Here come the 49ers … again.
It’s not often an 11-4 team can be described as having a roller-coaster season, but San Francisco certainly qualifies for that rare distinction in the wake of Monday night’s 34-24 win over the Falcons.
To recap: The Niners started 1-2, reeled off five wins in a row, prompted a mild sense of panic in the Bay Area with a two-game skid, then won their next five games.
And now they enter Sunday’s road finale against the Cardinals with a (slim) chance of unseating the seemingly once-invincible Seahawks for the NFC West crown. A home loss by Seattle this week to the Rams and a San Francisco win over Arizona would make Jim Harbaugh’s team the division champs and the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
Who would have seen that coming a little over a month ago, when the 49ers were in the midst of losing at home to the Panthers and on the road to the Saints to drop them to a very pedestrian 6-4?
Monday’s heartstopper against Atlanta aside, the Niners have turned things around for the second time this season by tightening up their defense. They have allowed 264 yards or fewer in three of the five games in the win streak.
That defense, combined with a rejuvenated running game (163 or more rushing yards in each of the past three), has the 49ers looking like a team that can get back to the Super Bowl.
(Last week’s ranking in parentheses)
1. Broncos (2): They finish with the Raiders, so any record is possible for Peyton Manning.
2. Seahawks (1): Russell Wilson’s shaky December is the bigger concern than losing to the Cardinals.
3. Panthers (4): Headed to the playoffs for just the fifth time in their entire history.
4. 49ers (5): The defense has allowed just 186 rushing yards the last three games combined.
5. Patriots (6): Considering what’s left of their lineup, routing the Ravens in Baltimore was their most impressive win of the season.
6. Chiefs (3): Any team can have an off day, but falling flat so close to the playoffs has to be worrisome.
7. Cardinals (8): Bruce Arians for Coach of the Year.
8. Bengals (9): Don’t think we’ve forgotten about that flop in Pittsburgh two weeks ago, guys.
9. Colts (10):Â Their defense allowed 10 points combined in back-to-back wins over the Texans and Chiefs.
10. Saints (7): Three losses in their past four and running out of gas fast.
11. Eagles (14): The Fifty Burger on Chicago was impressive and Romo is probably out, but this is the last team that should be overconfident.
12. Chargers (16): A sneaky-good team you probably don’t want to face in the playoffs if they slip in.
13. Cowboys (18): Signing Kyle Orton as a backup QB could turn out to be the best move Jerry Jones made in years.
14. Bears (11): Um, what was that in Philly?
15. Ravens (12): Their four turnovers against the Patriots were as many as they had committed in the previous four games combined.
16. Dolphins (13): The flop in Buffalo shows they’re still not ready for prime time.
17. Packers (15):Â Aaron Rodgers to the rescue?
18. Steelers (19): Like the Chargers, another team you don’t want to see if they somehow get into the postseason.
19. Rams (20): Probably a playoff team if they didn’t have the bad luck of being stuck in the best division in football.
20. Jets (21): Something for John Idzik to think about: Does he really want Geno Smith learning a new offense again?
21. Bills (22): No playoffs (again), but 2014 looks awfully promising with the defense they’re building.
22. Titans (23): Good seats still available for the season finale at home with the Texans.
23. Giants (24):Â Tom Coughlin can still get them to play hard.
24. Lions (17): Matthew Stafford is stealing his millions now.
25. Vikings (25): Leslie Frazier probably sealed his fate with that total capitulation in Cincinnati.
26. Buccaneers (26): All the good feelings from their recent hot streak have dissipated, and now Greg Schiano reportedly wants the Penn State job. Good times!
27. Falcons (27): Kudos for a valiant fight in San Francisco despite having nothing at stake.
28. Jaguars (28): Going backwards again.
29. Raiders (29): Their moves at quarterback continue to baffle.
30. Browns (30): Could finish the year with 10 losses in their final 11 games. Ugh.
31. Redskins (31): The real fun with this team starts next week.
32. Texans (32): Bridgewater or Clowney?