San Francisco 49ers

NFL Power Rankings: What Are the Experts Saying About the 49ers in Week 15?

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

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For the second straight week, the San Francisco 49ers dropped an uninspiring loss against a lowly opponent, this time to the New York Jets. What are experts from around the league saying about the Niners in Week 15 NFL power rankings?

The San Francisco 49ers coughed up a 14-point lead, losing to the New York Jets in overtime by a score of 23-17.

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It’s the same old story — the Niners play well in the first half, only to see their second-half efforts wane and disappear. Quarterback Colin Kaepernick reverted back from a possible reclamation story to an underwhelming has-been. And there’s enough finger-pointing going on in Santa Clara to suggest plenty of changes are on the horizon.

At 1-12, head coach Chip Kelly has run out of excuses and answers. The roster stinks and it’s not being coached up to any level of decency.

Not surprisingly, the Niners aren’t going to be ranked anywhere close to even the median of teams in Week 15 NFL power rankings.

We know San Francisco has been towards the bottom almost all season. But what are the experts saying in addition to a lowly ranking?

Let’s take a look.

Elliot Harrison, NFL.com: 31 (even)

Not sure what happened to the 49ers’ offense after jumping out to a 14-zip lead versus the Jets. Another missed opportunity for Chip Kelly, who has seen his team be in position to win a couple of games recently … only to come up short (SEE: at Arizona, at Miami). Nobody can say these guys aren’t playing for their head coach. It would be nice if Phil Dawson made those kicks, too. That is, unless you heartless jerks just want San Francisco to get a high pick. Don’t answer that.

Dec 11, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) carries the ball against the New York Jets during the first quarter at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

ESPN Stats & Information: 29 (+2)

Colin Kaepernick has failed to complete 50 percent of his passes in seven of the eight second halves he has played in this season. He has a 71.7 completion percentage in first halves this season, but his post-halftime struggles aren’t helping the 49ers.

Pete Prisco, CBS Sports: 31 (even)

They competed against the Jets, only to lose in overtime. It sounds like big changes might be coming to this franchise.

November 20, 2016; Santa Clara, CA, USA; San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly instructs during the first quarter against the New England Patriots at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports

USA Today Sports: 31 (even)

Surrendering 20 unanswered points at home to the Bryce Petty-led Jets in Sunday’s loss was probably the Niners’ most impressive loss of 2016.

Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports: 31 (even)

On one hand, that loss to the Jets was insanely ugly. They blew a huge lead against a Jets team that looked like it had given up. It was so bad that the drum beat for Chip Kelly getting fired started getting louder afterward. But really, the 49ers are going to appreciate that loss when the draft order is set.

Peter Panacy, Niner Noise: 31 (+1)

The 49ers coughed up a 14-point lead for the third time this season, falling to the scuffling New York Jets 23-17 in overtime.

As has been the case almost all season, the Niners second-half woes surfaced in glaring light. San Francisco’s defense let second-year quarterback Bryce Petty engineer a Jets comeback, and 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick simply collapsed in response.

Kap’s four-week stretch of better-than-average play seems like a distant memory now.