SB Nation Bay Area - NFL Power Rankings Week 15: 49ers, Raiders Continue Up and Down Seasonshttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48817/bayrea-fave.png2010-12-14T10:37:38-08:00http://bayarea.sbnation.com/rss/stream/16375522010-12-14T10:37:38-08:002010-12-14T10:37:38-08:00NFL Power Rankings, Week 15: 49ers, Raiders Like Pinballs At This Point
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/G0-pRIY4kxr6Wb1r1m2g2LnKJCY=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828101/large_bayarea.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The 2010 <span class="caps">NFL</span> season has seen a lot of inconsistencies from the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> and the <span class="caps">NFL</span> Power Rankings continue to reflect that as we head into Week 15. SB Nation released <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2010/12/14/1875534/nfl-power-rankings-week-15-cowboys-nfc-west" target="new">their weekly power rankings</a> and the 49ers seem to rise and fall two spots each week while the Raiders are rising and falling approximately four spots each week. It’s almost like clockwork. Throw in the fact that they’re now winning and losing in opposite cycles and it’s somehow becoming rather predictable.</p>
<p><strong><u>Oakland Raiders</u></strong><br>
18. Oakland Raiders (6-7): Only the Raiders could lose that game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jaguars</a>. This team has made incredible strides but it appears it likely won’t be enough to get into the playoffs. LW: 14</p>
<p>Even with a game up on the 49ers, it would appear the Raiders playoff chances are growing slimmer and slimmer. They’ve shown great improvement in 2010, but at two games out with three to go it’s going to be tough. Of course, if they’re a game out heading into Week 17 at Kansas City I wouldn’t put anything past them. After all they swept San Diego this year and became the first team to hang an L on Norv Turner in December.</p>
<p><strong><u>San Francisco 49ers</u></strong><br>
24. San Francisco 49ers (5-8): The 49ers are 5-8 and one game out of first place. Believe it or not, they’ve got a chance. It starts Thursday night against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/san-diego-chargers">Chargers</a>. LW: 26</p>
<p>This has been arguably the most bizarre 49ers season ever. They get destroyed one week by Green Bay and then bounce back to destroy the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seahawks</a>. They’re 5-8 but still hanging around the <span class="caps">NFC</span> West race. They could win this week and be tied for first, they could lose this week and be out of the playoff race entirely (if Seattle and St. Louis both win), or they could somewhere in between. It’s just crazy times in San Francisco.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/san-francisco-49ers/2010/12/14/1876116/nfl-power-rankings-week-15-49ers-raiders-like-pinballs-at-this-pointDavid Fucillo2010-12-13T10:43:05-08:002010-12-13T10:43:05-08:00NFL Power Rankings Week 15: 49ers, Raiders Continue Up and Down Seasons
<figure>
<img alt="" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/G0-pRIY4kxr6Wb1r1m2g2LnKJCY=/0x26:400x293/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/47828101/large_bayarea.sbnation.com.minimal.0.png" />
</figure>
<p>The Bay Area's NFL teams continued their wildly inconsistent seasons with some fairly explosive games. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/oakland-raiders">Oakland Raiders</a> took an early ten point lead but could not hold on in falling 38-31 to the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigcatcountry.com/">Jacksonville Jaguars</a>. One the other end of the spectrum, the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ninersnation.com/">San Francisco 49ers</a> demolished the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.fieldgulls.com/">Seattle Seahawks</a> 40-21 in a game that really was not as close as the score would indicate.</p>
<p>Although the Raiders loss hurts their playoff chances, it's not what one would qualify as a "bad loss" as going on the road to Jacksonville for an early game is not exactly a piece of cake. As for the 49ers, their win was huge in getting them back into the playoff chase from the brink of elimination, but it remains to be seen what can be taken from the game. The 49ers did handle the Seahawks with ease, but much of that was due to some horrendous miscues by the Seahawks and <span>Matt Hasselbeck</span> in particular. One could argue that Hasselbeck single-handedly lost this game for Seattle. Given that, I wouldn't expect either team to have too drastic a swing in their rankings following yesterday's results.</p>
<p>Sunday's results around the league were a mixed bag that allowed a few teams to assert their dominance. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.patspulpit.com/">Patriots</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.com/">Steelers</a> would appear to be the class of the AFC as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.ganggreennation.com/">Jets</a> continue to stumble and the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.baltimorebeatdown.com/">Ravens</a> remain a bit of a mystery. The NFC is dominated by its Southern division as the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/teams/atlanta-falcons">Falcons</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.canalstreetchronicles.com/">Saints</a> are pulling away from Tampa Bay and the wild card race. The NFC North is a close second with the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bleedinggreennation.com/">Eagles</a> handling their business on the road against Dallas. The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bigblueview.com/">Giants</a> play tonight, and if they can beat Minnesota in Detroit they'll have a leg up on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/">Packers</a> and Bucs for the second wild card spot.</p>
https://bayarea.sbnation.com/2010/12/13/2326265/nfl-power-rankings-week-15-49ers-raiders-continue-up-and-down-seasonsDavid Fucillo