two team, but some dropped them behind the 49ers due to defensive concerns. The Eagles face another tough matchup in Week 13, hosting the Tennessee Titans on Sunday.
Chiefs, Cowboys Round Out Top Four
The Kansas City Chiefs rallied to beat the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams 26-10 on Sunday, quieting recent doubts after two straight losses. Patrick Mahomes had his best game in over a month, throwing for 320 yards and a touchdown. Meanwhile, Chris Jones dominated with five QB hits and two sacks [7].
The Dallas Cowboys also bounced back from a disappointing loss, routing the Giants 28-20 on Thanksgiving behind two Tony Pollard touchdowns. While QB Dak Prescott is still out injured, the Cowboys defense came up big by forcing three turnovers [8].
Most NFL experts have Kansas City and Dallas as the next two top teams behind Philadelphia and San Francisco. The 9-2 Chiefs have won eight of nine games since starting 1-2, while the 8-3 Cowboys sit atop the NFC East.
Surging Teams Look to Break Into Top 10
While the top five teams remained mostly stable, there was more shakeup this week among the next tier of contenders. The Seattle Seahawks, Washington Commanders, New York Giants, and Detroit Lions are among the surging squads trending upwards in power rankings.
The 7-5 Seahawks have won four of five games behind the standout play of QB Geno Smith, who leads the NFL in completion percentage (72.8%). Seattle further strengthened its case with a 27-23 win over the Raiders in overtime on Sunday [9].
Washington has won six straight games to get back in the playoff race at 7-5. Second-year defensive end Chase Young made his season debut on Sunday and immediately boosted their pass rush in a 19-13 win over Atlanta [10].
At 7-4, the Giants had lost two of three before falling to Dallas on Thanksgiving. But their roster is healthy again after the bye week, setting the stage for a late-season push behind Saquon Barkley’s MVP-level campaign [11].
And Detroit (4-7) just dismantled Buffalo 45-17 for its third straight impressive win. The Lions offense exploded for 486 total yards behind running backs Jamaal Williams and D’Andre Swift combining for 195 yards from scrimmage and three touchdowns [12].
While not yet viewed as top-five clubs, the potential is evident for Seattle, Washington, New York, and Detroit to continue rising in the coming weeks. All four likely need to secure wildcard spots to make playoff runs.
Struggling Teams Try to Stop Slides
On the flip side, the week’s biggest fallers in power rankings were the Cincinnati Bengals and New York Jets. The struggling AFC contenders both lost narrowly in Week 12 to put their postseason hopes in peril.
The Bengals lost 20-16 to the Titans without star receiver Ja’Marr Chase, dropping them to 6-5. Reigning Offensive Rookie of the Year Ja’Marr Chase may return from injury this week, which would aid the inconsistent Bengals offense [13]. But Cincinnati likely needs Chase to regain top form quickly to go on a late run and defend their AFC crown.
After a promising 6-3 start, the Jets have lost four straight games, including Sunday’s last-second 31-30 heartbreaker against division rival New England. At 7-5, New York likely needs to win four of its last five games to earn a wildcard spot in a crowded AFC race [14]. With upcoming games against the Bills, Dolphins, and Seahawks, the schedule is daunting down the stretch for the Jets.
Both AFC contenders face critical games in Week 13 to stop their slides. The Bengals host the Chiefs while the Jets travel to Minnesota for a must-win contest against the Vikings.
Outlook for Week 13 and Beyond
As the calendar flips to December, the playoff races will intensify across the NFL. Critical showdowns loom between contenders jockeying for division titles and wildcard spots.
The game of the week looks to be the 49ers hosting the Dolphins. Surging Miami has won five straight behind the brilliance of Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle, but faces its toughest test yet against San Francisco’s elite defense [15]. Based on the latest power rankings, this quarter-pole matchup could be an NFC Championship or even Super Bowl preview.
Other key Week 13 games feature the Titans visiting the Eagles and the Chiefs hosting the Bengals. The cream should continue rising to the top of the standings across the league.
As for projecting the rest of the season, San Francisco is now the team to beat with its complete roster and sustained excellence on both sides of the ball. But the Eagles remain right on their heels while the Cowboys and Chiefs lurk as formidable foes. Whichever team remains the healthiest and hottest down the stretch into January figures to represent the NFC and AFC at Super Bowl LVIII.
To err is human, but AI does it too. Whilst factual data is used in the production of these articles, the content is written entirely by AI. Double check any facts you intend to rely on with another source.
