Atlanta Falcons: NFC Power Rankings, Week 9

Nov 1, 2015; St. Louis, MO, USA; St. Louis Rams defensive end Robert Quinn (94) blocks the pass by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) during the second half at the Edward Jones Dome. Mandatory Credit: Jasen Vinlove-USA TODAY Sports

Will the Detroit Lions have the first pick in the 2016 NFL Draft? I could see that happening, but I’m not entirely sold on that just yet. My guess is that Jim Caldwell doesn’t survive Black Monday, assuming he makes it until then. Regardless, the Lions have to do something to fix the worst offensive line in football.

After getting destroyed by the Kansas City Chiefs, 45-10, in London, the Lions enter their Week 9 bye, wondering a). What happened? and b). How do we get through the rest of this disastrous season. Detroit will have to win out to finish above .500 in 2015. That and all their hopes and aspirations entering the 2015 NFL Season aren’t happening. How did it go south so quickly in Motown?

Bold move going with Blaine Gabbert over Colin Kaepernick in Sunday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons. Supposedly the 49ers wanted to wait until playing a ‘weak’ Atlanta Falcons team before making the quarterback switch.

Doesn’t the organization realize that their nemesis’ former Defensive Coordinator Dan Quinn now leads the Falcons? Even on a West Coast trip, look for Atlanta to bounce back and clobber the 49ers on Sunday.

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I’m starting to doubt that the Dallas Cowboys are going to win a game before Tony Romo returns sometime around Thanksgiving. By then, wouldn’t it be in the best interest of the team just to not play Romo the rest of the year and get a lucrative draft pick in the 2016 NFL Draft?

Dallas should contend again next year, so there’s no shame in having a 2011 Indianapolis Colts type of year. The Cowboys aren’t going to get another quarterback, but could benefit from a well-designed draft should they want to maintain relevancy for the rest of Tony Romo’s career. Unless you like Greg Hardy’s antics, this team is borderline unwatchable.

The Bears are a well coached football team. Adam Gase should get an opportunity to become a head coach as earlier as next year. John Fox is slowly but surely getting the defense back to good in the Windy City. It wouldn’t shock me to see the Bears improve the rest of the way and finish with a slightly better record than last year at 6-10 or 7-9.

However, that is only good enough for third place in the NFC North, unless Minnesota plummets during their brutal end to 2015. The Bears aren’t terrible and they play hard for their new coaching staff, but we can’t kid ourselves into thinking the 2015 Chicago Bears are a good football team. One more, well-executed draft could do this franchise a world of good, even if they pick in the back part of the Top 10.

Next: Tier III: NFC Playoff Pretenders