Fansided

Are the San Francisco 49ers really the NFC’s best team

By Steven Kubitza

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with offensive tackle Justin Skule #67 after throwing a 21 yard touchdown reception to Dante Pettis (not pictured) during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 28-25. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 31: Quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo #10 of the San Francisco 49ers celebrates with offensive tackle Justin Skule #67 after throwing a 21 yard touchdown reception to Dante Pettis (not pictured) during the second half of the NFL game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on October 31, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. The 49ers defeated the Cardinals 28-25. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /
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The San Francisco 49ers improved to 8-0 are currently sit atop the NFC. The final eight games will show if they are for real or if they are a pretender.

The San Francisco 49ers have beaten some good teams, some average teams, and the worst of the worst en route to an 8-0 record to start the 2019 season.

The beauty of the NFL is that teams get a chance to prove they are indeed worthy of their records. A team can’t win a Super Bowl without taking down the best.

Right now the 49ers lead the NFC while both the Green Bay Packers and New Orleans Saints sit with 7-1 records. The Packers take on the Los Angeles Chargers this Sunday while the Saints have a bye.

Picking one as “the best” is tough to do at this point. The only measure that matters for January is what the records show and right now that would put the 49ers as the top team. But let’s dig a bit deeper.

If we are searching for quality wins then the 49ers maybe have two. A 20-7 victory over the Los Angeles Rams was impressive. Then came a 51-13 demolition of the Carolina Panthers. Maybe the Panthers aren’t as good as we all thought? The same goes for the Rams in a bit of a down year.

The Packers have, on paper, two signature wins this season. The first came against the Minnesota Vikings and the next was against the Kansas City Chiefs. However, Patrick Mahomes did not play and the Chiefs still kept it within a touchdown.

The Saints are interesting because the team won five games with Teddy Bridgewater as the starting quarterback. That included wins over the Seattle Seahawks and the Dallas Cowboys. Alvin Kamara has dealt with injuries and still, the Saints are rolling.

There are so many variables to consider and some clarity will come in the form of head-to-head matchups.

The 49ers play both the Saints and the Packers before season’s end, though the Saints and the Packers do not have a head-to-head matchup.

The 49ers and Packers meet November 24. The 49ers then have a tough matchup against the Baltimore Ravens before heading to New Orleans on December 8.

There are those who may say the 49ers have been dominant on defense only because of an easy schedule. Or maybe Jimmy Garoppolo has looked better than he is for the same reason.

Brees is back. The Packers look better than ever. There will be no more time for speculation about where the 49ers stand. They will actually prove it between now and December 8.

And by the way, the Seattle Seahawks are 6-2 with two games remaining against the 49ers. The NFC West is still up for grabs in the midst of the rest of this discussion.

Next. When will the San Francisco 49ers finally lose a game?. dark

Half the season still remains and even if there is disagreement about where the 49ers stand, there is no doubt the team is in the discussion as one of the three best in the NFC. Arguing anything worse than that is just trolling.