Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Stacking up all 32 teams heading into Week 15

By Peter Panacy

PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 10: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers meets Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens at mid field after the conclusion of the Pittsburgh Steelers 39-38 win over the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images)
PITTSBURGH, PA - DECEMBER 10: Ben Roethlisberger #7 of the Pittsburgh Steelers meets Joe Flacco #5 of the Baltimore Ravens at mid field after the conclusion of the Pittsburgh Steelers 39-38 win over the Baltimore Ravens at Heinz Field on December 10, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Joe Sargent/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 7: Head Coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints disputes a referees call during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 7, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 7: Head Coach Sean Payton of the New Orleans Saints disputes a referees call during the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 7, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Scott Cunningham/Getty Images) /

L, 20-17 at Falcons. Previous: . New Orleans Saints. 7. team. 15.

We finally start our NFC South logjam in this week’s NFL power rankings, and the New Orleans Saints can’t be feeling too good after coughing up a vital divisional showdown with the Atlanta Falcons on Thursday Night Football.

Especially not head coach Sean Payton. Not his actions at the end of the game, at least.

The Saints had a 17-10 lead going into the fourth quarter, and all signs pointed to holding onto a victory in this key matchup on the road. But New Orleans’ defense couldn’t hold the line late, leading to 10 unanswered points from Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, wide receiver Mohamed Sanu and Co.

Ryan wasn’t the best quarterback in the game, though, as Drew Brees outdueled him with a 271-yard, two-touchdown performance in the one-on-one comparison. But where the Saints offense hurt was in the ground game, which has been excellent this season.

Promising rookie tailback Alvin Kamara suffered a concussion, and fellow tailback Mark Ingram managed just 49 yards on 12 carries.

Fortunately, the Saints are still a game ahead of the Falcons and will have a chance for vengeance when these two teams play again in Week 16.

Biggest Question

The NFC South is a three-team race between the Saints, Panthers and Falcons, with both New Orleans and Carolina in the postseason hunt.

The Saints hold the division, as things stand right now, but it’s a precarious hold. One of these three teams won’t make the playoffs, so New Orleans can’t afford to lose when either the Falcons or Panthers win.