NFL Power Rankings: 49ers and Raiders Reviving Football in the Bay Area

There was a time not too long ago when NFL football was all the rage in the Bay Area. The San Francisco 49ers were a rock in the landscape of the league from the 1980s straight through to the early 2000s, and the Oakland Raiders had successful stints of their own after returning to Oakland in 1995.

Then, suddenly, both teams hit the skids. The 49ers and Raiders both made the playoffs in 2002, and neither team has been back since. It's a dry spell that would have been totally inconceivable to the happy 49ers and Raiders fans of yesteryear, yet it's reality was hard to deny and even harder to stomach.

Right about now, though, it's looking like the dry spell may be coming to an end. Take a look at the standings right now, and you'll see the 49ers atop the NFC West with a record of 4-1. In the AFC West, the 3-2 Raiders are nipping at the heels of the San Diego Chargers.

But that's not the weird part. No sir, the truly weird part is that the early success of both teams seems absolutely legitimate.

In San Francisco, the 49ers (No. 10 in my Week 6 power rankings) are quickly establishing themselves as one of the tougher, more grittier teams in the league. Their defense is led by one of the most impenetrable front-sevens in the league, and it has allowed them to compile some very impressive defensive numbers.

And just when we thought the 49ers didn't have enough offense, they went and hung 41 points on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (with another seven coming on a pick-six).

The Raiders (No. 9 for Week 6) haven't been quite as methodical as their counterparts across the bay, but there's no denying that they are a very dangerous team. Darren McFadden and Jason Campbell are at the head of one of the league's most explosive offenses.

Though leaky, their defense has demonstrated a knack for coming up with timely plays. Moreover, it's certainly worth noting that their two losses came against two of the best teams in the league.

So as strange as it sounds to say it, we are looking at two teams that are here to stay. The 49ers already have the NFC West title in their sights, and the Raiders could easily end up winning the AFC West if they run the tables in the division like they did last year.

Could it all unravel? Sure it can. There are many things NFL fans can complain about, but a lack of parity is not one of them. A couple weeks from now, both the 49ers and Raiders could be in last place, and talk of their re-ascension will have been greatly exaggerated.

Sure, that day may come. But until it does, fans of the 49ers and Raiders are going to enjoy a ride that neither of them has been on in nearly a decade.

Zachary D. Rymer's Week 6 Power Rankings

Rank	Team	Record
1	Green Bay Packers	5-0
2	New England Patriots	4-1
3	Baltimore Ravens	3-1
4	Detroit Lions	4-0
5	New Orleans Saints	4-1
6	Buffalo Bills	4-1
7	San Diego Chargers	4-1
8	Washington Redskins	3-1
9	Oakland Raiders	3-2
10	San Francisco 49ers	4-1
11	Houston Texans	3-2
12	Pittsburgh Steelers	3-2
13	Chicago Bears	2-2
14	Tennessee Titans	3-2
15	Cincinnati Bengals	3-2
16	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	3-2
17	Dallas Cowboys	2-2
18	New York Giants	3-2
19	Atlanta Falcons	2-3
20	New York Jets	2-3
21	Cleveland Browns	2-2
22	Seattle Seahawks	2-3
23	Carolina Panthers	1-4
24	Kansas City Chiefs	2-3
25	Philadelphia Eagles	1-4
26	Jacksonville Jaguars	1-4
27	Minnesota Vikings	1-4
28	Denver Broncos	1-4
29	Arizona Cardinals	1-4
30	St. Louis Rams	0-4
31	Indianapolis Colts	0-5
32	Miami Dolphins	0-4