Atlanta Falcons: NFC Power Rankings, Week 5

Oct 5, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Detroit Lions players return to the locker room following a 13-10 loss to the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports

I feel bad putting Tampa at the bottom of these power rankings, but the worst team in the NFL last year hasn’t exactly elevated their place within the football hierarchy in 2015. We knew that it would take at least this year for rookie QB Jameis Winston to acclimate to the NFL, but you can’t win a game when your quarterback throws four picks against a defense like the Carolina Panthers.

Tampa Bay has seen Doug Martin re-emerge as a strong NFL back in 2015. They still have strong weapons on the outside in Vincent Jackson and Mike Evans. Like many teams in the NFL this season, the kicking game has done them in. The Bucs cut Kyle Brindza in favor of Connor Barth. I sense that HC Lovie Smith is getting the defense to play better, but I don’t think this is a team capable of winning more than 4 games in 2015. However, they may have enough talent to not pick first in the 2016 NFL Draft.

Green Bay Packers OLB Clay Matthews III said the obvious to 49ers QB Colin Kaepernick, “you’re not Russell Wilson, bruh.” If Kap can only scramble in this offense, then he doesn’t have command of the offense. His inability to pass with precision is crippling the rushing attack of Carlos Hyde, as San Francisco has to resort to perpetual three and outs.

During the telecast on Sunday, the booth mentioned that the Niners really like backup QB Blaine Gabbert‘s progression as a passer. Though he’s a former first round bust with the Jaguars, could he be any worse than Kaepernick has been in the first quarter of 2015? I’d almost rather see Gabbert play than what Kap has shown in the last three weeks. HC Jim Tomsula and GM Trent Baalke surely have a mess on their hands with this putrid football team.

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The Bears won! You know it’s bad when the Chicago Bears were home underdogs to the Oakland Raiders in Week 4. The Oakland Raiders. Perhaps getting QB Jay Cutler back has put some spark in the Bears offense that went to Seattle, punted 10 times and went home in Week 3.

I think Chicago wins a few more games in 2015, but should the fire sale continue in the Windy City, that total might only be 3 or 4. Chicago is at best a 5-11 team in 2015. That would put the Bears with an identical record to what the team had last year. For now, it’s impossible for me to see Chicago picking anywhere outside of the Top 10 this spring in the 2016 NFL Draft.

The Detroit Lions are the only winless team in football. So why do I only have them ranked 13th in the NFC? Could it be because I feel they’ve played a tough schedule (San Diego, Minnesota, Denver, Seattle)? Perhaps I’m failing to come to grips how a team I thought was a lock to make a NFC Wild Card Berth could become an 0-4 team.

WR Calvin Johnson has not factored in the first quarter of the NFL season for the Lions. QB Matthew Stafford is living on his back, as he likely has the worst offensive line in football. Is HC Jim Caldwell already on the hot seat? One thing is certain with this team: they’re a mess in 2015 and a simple solution isn’t going to fix this implosion of a season in Motown.

Next: Tier III: NFC Playoff Pretenders