NFL Power Rankings: New Orleans Saints top the league after nine

San Francisco 49ers (8-0)
The 49ers (8-0) are the NFL’s only undefeated team, as they last defeated the Arizona Cardinals (3-5-1) 28-25.
There is a reason why this team is not ranked in the top spot on this list, and it has to point to the strength of schedule for San Francisco.
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No team can predict how an opponent will be when it is time to play, but playing relatively weaker opponents early on in the season can increase an organization’s collective ego. (Look at the Dallas Cowboys)
Up to Week 9, the 49ers’ toughest test so far has been the Los Angeles Rams, whom they defeated 20-7 in the Los Angeles Coliseum in Week 6.
After beating the Cardinals, the rest of their wins came against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Cincinnati Bengals, Pittsburgh Steelers, Cleveland Browns, Washington Redskins and Carolina Panthers.
And just the Rams and Panthers are in the hunt for possible playoff spots, whereas the other teams are in disarray or play inconsistently during the year.
The 49ers will have some tough matchups the rest of the season, like the Seattle Seahawks, Green Bay Packers, Baltimore Ravens, and New Orleans Saints.
This team has gotten off to a hot start and has a tremendous amount of talent, but these players will have to get used to adversity and steeper odds against them going forward.