The 49ers’ methodical climb to a 3-0 record to start the 2023 season has put them and kept them at No. 1 in the USA TODAY Sports power rankings.
A team like the Cowboys impressed in the first two weeks, but tumbled in Week 3 with a loss to the Cardinals in Arizona. The Eagles, ranked No. 2 all season, have quietly started 3-0 thanks to some less-than-stellar performances in their victories. Kansas City lost in Week 1 then scored only 17 in a Week 2 win over the Jaguars.
Meanwhile, San Francisco has soundly thumped all three of their opponents. They blasted the Steelers 30-7, got past the Rams 30-23 in a game that wasn’t as close as the final score, and dominated the Giants 30-12. Their consistency has them sitting firm atop Nate Davis’ rankings for USA TODAY Sports:
We’re nearing the realm of death, taxes, San Francisco scoring exactly 30 points (all 3 games this season), prevailing (13-game regular-season winning streak) and enjoying a TD from RB Christian McCaffrey, who’s found the paint in 12 consecutive games to match Hall of Famer Jerry Rice’s club record.
The 49ers have been at No. 1 in these rankings since trouncing the Steelers in the season opener. If they keep performing at the level they’ve played at all year it may be awhile before they’re knocked from that pedestal.