Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings, Week 11: 32 teams’ playoff picture outlook

By Peter Panacy

CINCINNATI, OHIO - NOVEMBER 10: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens waves at the crowd after the NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bryan Woolston/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - NOVEMBER 10: Lamar Jackson #8 of the Baltimore Ravens waves at the crowd after the NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paul Brown Stadium on November 10, 2019 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Bryan Woolston/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 10: Grady Jarrett #97 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates with Foye Oluokun #54 of the Atlanta Falcons during a NFL game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on November 10, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – NOVEMBER 10: Grady Jarrett #97 of the Atlanta Falcons celebrates with Foye Oluokun #54 of the Atlanta Falcons during a NFL game at the Mercedes Benz Superdome on November 10, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

team. 15. . 7-2, 1st in NFC South. Previous: . New Orleans Saints. 5

L, 26-9 vs. Falcons

On paper, this NFC South bout between the Saints and Falcons should have gone entirely in New Orleans’ way.

But divisional contests, particularly between these two heated rivals, rarely follow a script. And the Saints all but coughed up a dud en route to their second loss of 2019. They couldn’t get much of anything going on the ground, and the lack of a touchdown tells you just how well Atlanta’s defense performed against the No. 3 seed in the NFC playoff picture.

The Saints still have a stranglehold on the division, which is fine, although they drop a spot in our NFL power rankings. But with the Packers winning, the hope for the No. 2 spot and a first-round NFL playoffs bye just waned a bit.

At least New Orleans can lock up the NFC South with two games remaining against the Panthers — the Saints’ only legitimate contender within the division.