The NFL never ceases to surprise.
Just as the decisive match begins to take shape, an opponent is expected to falter or a team at death’s door revives its season.
Sunday’s action began with the San Francisco 49ers reasserting themselves as top title contenders with a defeat of the Jacksonville Jaguars in Duval.
The 49ers dominated the Jaguars in a 34-3 victory on Sunday, looking like the team atop most NFL power rankings through the first five weeks of the season.
However, after that 5-0 start was a 3-match losing streak.
This is now broken later
That has now been broken after Brock Purdy returned to his early season form, the 49ers ran the ball effectively and the defense forced turnovers.
Here’s where the 49ers stand after Sunday’s Week 10 game: 32.
Carolina Panthers (1-8): Can we relegate the Panthers?
The number of football atrocities they committed on Thursday night is calling for an investigation.
31.
New York Giants (2-8): Every snap Tommy Devito takes is one step closer to the Giants’ Caleb Williams or Drake Maye.
Not a bad consolation prize for a terrible season.
30.
New England Patriots (2-8): Mac Jones’s era of redemption as the 49ers’ linebacker would be a good story, but McCorkle’s time in New England is over.
The former first-round pick is a broken and beaten signal-caller, and Bill Belichick bears much of the blame.
29.
Atlanta Falcons (4-6): 4,444 The Falcons were 4-3 and quickly lost Will Levis, fresh-off-the-plane Josh Dobbs and the Cardinals.
They are who we thought they were.
28.
Arizona Cardinals (2-8): Ryan Poles and the Bears might be Kyler Murray’s biggest fans on Sunday.
The Cardinals’ star quarterback returned and led Arizona to its second win of the season, giving Carolina its worst record in the NFL in 10 weeks.
The Bears are in prime position for the No.
1 pick as we enter the home stretch.
27.
Tennessee Titans (3-6): Will Levis has shown promise, but the rookie and his mayonnaise latte won’t be the solution to everything for Tennessee’s broken roster .
26.
Green Bay Packers (3-6): 4,444 After three decades with a Hall of Fame quarterback at the helm, the Packers now find themselves in a position most franchises frequent: money purgatory guard.
25.
Chicago Bears (3-7): There are a lot of bad teams in the NFL, and the Bears are undoubtedly one of them.
But as we parse through the pack of bad, the Bears can at least tout a defense that is playing better and the expected return of Justin Fields.
The arrow is pointing up … for now.
24.
Los Angeles Rams (3-6): 4,444 Kudos to Sean McVay for getting things done with Matthew Stafford, Cooper Kupp, Aaron Donald, Puka Nacua and not much else.
The Rams were competitive for three quarters before their lack of talent caught up with them.
23.
Denver Broncos (3-5): Despite all the criticism, Russell Wilson has quietly played effective football this season.
He’s no longer the star he once was, but he and Sean Payton seemed to have found their way midway through the first year of their arranged marriage.
22.
New York Jets (4-5): Imagine being a member of the Jets’ front office watching Josh Dobbs play while you publicly support Zach Wilson.
It’s a shame to waste a season defending the championship underwater.