Where the 49ers stand after beating the Patriots – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

We're a quarter of the way through the 2024 NFL season and the league's true hierarchy is starting to take shape.

The early surprise contenders are starting to look more like contenders, and the top teams continue to show their vulnerabilities while the worst teams continue to be…terrible. Shocker!

Can the Chiefs offense compensate for the loss of Rashee Rice? Was the Vikings' vaunted defense finally showing cracks after its second-half collapse? Are the Bears finally ready to go? Do the Lions have the best offense in the NFL?

Here's where the 49ers and the rest of the league stand at the start of Week 5:

32. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 32)

Record: 1-3

A prime-time game that pits a team with its third quarterback against a team that had to replace its terrible quarterback with another terrible quarterback. In this situation we are all losers. A win is a win, but Mason Rudolph doesn't exactly improve their standing.

31. Carolina Panthers (Last week: 31)

Record: 1-3

Andy Dalton will let you fill up with pride. Another week of football from Carolina worth watching. You do the bare minimum now.

30. New England Patriots (Last week: 30)

Record: 1-3

It's Drake Maye time. It's time for Drake Maye. What are we doing here? This offense is not observable.

29. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last week: 29)

Record: 0-4

This is a step in the right direction for Trevor Lawrence, but he has not yet refuted the fraud allegations. Is it Tank Bigsby time in Duval?

28. New York Giants (Last week: 27)

Record: 1-3

They stayed in a game against the Cowboys, which is probably more of a setback against the Cowboys than a compliment to New York. Malik Nabers could break rookie records this season if Daniel Jones continues to force-feed him.

27. Miami Dolphins (Last week: 23)

Record: 1-3

I understand you're without your starting and backup quarterbacks, but Tyler Huntley really can't do better than 12 points and 96 passing yards with Tyreek Hill, Jaylen Waddle and De'Von Achane? Really? Just throw screen passes, man.

26. Denver Broncos (Last week: 28)

Record: 2-2

At one point in the first half, Bo Nix had completed seven passes for negative yards. Really impressive. This is the worst offense in the league. But…they won?

25. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 26)

Record: 2-2

The Raiders are so funny. A win over the Ravens was followed by a loss to the Panthers, followed by a win over the Browns. You have this dog inside you at the most random times.

24. Chicago Bears (Last week: 25)

Record: 2-2

A pretty clean game from Caleb Williams, who is improving week by week. D'Andre Swift heard all the talk and decided to finally be a good running back.

23. Indianapolis Colts (Last week: 24)

Record: 2-2

Two very different scenarios, but Joe Flacco can do for the Colts what Dalton does for the Panthers. Competence at the quarterback position can go a long way.

22. Arizona Cardinals (Last week: 21)

Record: 1-3

The defense will give up a lot of yards and a lot of points, and the offense can only keep up if all three – Kyler Murray, Marvin Harrison and James Conner – work together. There will be some highs and some lows this season.

21. Los Angeles Rams (Last week: 20)

Record: 1-3

No comeback this week. The offense could continue to look like this until Cooper Kupp and Puka Nacua return. Run, Kyren Williams, run.

20. Cleveland Browns (Last week: 18)

Record: 1-3

It's Week 4 and every week I've mentioned how disgusting this offense is. A leopard does not change its spot.

19. Los Angeles Chargers (Last week: 19)

Record: 2-2

The defense can hold its own. Ladd McConkey may be Justin Herbert's only real weapon in the air, but this offense still lacks star power.

18. Cincinnati Bengals (Last week: 22)

Record: 1-3

Nobody expected them to lose to the Panthers and fall 4-0, right? Right?! A necessary victory, but it doesn't tell us much about who they are.

17. Atlanta Falcons (Last week: 15)

Record: 2-2

If Kirk Cousins ​​can't make it through the air, it sure would be nice to turn to Bijan Robinson. But the ghost of Arthur Smith won't allow that.

16. Washington Commanders (Last week: 17)

Record: 3-1

Are the Commanders a playoff… no, that's silly… Or are they? Man, they look good. I want to believe. I really do.

15. Green Bay Packers (Last week: 14)

Record: 2-2

Was Jordan Love rusty? Yes, he made too many costly mistakes. Did they also play one of the best defenses in the league? Yes indeed. It's going to be a tough battle for this division as the second half of this game shows.

14. New York Jets (Last week: 11)

Record: 2-2

I get that the Broncos defense isn't half bad, but seriously? Nine points is all you could get against them? I still think Aaron Rodgers and Co. will be fine, but they're not at full speed yet.

13. Seattle Seahawks (Last week: 13)

Record: 3-1

Geno Smith continues to prove he's an above-average quarterback, but if the running game doesn't click early, he's not the guy to pull off an epic comeback against an elite team. Seattle needed Kenneth Walker for all four quarters in the second half.

12. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last week: 16)

Record: 3-1

Just when I think I'm out, they pull me right back in. Baker Mayfield is the Eagles' boogeyman. Last week's disaster may have been a blip.

11. New Orleans Saints (Last week: 9)

Record: 2-1

Derek Carr is Derek Carr again. They called me a crazy person for not crowning them Super Bowl champions after Week 2. They're trending into good but not great territory.

10. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: 10)

Record: 3-1

I think…Justin Fields might be the guy in the Steel City. His floor is lower than Russell Wilson's, but his ceiling is undoubtedly higher. Let him acclimatize, you have the defenses to ease the growing pains.

9. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 12)

Record: 2-2

Nothing screams “everything is fine” like a narrow win over the Giants. They appear to be moving to Rico Dowdle as RB1, which is the right move to revive some semblance of a running game, but there are still issues.

8. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 3)

Record: 2-2

This defense could be as big a liability as it was last season. The offense isn't the same without its top two receivers. Who would have thought?

7. San Francisco 49ers (Last week: 8)

Record: 2-2

Brock Purdy is a magician. Fred Warner is a real DPOY candidate. They both play their asses off. They beat a terrible team and the offense stagnated in the second half. Nothing special.

6. Baltimore Ravens (Last week: 7)

Record: 2-2

Lamar Jackson led the way, Derrick Henry continues to prove he still has plenty left, but perhaps what was most impressive was the defense getting back into form and delivering this performance against a strong offense.

5. Houston Texans (Last week: 5)

Record: 3-1

CJ Stroud and his weapons make it through the air, but this attack is too one-dimensional without Joe Mixon.

4. Buffalo Bills (Last week: 2)

Record: 3-1

Even on an off night, Josh Allen still made stunning plays, but it wasn't enough against a Ravens defense that looked just as dominant as it did last season. Buffalo's defense also surrendered… *checks notes*… 271 (!!!) rushing yards? This is worrying.

3. Detroit Lions (Last week: 4)

Record: 3-1

Is Jared Goff out here catching touchdown passes? Oh, that's a misdemeanor all the way back. He and Ben Johnson were in their bags. However, the defense showed signs of collapsing in the second half in the NFC Championship Game.

2. Minnesota Vikings (Last week: 6)

Balance: 4:0

I want to preface this by saying that I think they are real BUT Sam Darnold has shown flashes of his old self at inopportune times. In the second half, the defense faded and almost lost a 21-point lead.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: 1)

Balance: 4:0

Patrick Mahomes might have lost his new favorite weapon for a long time, if not the rest of the season. They always seem to find ways to enforce it, but I have a feeling this attack will be severely tested from here on out.

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