NFL Power Rankings: Philadelphia Eagles Loss to San Francisco 49ers 'Best Case Scenario'?

The Philadelphia Eagles fell out of the top spot of Sports Illustrated's power rankings after their blowout loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

A heavyweight matchup between the two best teams in the NFC turned into one-way traffic as the Philadelphia Eagles fell to the San Francisco 49ers 42-19 on Sunday at Lincoln Financial Field. 

With the loss, the Eagles (10-2) dropped from the top spot to No. 2 in Sports Illustrated's Power Rankings, but could the loss be a positive for them?

"What if getting blown out by the 49ers was the absolute best case scenario here?" SI writes. "Just like San Francisco’s three-game stretch of mediocrity led the team to some answers, so too could Sunday’s blowout loss to the 49ers." 

The San Francisco 49ers scored six straight touchdowns on Sunday / Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier in the season, San Francisco (9-3) went on a three-game losing streak, losing to the Cleveland Browns, Minnesota Vikings and Cincinnati Bengals before its bye week. Since then, they've won four straight games in dominant fashion, outscoring its opponents 134-49. The 49ers have beaten the Jacksonville Jaguars, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Seattle Seahawks and Eagles during that run.

Now, San Francisco is one game behind Philadelphia for the No. 1 seed. Philadelphia also only has a one-game lead in the NFC East as well, with the Dallas Cowboys being 9-3. 

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While the Eagles don't have the luxury of a bye week to reset after the loss to the 49ers, their goals are still ahead of them. The Eagles still lead their division and the NFC, and if it can avoid a losing streak, that will all but ensure the conference runs through them for a second straight year. If Philadelphia can regain its form, get hot at the end of the season and finish atop the NFC, then maybe the loss to San Francisco really can be what the doctore ordered for them.

Philadelphia faces a must-win game on Sunday when it heads to AT&T Stadium to face the Cowboys in a battle for first place in the NFC East at 8:20 p.m. ET.