NFL Power Rankings: Where 49ers stand after win vs. Cardinals

NFL results: San Francisco 49ers win NFC West and Buffalo Bills beat Dallas Cowboy

Week 15 of NFL football had many expected and unexpected twists. Blown 10-point fourth-quarter lead by the Bears falls into which category? Former.

[{"selector":"#anim-725f35e4-b103-4aee-85ed-11dc182c84ae","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c4196dd-c52e-4ce9-ba2c-9ee1276dac9b","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.28741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

This season, the Bears have lost three double-digit fourth-quarter leads. The Bears became the fourth team since 2013 to lose with three interceptions and four sacks in Sunday's 20-17 loss in Cleveland.

[{"selector":"#anim-7b8ad3b7-6afb-4b10-bf90-561aeb3f53de","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-39f3fa55-f323-4613-885f-50b5e31471a8","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.28741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Meanwhile, the 49ers defeated the Arizona Cardinals to move within an inch of an NFC West title, and the Buffalo Bills humiliated the Dallas Cowboys in Buffalo.

[{"selector":"#anim-bca21ab5-7d66-4c6e-ac18-b157f04d2080","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8b24f093-22e0-4a48-bbbb-96d66a705dbd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.28741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Baker Mayfield thrashed the Packers at Lambeau Field with a perfect passer rating, and the Bengals won't die behind Jake Browning.

[{"selector":"#anim-fdc4c463-f8a0-4395-a260-7a6c55711f1a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-5ab8d67d-6f1d-48a4-a54a-1a266e6a1103","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.28741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Panthers (2-12): Sunday's win was their second of the season. NFL mediocrity could get them to three.

[{"selector":"#anim-3e9dca3d-1d05-49e0-ba4b-76bc799b89e6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2b7d2bd4-463c-4ae2-8f39-3bf1344d3614","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.28741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Patriots (3-11): Taylor Swift and Bon Jovi watched Bailey Zappe play Patrick Mahomes in Foxboro. Make the Patriots forfeit and hold a concert instead.

[{"selector":"#anim-ccfe2c9d-676e-4d06-8145-687b6074f40b","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ed328366-d872-4778-a450-3057eb5f7c87","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.28741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]

Arizona Cardinals (3-11): The Cardinals proved they are the NFL's perfect "tank" team. Arizona could hang with the 49ers for a half, but eventually.

[{"selector":"#anim-de15dcf7-3251-46e3-ad71-845906815d18","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-45bac5f3-fb41-4281-b478-68425f84b899","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-99.28741%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":0,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}]