San Francisco 49ers

NFL Power Rankings: 49ers Drop Even Further Entering Week 4

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The San Francisco 49ers fell to the Seattle Seahawks 37-18 last week, which means NFL power rankings in Week 4 won’t exactly look kindly upon the red and gold. What are analysts from around the league saying?

The San Francisco 49ers are eerily replicating the same kind of efforts seen from this franchise a year ago at this time.

In Week 1, the Niners pulled off an amazing Monday Night Football victory, which led many to believe they were better than they actually were. Week 2 was a short-week road reality check. And last week, after falling 37-18 to the Seattle Seahawks, merely confirmed San Francisco isn’t that good.

OK, so the 49ers might have a few more pieces, especially on defense. Head coach Chip Kelly is an upgrade over former head coach Jim Tomsula.

And yet the Niners aren’t exactly far removed from the lackluster football fans saw in 2015.

So how is San Francisco being viewed around the league?

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Each week, Niner Noise collects analysts’ takes in weekly power rankings. Not surprisingly, the 49ers aren’t sitting anywhere close to the top.

But how far from the bottom are they? Let’s take a look.

Elliot Harrison, NFL.com: 28 (-5)

Feels just like 2015, doesn’t it? Last year, the 49ers blew out their opponent on the opening Monday night of the season, giving people confidence in their new regime … then sucked the next two games. It sucks for 49ers fans. It sucks for the Power Rankings, because I have to write something here. On the bright side, Carlos Hyde rushed for more than 100 yards and two scores. Once again, San Francisco didn’t roll over in the second half, either. The other side of that deal is that the 49ers need to make plays when the game is still competitive. Curious to see how Blaine Gabbert responds — he wasn’t really part of the awful start last year.

ESPN Stats & Information: 30 (+1)

It looks like that Week 1 win against Los Angeles was once again fool’s gold for the 49ers. The 49ers have been outscored by 48 points in the first three quarters the past two weeks before narrowing the margin in garbage time. A home game against the Cowboys awaits them Sunday.

Sep 25, 2016; Seattle, WA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Blaine Gabbert (2) throws a pass during the first quarter in a game against the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Troy Wayrynen-USA TODAY Sports

Cameron DaSilva, Fox Sports: 28 (-2)

Blaine Gabbert is hanging on to the starting quarterback job by a thread, and that thread might be cut in the coming weeks. Colin Kaepernick isn’t fully healthy, but it will likely be his team when he is 100 percent. Until then, the 49ers aren’t a team that worries opponents on offense.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 26 (-7)

Is it time to go to Colin Kaepernick? Blaine Gabbert isn’t getting it done.

USA Today Sports: 28 (-3)

Amazing fact — Blaine Gabbert’s streak of 12 consecutive games with a TD pass was longest in the NFL entering Sunday. Was.

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: 30 (-1)

Chip Kelly said Colin Kaepernick isn’t 100 percent yet. If the 49ers thought he was physically ready, he’d be playing now because Blaine Gabbert has been Blaine Gabbert so far.

Chris Simms, Bleacher Report: 29 (-9)

I know what the Legion of Boom is capable of.

But even I didn’t think—in this pass-happy era of quarterback stat-stuffing—we’d see a signal-caller put up a 119-yard performance through four quarters. Blaine Gabbert proved me wrong.

Same goes for this defense. Marshawn Lynch is sitting on his couch at home, not running through arm tackles in Seattle. This defense makes Beast Modes out of any ball-carrier, though.

San Francisco isn’t that far behind Seattle. It just felt like it for three hours Sunday afternoon.

Analysts certainly aren’t shying away from the notion quarterback Blaine Gabbert should be benched in favor of Colin Kaepernick.

Kaepernick will probably get a chance to start this season. Why not? The only question is when. A likely scenario would be in Week 9. The Niners have a bye the week before, which would allow Kaepernick two weeks to prepare for a weak New Orleans Saints defense.