Atlanta Falcons: NFC Power Rankings, Week 5

Drew Brees came back to help the Saints defeat an injury-riddled Dallas Cowboys team. So the Saints are back, right? Not even close. Even if they are the 3rd best team in the NFC South, I don’t know if they don’t get swept by both Atlanta and Carolina this year. We’re looking at a Saints team that could very well go 1-5 in what was the worst division in the NFL last year.

Perhaps the Saints can beat up on some teams in their soft schedule, but will that be enough to get New Orleans back over .500? With both Atlanta and Carolina at 4-0, they are a distant third in the NFC South. This team will go as Drew Brees goes. If he’s hurt, things could get very ugly, very quickly in the Big Easy.

Chip Kelly isn’t a genius. He’s just a guy with a mediocre football team. Where is that Philadelphia Eagles’ high-powered offense that showed up for a half in a preseason game this year? Why am I not starting RB DeMarco Murray on my fantasy after he was an All-Pro season the year before?

It’s weird to say, but the Philadelphia Eagles might actually be the worst team in the NFC East. I mean they lost to Washington, making them the only team in the East without a divisional win. No knock on Washington, but some people seriously thought the Eagles could play in an NFC Championship this season. Is this the Eagles’ season identity or are the a second half team? They feel like a 6-10 team entering Week 5.

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The Redskins aren’t a bad football team. I like their defense and if either QB Kirk Cousins or HC Jay Gruden don’t mess things up, Washington could finish .500 this year. Their two wins are against St. Louis and Philadelphia, but dropped their games to Miami (how?) and the New York Football Giants.

Their schedule isn’t too bad with only three really tough games outside of the division (Atlanta, New York Jets, New England). If the Redskins can win the turnover differential, they could contend in the NFC East down the stretch. This is an improved team from last year, but how improved are they? They may not have a pick in the Top 10 of the draft, but just outside. We’ll see what to make of the 2015 Washington Redskins.

Minnesota is one of the most difficult teams for me to gauge. The Vikings are 2-2 with wins over Detroit and San Diego, but losses to San Francisco and Denver. Are they good or just extraordinarily mediocre? Adrian Peterson can still do it, but we will have to wait a week as Minnesota enters their bye in Week 5.

I feel this team goes as Teddy Bridgewater goes. If the gloved one can play like he did last year when he was Offensive Rookie of the Year, then the Minnesota Vikings could get a Wild Card spot. If he fumbles during a two-minute drill like he did against Denver, then the Vikings are the second place team in a poor division, ahead of Chicago and Detroit with Green Bay cakewalking to the Division Crown.

Next: Tier II: NFC Wild Card Contenders