Where the 49ers stand after the loss to the Vikings – NBC Sports Bay Area & California

Week 2 of the 2024 NFL season is almost over, and it was just as crazy as last week.

Serious injuries to star players have sidelined rival teams, while the bottom-ranked teams have shocked the world with major upsets. Is there cause for concern in San Francisco? Are the Saints one of the best teams in the NFC? Are the Raiders and Patriots negligible?

Here are the 49ers and the rest of the league ahead of the Monday Night Football game between the Philadelphia Eagles and the Atlanta Falcons.

32. Carolina Panthers (Last week: 32)

Record: 0-2

This team exists solely as an argument for relegation from the NFL. I wake up every Sunday morning with the dread of watching them play football.

31. Denver Broncos (Last week: 30)

Record: 0-2

This offense continues to be incredibly bad. Their defense keeps them in the game, but Bo Nix just says, “Nah, I'm fine.”

30. New York Giants (Last week: 31)

Record: 0-2

Malik Nabers is the best receiver Daniel Jones has ever had. He had a stellar game in Week 2, but I fear for his future. All because of Daniel Jones.

29. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 27)

Record: 0-2

Will Levis keeps losing the ball. He is proving to be a huge liability.

28. New England Patriots (Last week: 29)

Score: 1-1

Rookie coach Jerod Mayo's team is playing with a lot of fighting spirit. As long as Rhamondre Stevenson continues to play, Jacoby Brissett will only have to be average.

27. Washington Commanders (Last week: 26)

Score: 1-1

Another solid, error-free game from freshman Jayden Daniels, who distributed the ball well to all of his playmakers and let Brian Robinson do the heavy lifting on the ground. This is a team that is regrouping and heading in the right direction.

26. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 28)

Score: 1-1

Gardner Minshew has been tearing a suspect (?) Ravens secondary to shreds. It turns out getting the ball to your two best weapons is a recipe for success. I may have been too harsh on the Silver and Black last week.

25. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last week: 22)

Record: 0-2

This team is pretty boring and pretty mediocre. Trevor Lawrence on #FraudWatch.

24. Indianapolis Colts (Last week: 15)

Record: 0-2

I literally said last week, “Anthony Richardson is great. Keep letting him go and don't look back.” It's a good thing I'm not an NFL coach, because yuck.

23. Chicago Bears (Last week: 20)

Score: 1-1

Caleb Williams will have a learning curve to go through, at least for a few weeks. Fortunately for Chicago, they have the defense to back that up. Offensive line? Not necessarily. Thinking the Bears would shock everyone and suddenly become an 11- or 12-win team in an offseason was premature.

22. Los Angeles Rams (Last week: 11)

Record: 0-2

A shaky defense took a devastating beating against the Birds. Matthew Stafford may have just lost Cooper Kupp to an ankle injury, a week after losing Puka Nacua and two offensive linemen. Is the sky starting to fall in LA?

21. Los Angeles Chargers (Last week: 23)

Record: 2-0

They beat a bad team, but this offense is still lacking in receivers. However, JK Dobbins and Gus Edwards are an excellent one-two punch on the ground.

20. Atlanta Falcons (Last week: 19)

Record: 0-1

A rough start for Kirk Cousins ​​and the offense in Week 1. After the Achilles injury, I'll let them get by though. A big test against the Eagles in Week 2 will be very telling.

19. Arizona Cardinals (Last week: 24)

Score: 1-1

The connection between Kyler Murray and Marvin Harrison Jr. is alive and well. Watch out, NFC West.

18. Miami Dolphins (Last week: 8)

Score: 1-1

Tua Tagovailoa's health is of utmost importance. I'm not sure how they move forward in the coming weeks, but with Skylar Thompson at quarterback, they won't be anywhere near the same team for the foreseeable future.

17. Seattle Seahawks (Last week: 21)

Record: 2-0

They barely managed to win against the Pats. Geno Smith got it through the air, but without Kenneth Walker, it's a different team. Two very easy games to start the season. I don't believe it yet.

16. Minnesota Vikings (Last week: 25)

Record: 2-0

They dominated the defending NFC champions. Sam Darnold and the boys are officially alert. A very, very impressive win. Fortunately, Justin Jefferson's injury does not appear to be serious.

15. Cleveland Browns (Last week: 18)

Score: 1-1

This team just feels like crap even when they win. Nice comeback game for the defense I guess.

14. Green Bay Packers (Last week: 17)

Score: 1-1

Malik Willis has done just enough and Josh Jacobs has done the heavy lifting on the floor. That's the recipe for success until Jordan Love returns.

13. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: 12)

Record: 2-0

Justin Fields has played well in place of Russell Wilson, but the offense needs reinforcement at quarterback. Is DangerRuss still that guy? The defense can carry them until they have an answer.

12. New Orleans Saints (Last week: 16)

Record: 2-0

The offense continued to thrive, delivering a clear win over Dallas. Don't look now, but New Orleans could mean business.

11. Cincinnati Bengals (Last week: 13)

Record: 0-2

A step in the right direction against the defending champions. There is no reason to worry in Cincinnati, they will get it done.

10. New York Jets (Last week: 9)

Score: 1-1

The defense is back in shape and Aaron Rodgers got his first win (in a game he finished) in a Jets uniform. RELAX.

9. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last week: 14)

Record: 2-0

A win against the Lions on the road? A rematch. They're a good football team. It's hard not to cheer for Baker Mayfield. Respect them.

8. Buffalo Bills (Last week: 10)

Record: 2-0

They have the Dolphins under control and their defense seems to be pretty good. Josh Allen and Co. keep finding ways to do it.

7. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 6)

Score: 1-1

They were humiliated at home by Derek Carr and Alvin Kamara. The running game is nonexistent. Dak Prescott can't do everything. There are a lot of things to figure out.

6. Baltimore Ravens (Last week: 3)

Record: 0-2

Getting smacked by Minshew and the Raiders after leading by 10 points in the fourth quarter at home? This defense may not be what it was last year.

5. Detroit Lions (Last week: 5)

Score: 1-1

Jared Goff takes, Jared Goff gives away. I have a feeling the Lions may not quite live up to their lofty expectations, but it's still early.

4. Houston Texans (Last week: 7)

Record: 2-0

When CJ Stroud and the Houston offense struggled, the defense always helped them out. It wasn't a great performance against the Bears' strong defense, but when the Texans have a defense…you have to be careful.

3. San Francisco 49ers (Last week: 2)

Score: 1-1

Turns out Christian McCaffrey is pretty important. Both sides of the ball were poor for most of the game. There's something about playing in Minnesota that haunts the 49ers. A frustrating loss for Kyle Shanahan's team that usually needs a wake-up call or two every season.

2. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 4)

Record: 1-0

Saquon Barkley behind a good offensive line is unfair. The defense was OK in Week 1, but not great. That may not matter this season. They will be in a tough fight for the top spot.

1. Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: 1)

Record: 2-0

Never, ever, ever bet against Patrick Mahomes when the game is on the line. Burrowhead is a thing of the past. Nobody is beating the champs right now.

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