Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Post-Super Bowl 53 wrap-up for 32 teams

By Peter Panacy

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 20: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates a touchdown scored by Taysom Hill #7 against the Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 20: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints celebrates a touchdown scored by Taysom Hill #7 against the Los Angeles Rams during the third quarter in the NFC Championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on January 20, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images) /

15. . 13-3 record. . New Orleans Saints. 5. team

OK, so the New Orleans Saints probably should have represented the NFC in Super Bowl LIII. Those darned non-calls sure stink, and some may argue bumping the Saints down to the No. 5 spot in our NFL power rankings is only another slight.

Well, not exactly.

The Saints still have plenty of prowess heading into 2019. Wide receiver Michael Thomas is a stud, and so is running back Alvin Kamara. But you knew that already. New Orleans’ defense, while far from perfect, bounced back from a rough beginning to the year en route to being the 14th best in points against and yards allowed.

Yet the key reason the Saints won’t go any higher in NFL power rankings is quarterback Drew Brees, who could have won league MVP honors if it weren’t for the Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes last year.

Brees already turned 40 years old last month, and there aren’t exactly a lot of 40-year-old quarterbacks playing at a high level in any era of contact sports.

Let’s hope he follows the path of another 40-year-old signal-caller, whose team ranks higher on this list. If not, the Saints will be forced to finally reach for a new identity.

It’s going to be weird thinking of New Orleans sans Brees, when that time comes.