Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Post-preseason 32-team breakdown before Week 1

By Peter Panacy

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images)
INDIANAPOLIS, IN - AUGUST 24: Andrew Luck #12 of the Indianapolis Colts watches from the sidelines during the fourth quarter of the preseason game against the Chicago Bears at Lucas Oil Stadium on August 24, 2019 in Indianapolis, Indiana. (Photo by Bobby Ellis/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Michael Thomas #13 and Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints celebrate their third quarter touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 13: Michael Thomas #13 and Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints celebrate their third quarter touchdown against the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Chris Graythen/Getty Images) /

New Orleans Saints. 2. team. 15. . . Previous:

No change at the No. 2 spot in our NFL power rankings.

Everyone has gone over this before: the New Orleans Saints are going to be desperate and hungry this season, following two heartbreaking exits in the playoffs the last two seasons. And with quarterback Drew Brees hitting the twilight of his career, the time is now.

That’s pretty dangerous, considering wide receiver Michael Thomas isn’t going to get any worse. Neither is running back Alvin Kamara. They’re just hitting their prime.

New Orleans has a tough opening to its 2019 regular season, though. The Saints open up at home against the challenging Texans before taking to the road for back-to-back games — first, a rematch against the Rams, and then a road bout against the Seahawks, which won’t be easy.

Then the Saints host the Cowboys, which isn’t a cakewalk either.

The first quarter of the season should be pretty good indication just how hard New Orleans is pushing to avenge what happened in the NFC Championship last year.

And an early guess would suggest the Saints are going to be the team to beat in the conference this season.