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NFL power rankings: 49ers stay even, Patriots fall entering Week 3

By Peter Panacy

JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks off the field during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on September 16, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
JACKSONVILLE, FL - SEPTEMBER 16: Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots walks off the field during the second half against the Jacksonville Jaguars at TIAA Bank Field on September 16, 2018 in Jacksonville, Florida. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – SEPTEMBER 16: Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates his touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 16, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – SEPTEMBER 16: Michael Thomas #13 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates his touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Cleveland Browns at Mercedes-Benz Superdome on September 16, 2018 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Saints. 8. team. 15. . W, 21-18 vs. Browns. Previous:

Yes, the Saints win and still manage to drop pretty significantly in our NFL power rankings heading into Week 3.

Why? Well, the Buccaneers dropped 48 points in New Orleans against the Saints defense in Week 1. And the Saints almost lost to the visiting Browns in Week 2. Had it not been for a couple of Cleveland gaffes late and that missed would-be game-tying field goal, New Orleans could have easily started off 0-2 this season.

Not exactly the best two-week sequence for a team with Super Bowl aspirations on its mind.

Falling behind 12-3 entering the fourth quarter isn’t exactly a recipe for success either. It took some pretty monumental efforts from wide receiver Michael Thomas to take the lead in the fourth, and the Saints ideally wouldn’t want to fall behind like that against some of the better competition around the league.

It’s early, so the Saints won’t drop out of the top 10 yet. But another shaky performance in Atlanta against the Falcons in Week 3 could mandate another serious fall.