FILE – This Sept. 16, 2012 file photo shows San Francisco 49ers tight end Vernon Davis, left, reacting after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter of an NFL football game against the Detroit Lions in San Francisco. At right is Detroit Lions linebacker Ashlee Palmer. Davis might get fewer style points these days for his touchdown celebrations – and he’s perfectly fine with that. (AP Photo/Tony Avelar, File)RICHARD ROSENBLATT
NEW YORK (AP) – An efficient Alex Smith and a rock-solid defense have the San Francisco 49ers on top of the AP Pro32 power rankings.
Smith threw for 226 yards and two touchdowns and the 49ers shut down the explosive Lions in a 27-19 win over the weekend, giving San Francisco a second win over a playoff team from last season. The 2-0 Niners moved up from second in the latest AP Pro32 regular-season poll released Tuesday, receiving 11 of the 12 first-place votes and 383 points from the media panel who regularly cover the NFL.
Houston advanced two spots to second with one first-place vote and 360 points, eight points ahead of Green Bay, which started the season on top. Atlanta is fourth, followed by Baltimore and Philadelphia, up six places after a second straight one-point win.
“There isn’t much not to like about the 49ers,” voter Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune said in putting the 49ers first for the second week in a row. “At this point, the only question is who is No. 2?”