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NFL power rankings 2012: 49ers return to top three, Raiders remain in league cellar

Bay Area teams are going through two completely different seasons, and the power rankings reflect that

Jed Jacobsohn - Getty Images

The San Francisco 49ers are 4-1 and one of the top teams in the NFL. The Oakland Raiders are 1-3 and are not one of the top teams in the NFL.

Welcome to the Bay Area version of the NFL power rankings.

Let's start with the Niners.

ESPN moved the Niners up one spot to No. 3 and spoke on how much more damage their offense could have done on Sunday against the Bills. Seven hundred yards was well in reach, but 621 yards will have to do.

CBS Sports moved the Niners up one spot to No. 3 and apparently still can't figure out who was playing quarterback on Sunday.

"That offense was sensational against the Bills. Was that Joe Montana or Steve Young under center?"

SB Nation moved the Niners up one spot to No. 3 and just had this to say.

"They have won their last two games by a combined score of 79-3. That is all."

That is all.

On the other side, the Raiders are not looking as pretty.

ESPN kept the Raiders at No. 29 and reminded us that during a week that they desperately need a win, they just so happen to be traveling to Atlanta to face Matt Ryan and the undefeated Falcons. Good luck.

CBS Sports dropped the Raiders five spots to No. 26 and was pretty straightforward about the state of the team.

"They come off the bye ranked 25th in both offense and defense. That won't win you a lot of games."

SB Nation summed it up quite nicely, even though they moved the Raiders up a spot to No. 30 to make room for the Tennessee Titans at the bottom of the rankings. Simply: "I'm not sure what they do well."