“Nothing is ever truly free,” as your parents would say.<\/p>\n
Well, they clearly weren’t watching NFL Week 12 football, because we had two excellent overtime thrillers on Sunday morning. <\/p>\n
First, the Detroit Lions staved off a surprising fight from the New York Giants before the Kansas City Chiefs stormed back to beat the high-flying Indianapolis Colts.<\/p>\n
Oh, but the dramatics didn’t stop there …<\/p>\n
Here is where the 49ers sit in the latest NFL power rankings heading into their “Monday Night Football” matchup against the Carolina Panthers at Levi’s Stadium:<\/p>\n
32. Tennessee Titans (Last week: 32)<\/p>\n
Record: 1-10<\/p>\n
Cam Ward<\/a> sack counter: 45 on the season. Still on pace for the third-most (69) in NFL history. <\/p>\n 31. New York Giants (Last week: 31)<\/p>\n Record: 2-10<\/p>\n Jameis Winston<\/a> had two incredible trick plays that both went for touchdowns, including his first-ever reception and receiving touchdown. He’s nothing if not an entertainer. <\/p>\n 30. New York Jets (Last week: 30)<\/p>\n Record: 2-9<\/p>\n Tyrod Taylor<\/a> certainly will play cleaner, more competent football than Justin Fields<\/a>, but in an offense with one healthy weapon, that versatility at the quarterback position is missed. <\/p>\n 29. New Orleans Saints (Last week: 29)<\/p>\n Record: 2-9<\/p>\n I’ve seen enough of Tyler Shough<\/a>; put Spencer Rattler<\/a> back in. It appears this is it for Alvin Kamara<\/a> in New Orleans.<\/p>\n 28. Las Vegas Raiders (Last week: 27)<\/p>\n Record: 2-9<\/p>\n Even when Geno Smith<\/a> doesn’t throw interceptions, it still feels like he throws four. A nice bounce-back game for Ashton Jeanty<\/a>. <\/p>\n 27. Cleveland Browns (Last week: 28)<\/p>\n Record: 3-8<\/p>\n Shedeur Sanders<\/a> looked pretty good in his debut as a starter. After everything he’s gone through, it would be cool to see him take the QB1 job and run with it. <\/p>\n 26. Washington Commanders (Last week: 26)<\/p>\n Record: 3-8<\/p>\n (Bye week)<\/p>\n 25. Cincinnati Bengals (Last week: 25)<\/p>\n Record: 3-8<\/p>\n Joe Burrow<\/a> hopefully should be back next week, which should unlock a potentially potent Cincy offense. Not that it will matter, because they’re far out of playoff contention. <\/p>\n 24. Arizona Cardinals (Last week: 24)<\/p>\n Record: 3-8<\/p>\n Jacoby Brissett’s<\/a> on a 17-game pace of 5,346 passing yards. If you ignore the attempts, that’s an insanely impressive number for a backup. He needs to start next season.<\/p>\n 23. Miami Dolphins (Last week: 23)<\/p>\n Record: 4-7<\/p>\n (Bye week)<\/p>\n 22. Minnesota Vikings (Last week: 21)<\/p>\n Record: 4-7<\/p>\n It’s time to have the J.J. McCarthy<\/a> conversation. Yes, it’s his first season actually playing, but did he develop at all during his redshirt year?<\/p>\n 21. Atlanta Falcons (Last week: 22)<\/p>\n Record: 4-7<\/p>\n There are certain things Kirk Cousins<\/a> still can do that makes him an excellent backup option in situations like these. Atlanta won’t do much of anything down the stretch, but they could be competitive. <\/p>\n 20. Carolina Panthers (Last week: 18)<\/p>\n Record: 6-5<\/p>\n (Monday Night Football)<\/p>\n 19. Pittsburgh Steelers (Last week: 15)<\/p>\n Record: 6-5<\/p>\n I don’t think the result would be different had Aaron Rodgers<\/a> played over Mason Rudolph<\/a>. There’s just nothing explosive or exciting about this offense. <\/p>\n 18. Dallas Cowboys (Last week: 19)<\/p>\n Record: 5-5-1<\/p>\n How good is Dallas’ offense? It appears it’s Eagles-proof, which not many teams — if any at all — can say. George Pickens<\/a> is earning himself a massive pay day in the offseason. <\/p>\n 17. Houston Texans (Last week: 20)<\/p>\n Record: 6-5<\/p>\n How elite is Houston’s defense? Josh Allen<\/a> scored six touchdowns last week and looked inept on Thursday night. This unit can carry the Texans so far if they just can be a somewhat competent offense. The jury’s still out on that side of the ball.<\/p>\n 16. Jacksonville Jaguars (Last week: 17)<\/p>\n Record: 7-4<\/p>\n Trevor Lawrence<\/a> turned the ball over four times and still got the win. If the season ended today, Jacksonville would be in the playoffs. With Buffalo and Kansas City behind them, I don’t imagine it will stay that way. <\/p>\n 15. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (Last week: 13)<\/p>\n Record: 6-5<\/p>\n Tampa Bay is in a free fall, but its end-of-season schedule is a cakewalk. Get healthy, and this still is an 11- or 12-win team.<\/p>\n 14. Baltimore Ravens (Last week: 16)<\/p>\n Record: 6-5<\/p>\n Lamar Jackson<\/a> has not looked good for three weeks now against three inferior teams. I don’t know if it’s rust or if he’s still hurt, but now is the time to get it out of his system. Baltimore’s back in the playoff race. <\/p>\n 13. San Francisco 49ers (Last week: 12)<\/p>\n Record: 7-4<\/p>\n (Monday Night Football)<\/p>\n 12. Kansas City Chiefs (Last week: 14)<\/p>\n Record: 6-5<\/p>\n When going up against the league’s best, Patrick Mahomes<\/a> will find a way. It might not always look pretty, but you’re a fool to count him out. There is no other quarterback I would rather have in overtime. <\/p>\n 11. Green Bay Packers (Last week: 11)<\/p>\n Record: 7-3-1<\/p>\n No Josh Jacobs<\/a>? No problem for Emanuel Wilson<\/a>. The run game always will be the engine that makes this offense go. <\/p>\n 10. Los Angeles Chargers (Last week: 10)<\/p>\n Record: 7-4<\/p>\n (Bye week)<\/p>\n 9. Buffalo Bills (Last week: 6)<\/p>\n Record: 7-4<\/p>\n I’m not saying I’m concerned about Buffalo’s offense, but there are enough cracks in the foundation where you wonder if they still belong in the tier of AFC juggernauts they have been in for years. I don’t think they do. <\/p>\n 8. Detroit Lions (Last week: 8)<\/p>\n Record: 7-4<\/p>\n Oh boy, that was almost disastrous. Detroit is so incredibly fortunate to have Jahmyr Gibbs<\/a>, who carried the team to an overtime win with the best game of his NFL career. <\/p>\n 7. Chicago Bears (Last week: 9)<\/p>\n Record: 8-3<\/p>\n For all the crap he got leading up to and throughout his rookie season, Caleb Williams<\/a> is not getting the praise he deserves for his ascension in Year 2. He’s playing very well and has Chicago in sole possession of first place in the NFC North.<\/p>\n 6. Indianapolis Colts (Last week: 4)<\/p>\n Record: 8-3<\/p>\n First rule of being an AFC title contender: Never, ever, ever let up against Kansas City. You will regret it, as Indy did on Sunday. <\/p>\n 5. Seattle Seahawks (Last week: 7)<\/p>\n Record: 8-3<\/p>\n Jaxson Smith-Njigba<\/a> is on pace for over 2,000 receiving yards, which would break Calvin Johnson’s<\/a> all-time record (1,964). If there was any doubt about him being the NFL’s best, there shouldn’t be anymore.<\/p>\n 4. Philadelphia Eagles (Last week: 2)<\/p>\n Record: 8-3<\/p>\n Saquon Barkley’s<\/a> worst game of the season came at the worst time. Nobody seems to want to run away with the NFC these days. <\/p>\n 3. Denver Broncos (Last week: 5)<\/p>\n Record: 9-2<\/p>\n (Bye week)<\/p>\n 2. Los Angeles Rams (Last week: 3)<\/p>\n Record: 9-2<\/p>\n If the season ended today, Matthew Stafford<\/a> is the league MVP. Mind-boggling that more teams weren’t interested in Davante Adams<\/a> in the offseason. Future Pro Football Hall of Famer still playing in his prime.<\/p>\n 1. New England Patriots (Last week: 1)<\/p>\n Record: 10-2<\/p>\n This win didn’t quiet the “easy schedule” crowd, but at some point you just have to call a spade a spade. We could be looking at a 13-win Patriots team, but two tough measuring-stick games are coming up after the bye.<\/p>\n