Updated NFC West Power Rankings: Week 9

Oct 5, 2014; Santa Clara, CA, USA; A San Francisco 49ers fan holds a sign for head coach

during the fourth quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs at Levi

#2: San Francisco 49ers

Record: 4-3

Next: St. Louis

The 49ers are coming off their second worst defeat in the Jim Harbaugh era. Being said, they are about to get hot, and fast.

The 49ers will return the following players to their roster over the next month: NaVorro Bowman, Patrick Willis, Aldon Smith, Glenn Dorsey, and Marcus Lattimore.

Save for Lattimore – who has yet to play an NFL snap – every one of these players would start on YOUR favorite team.

This makes the 49ers easy to analyze. They have been a tepid squad this season, but are set to become the league’s deepest and most-talented roster.

Also, there’s reason to believe Colin Kaepernick is becoming a proficient pocket passer, which will take this offense to a new level.

In 2013, Kaepernick completed just 57% of his passes and posted a quarterback rating of 81 from the pocket. In 2014, he’s completed 69% of his passes and has posted a quarterback rating of 90 from the pocket.

Once protection issues are shored up, it’s plausible that Kaepernick – who has a bevy of other, applicable talents – becomes one of the league’s best signal callers.

Who knows if the 49ers piece it all together and rediscover their winning ways, but If Harbaugh’s ridiculous 40-14 regular season record is any indication, then this team has at least six wins going forward, maybe more.

As the season presses on, the 49ers get stronger. The league is officially on notice.