Posted by ESPN.com's Mike Sando

For all their troubles Sunday, the 49ers remain 3-0 against the NFC West. That was ultimately why I left San Francisco ahead of the other division teams in the most recent power rankings. I also think we'll have plenty of time to adjust the 49ers' ranking given what awaits: road games against Houston and Indianapolis.

We should expect the division race to tighten over the next five weeks. Here's where I see NFC West teams sitting after each team's next four games:

• San Francisco (3-2 to 4-5): I had projected a 49ers victory at Houston in Week 7 when looking at the schedule before the season. It's going to take a strong effort. Week 5 results suggest the Texans should have a good chance to win at home, although Frank Gore's expected return will help the 49ers. I then have the 49ers losing at Indianapolis and beating the Titans in San Francisco before facing a swing game against the Bears, also at home. A victory over the Texans or Bears could get the 49ers to 5-4, based on my thinking. That might be a little optimistic given how well Jay Cutler has been playing recently.
• Arizona (2-2 to 3-5): Beating the Seahawks in Week 6 would help immensely. While such an outcome wouldn't surprise me, the Seahawks looked good enough against the Jaguars to suggest they could be tough at home, particularly with Matt Hasselbeck back in the lineup and functioning at a high level. The Cardinals then face the Giants on the road, a very likely defeat. I've got them beating Carolina at home the next week and then probably losing at Chicago. This is a tough four-game stretch featuring trips to three problematic venues. Getting to 4-4 would be a victory.
• Seattle (2-3 to 4-5): The Seahawks play the Cardinals twice in their next four games. I'll assume a split, plus a home victory over the Lions and a road defeat at Dallas. That seems fairly straightforward. Beating Arizona this week is critical. Pulling an upset against the Cowboys seems more plausible amid Dallas' struggles. Getting left tackle Walter Jones back from two knee surgeries might be critical for the Seahawks to handle Cowboys pass-rusher Demarcus Ware. Ware beat a hobbled Jones for two sacks last season. Jones has not played since.
• St. Louis (0-5 to 1-8): The preseason projection called for an 0-7 start to the season. I still think the Rams will surprise someone along the way. Perhaps it happens at Jacksonville in Week 6.

sboyle_24 asked whether the Seahawks would move past the Cardinals on my rankings ballot if they defeated Arizona convincingly. I think they would. Seattle is a different team with Hasselbeck at quarterback. Hasselbeck was starting to get hot against the 49ers when Patrick Willis knocked him out of the game. That game and the early division race in general might look different if Hasselbeck had thrown away the ball instead of scrambling. It's still not a given for the Seahawks, down to their fourth-string left tackle, to keep Hasselbeck healthy.