Atlanta Falcons: NFC Power Rankings, Week 9

Nov 1, 2015; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) against the New York Giants during the second half of a game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Saints defeated the Giants 52-49. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

I’m giving up on having a gauge on the 2015 Philadelphia Eagles. Even at 3-4, I think this is too flawed of a football team to contend for anything this year. Chip Kelly isn’t getting this club to 10 wins for the third year in a row. Issues on offense and in the secondary are too much to overcome for another double-digit win season in the City of Brotherly Love.

Philadelphia will probably beat Dallas in Arlington and move to 4-4, but I still won’t like this team. Looking at their remaining 9 games, the Eagles could finish 9-7, but could also finish 6-10. Since I haven’t seen anything that makes me believe the offense is the verge of becoming a juggernaut once more, I’d have to side with this team being mediocre the rest of the way.

By beating the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome on Sunday, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers have eclipsed their win total from last year. Tampa decimated the Falcons in turnover differential with +4. Jameis Winston has a spark that the offense has never had from their quarterback in franchise history. Having an Offensive Coordinator like Dirk Koetter aids exponentially in his development as a passer.

The problem with the Bucs remain in the secondary and in holding leads late. Both jeopardize the Buccaneers’ chances of making a shocking playoff push. They have many great players on both sides of the ball. However it seems as if Lovie Smith is holding them back at head coach. This feels like a 7-9 team entering Week 9.

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The last time Washington played a game, we saw the Buccaneers blow a 24-point lead in the Kirk Cousins “You Like That” game. Washington won in Week 7, 31-30 over Tampa Bay. So long as Cousins isn’t a pick machine, this team can contend in the worst division in the NFC. I could see them winning the NFC East if the Giants fall in some capacity.

In my eyes, the NFC East is only getting the four-seed in the NFC Playoffs, with the second place team being around the 9th or 10th best team in the Conference at the end of the year. There is a tenacity to the Redskins that I like. For a team I normally root against, the 2015 Washington Redskins don’t bother. I actually want to see them do well.

Somehow, some way, the New Orleans Saints have clawed their way back to relevancy after rattling off three straight victories over potential playoff teams (Atlanta, Indianapolis, New York). No, I didn’t say those three teams were locks to make the postseason, nor did I say they were great football teams, but the Saints have seemed to gotten back on track in the NFC Playoff Picture.

Drew Brees is playing at a Pro Bowl level once again, but the defense is wet newspaper and the running game takes a big blow in Khiry Robinson’s season-ending injury suffered in Week 8. New Orleans can compete in the NFC South and for a Wild Card berth, but their early stumble out of the gates might end up costing them in the long run.

Next: Tier II: NFC Playoff Contenders