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          NFL Nation

          Power Rankings: No. 12 San Francisco 49ers

          • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterOct 21, 2014, 04:00 PM ET
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              Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role - writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA's Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis' Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN
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          A weekly examination of the 49ers’ ESPN.com Power Rankings:

          Rank: 12| Last Week: 7

          Comment: The 49ers’ (4-3) three-game winning streak came to a crashing halt Sunday night in Denver during a 42-17 loss to the Broncos in Peyton Manning’s record-setting game.

          That defeat sent the Niners tumbling five spots in our Power Rankings.

          Truly, the bye week could not have come at a better time for a team so nicked up physically -- and mentally. Against the Broncos, the 49ers were without five players projected to be starters -- left guard Mike Iupati (concussion), linebackers Aldon Smith (suspension), NaVorro Bowman (knee) and Patrick Willis (toe) and cornerback Chris Culliver (hamstring).

          And that was before losing center Daniel Kilgore in the game to a season-ending broken left ankle.

          The time off figures to help with the healing process, and there are reports that Smith’s nine-game suspension, which lasts through the 49ers’ Nov. 9 game at the New Orleans Saints, could be reduced for good behavior by a game or two, which would conceivably bring him back for their first post-bye game at home against the St. Louis Rams on Nov. 2.

          Plus, running back Marcus Lattimore is scheduled to begin practicing soon as his rehab from his college knee injury ramps up. And the return of nose tackle Glenn Dorsey (left biceps) is also on the horizon.