The San Francisco 49ers swept the Seattle Seahawks, clinched the division and secured the No. 2 spot in the latest NFL power rankings with their 21-13 victory on “Thursday Night Football.” Now, all eyes are on playoff positioning as the team gears up for the home stretch of the season. Up next for San Francisco is a Week 16 showdown with the Washington Commanders who are in the midst of their own push for the postseason.
“Anyone who plays defense as well as they do and commits to running the ball, usually that’s a recipe to be in the playoffs,” head coach Kyle Shanahan said. “They’re No. 1 in the league in time of possession, top four in yards, third in third down (conversion), top five in least amount of explosives. They’re a top five defense… They don’t give up big plays. They make everyone work for everything. Then, on the other side of the ball, they’re controlling that clock. So, usually when they take care of the ball, they win.”
The 49ers are coming off a seventh-straight win with contributions from all three phases. Quarterback Brock Purdy delivered a second-straight game with a 100+ passer rating, connecting on 16-of-27 passes for 217 yards and two touchdowns. Tight end George Kittle was on the receiving end of both those touchdown passes, and running back Christian McCaffrey added another score on the ground. On the other side of the ball, defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans’ unit allowed just three points in the first half, produced one takeaway and sacked Seattle quarterback Geno Smith three times on the night.
Here’s a look at the latest NFL power rankings from several national outlets:
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