_**Perfect records don't last forever, and even the 49ers had to drop a game eventually. As it turns out, they weren't exactly the only team to lose a game unexpectedly this week.**_
The San Francisco 49ers got off to a hot start against the Atlanta Falcons, but the Niners couldn't get out of their own way with some undisciplined penalties and a defense that struggled to get any pressure on the quarterback as they fell 29-20 in Week 7.
This is the first setback for the 49ers this year, but the bye week has hit at the perfect time. San Francisco has a [whole host of players due to come back from injury,](https://ninernoise.com/full-list-injured-49ers-poised-return-injury-bye-week) and the loss will see the 49ers looking for revenge against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 9.
As usual, the previous week is below, and let's get right into it!
_**Read More:**_ [_**Week 7 NFL power rankings: 49ers hold off several AFC teams to remain No. 1**_](https://ninernoise.com/week-7-nfl-power-rankings-49ers-hold-several-afc-teams-remain-no-1)
**1\. San Francisco 49ers (6-1) - Last Week: 1**The Niners played well enough in the first six weeks that nobody should bat an eyelid they get a mulligan for that Week 7 performance.
There are several players due back after the bye, so they should be able to rebound.
**2\. Kansas City Chiefs (5-1) - Last Week: 2**It's a little concerning the Chiefs got crushed by their strongest opponent to date, but they have too much credit accrued over past years for me to overreact. They can stay at No. 2, which is only fair if the 49ers stay at No. 1
**3\. Buffalo Bills (5-1) - Last Week: 3**
Buffalo has a big week ahead of it coming off the bye. Baltimore looks suddenly very vulnerable, and the Bills have a big opportunity to put a black eye on a fellow contender.
**4\. Minnesota Vikings (6-0) - Last Week: 5**
On the one hand, their win against the Colts wasn't very impressive. On the other, however, the Vikings are the last undefeated team remaining, and that counts for something.The Norsemen have the perfect month to show they're legitimate, though. In their next four games, they'll have to take on the Lions, Bills, Packers and Niners. If they go even just 2-2 in that stretch, they're comfortably, at worst, a nightmare team to match up against in the playoffs because of their terrifying defense.
**5\. Chicago Bears (5-2) - Last Week: 7**The Bears offense is as scary as the Vikings defense, and they beat the Patriots handily (it was only a one-possession game for the final 30 seconds) who were No. 5 on the rankings last week.
**6\. Denver Broncos (5-2) - Last Week: 8**It isn't at all a coincidence the Broncos finally got something approaching a blowout win when Bo Nix looked like a competent quarterback. Granted, they only played the Cardinals, but the Cards have taken a scalp this season and couldn't be underestimated.
**7\. New England Patriots (4-3) - Last Week: 6**If we discount the start of the season as an aberration, the Pats' record being broken by a loss at Chicago isn't by any means the end of the world. Despite Miami getting into the win column, New England should be able to bounce back.
**8\. Cincinnati Bengals (4-2) - Last Week: 10**They're not first place in the NFC North, but the Bengals' big win over Baltimore now makes them the favorite for the division. The Ravens didn't have Lamar Jackson, true, but he wasn't the only reason the Cincy won 35-13.
**9\. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-2) - Last Week: 9**I said to consider the Jaguars on fraud watch. I forgot they're on a bye week this past week, however.
So they're still on extended fraud watch.
**10\. Seattle Seahawks (4-3) - Last Week: 13**It wasn't just a win, but a defense-led demolition job of the No. 2 team in this rankings that puts Seattle back in the top 10. I can't put them higher because the offense still has question marks, but it should be noted the Hawks had a slow start last year, too.
**11\. Baltimore Ravens (4-3) - Last Week: 4**I gave Baltimore a mulligan in part because I thought Lamar Jackson would return, but he missed this past week, and the Ravens still looked awful.
Without confirmation as of writing that he's back, I have no choice but to knock the Ravens down the rungs.
**12\. Detroit Lions (4-2) - Last Week: 14**I said the game against the Packers had become a "must win," and sure enough, the Lions won. What was most surprising, though, was it was the defense that pulled through and not the offense this week. I did _not_ see that coming.
**13\. Green Bay Packers (4-3) - Last Week: 12**Losing to a walk-off field goal on the road against a divisional opponent that's decent isn't the end of the world. The issue is the NFC North is tough this year, and the Packers are currently bottom of it at 4-3.
In fact, no team in the North (AFC _or_ NFC) has a losing record.
**14\. Pittsburgh Steelers (5-2) - Last Week: 15**The wins aren't impressive, but the wins are there in a very tough division. The Steelers are the Steelers, that's all you can say.
**15\. Cleveland Browns (5-2) - Last Week: 17**The Browns are 5-2 and are atop the division. They should be 6-1, because they should have beaten the Jets if they didn't stink that game. They could beat the Steelers, and be alone atop the division halfway through the season.
What is going on in this division?!?
**16\. New York Giants (4-2-1) - Last Week: 18**J.J. McCarthy almost completed an incredible comeback against the Saints, and he followed that up with an overtime win against a tough defense. He didn't look like a fluke.
The Giants led by McCarthy look decent!
**17\. Atlanta Falcons (3-4) - Last Week: 21**The Falcons are a frustrating team, looking good some weeks and horrible the next. They did beat the 49ers, however, and that wasn't a fluke either, given they controlled the second half.
**18\. Los Angeles Rams (3-4) - Last Week: 22**The Rams are probably nowhere close to the division this year, but at least they finally showed signs of life. About time, too, because they're entering a bit of a cupcake schedule now.
**19\. Houston Texans (2-5) - Last Week: 16**The defense being torn up by McCarthy was absolutely ridiculous.
Houston doesn't have many more games it can afford to lose if it wants to play in January.
**20\. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-5) - Last Week: 23**Baker Mayfield plays best with a chip on his shoulder, and it was clear he was lacking that to begin the year, but he played a little like his former self on his return from injury (albeit barely throwing because they ran out to a huge lead).
Maybe sitting at home and listening to people doubt his ability put that chip back on.
**21\. Carolina Panthers (3-3) - Last Week: 11**So much for being the best in the NFC South. Beating the Buccaneers would have seen them well atop the division, but now the Panthers are only half a game ahead of the Falcons, and that division is not going to see the runners-up make the playoff.
Losing such an important game by 30 points at home was pathetic.
**22\. Las Vegas Raiders (3-4) - Last Week: 19**Kirk Cousins was fun at times, but the Raiders have hinted that it's time for the Fernando Mendoza era. Maybe it's time to pull the trigger.
**23\. New Orleans Saints (2-5) - Last Week: 20**Despite being the worst team in the worst division in football, I'm not ready to give up on the Saints. Nobody seems to want to run away with the NFC South yet again. There's room for something, but they need to get a move on.
**24\. Indianapolis Colts (2-5) - Last Week: 24**The Vikings offense is awful, but the Colts are just awful all over. That was the difference between the teams, that and the Colts potentially having a fire sale sooner rather than later.
**25\. Dallas Cowboys (3-4) - Last Week: 28**I'm not going to overreact and pretend the Cowboys resurrected their season against an Eagles team that's battered in both body and spirit, but it's _much_ easier to come back from 3-4 than 2-5.
**26\. Washington Commanders (1-4-1) - Last Week: 26**If we see one more game-clock or fourth-down mismanagement comedy routine from Dan Quinn and the Commanders after this bye, you have to think he'd become the most hated figure named Dan there not named Snyder.
**27\. Tennessee Titans (1-6) - Last Week: 29**Look, maybe the Browns are good, I don't know. I don't think they are, but then again they're not bad. Am I waffling and struggling to justify this entry because I don't know if I'm overrating the freaking TENNESSEE TITANS here?
Probably.
**28\. New York Jets (2-5) - Last Week: 27**Oh, come on, it's hard enough being a Jets fan without losing to the Dolphins of all teams.
**29\. Arizona Cardinals (2-5) - Last Week: 25**Of all the bad teams, the Cardinals are the team that seem the most consistent in a good way. They'll pop up with an upset or a tight loss to a good team, they'll lose but they'll rarely get crushed. They're just there like a slightly interesting looking person in a crowd scene. Worthy of a glance here and there, but inconsequential to the wider NFL story.
**30\. Miami Dolphins (1-5) - Last Week: 32**_"This feels borderline cruel given they were on their bye week, but the Titans had to come off the foot of the rankings. Maybe the Dolphins can get a similar bump when they play the Jets?!"_You're welcome, Miami.
**31\. Philadelphia Eagles (2-5) - Last Week: 30**In all fairness to the Eagles, they actually played Dallas pretty tough for three quarters. They showed some real grit, but Philly is just too beat up to really do much at this point.
**32\. Los Angeles Chargers (0-6) - Last Week: 31**It seems like the most Chargers thing ever to start 0-6, limp into a bye week and still become a big laughingstock for the week anyway because you end up being the last team without a win.