The 49ers fell in the USA TODAY power rankings despite a win over the Bears in Week 8. San Francisco now sits at the No. 20 spot, two places down from where they resided after their bye. Where they are in Week 9 matters far less than what lies ahead.
Knocking off a not-so-good Bears team is a nice for the 49ers and helped snap a four-game losing skid. It also put them at 3-4 for a stretch of games that’ll determine the direction the rest of their 2021 goes.
Via USA TODAY’s Nate Davis:
Niners host NFC West rival Cardinals and Rams next two weeks, a stretch that could make or break San Francisco’s season.
Whether they were No. 18 or No. 20 going into Sunday’s showdown with the Cardinals matters less than what they do in that game. A win over Arizona (No. 3) might pull them back into the top 15 with their 4-4 record.
After that they face the Rams (No. 1) at home in a game that could launch the 49ers into the conversation with the rest of the contenders in the NFC.
A win over Chicago steadied the ship, but now the time comes for the 49ers to either stay on a clear course toward a playoff spot, or begin a steep uphill climb that leaves no room for error.
