Atlanta Falcons: NFC Power Rankings, Week 15

Dec 13, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers celebrate toward the end of the game. The Panthers defeated the Falcons 38-0 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

The Washington Redskins benefitted from a Robbie Gould missed field goal to hold on to their slight edge in the NFC East divisional race. In a down year for what has been a middling division historically since 2002’s realignment, Washington has been the most consistent team of the four and they are still wildly inconsistent.

Washington may not end up winning back-to-back games in 2015 to win the NFC East. With the Buffalo Bills on Sunday and two more games in the NFC East to finish the season, Washington seems to have more control over the division than either New York or Philadelphia, so ‘Skins get a slight edge to win the NFC East.

Green Bay is 9-4, but are in no way a serious contender to play and win a Super Bowl. The team hasn’t shown the necessary big playmaking ability to shine in the postseason, nor really the defensive fortitude to win low-scoring games.

However, the Packers should beat Minnesota in the 3/6 game and would have to play the Arizona Cardinals indoors in Glendale to get back to the NFC Championship. Arizona will likely clinch a first-round bye, but Green Bay is still Green Bay in the postseason so maybe that matters somewhat in January.

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The Arizona Cardinals have won seven straight games and should clinch a first-round bye as well. This team is on a crash course to play the undefeated Carolina Panthers for a trip to Super Bowl 50 in the NFC Championship Game in Charlotte.

Entering the final weeks of 2015, there is not a more complete football team in the NFL than the Arizona Cardinals. I go back and forth on who would win the NFC between Arizona and Carolina, but unless Seattle can win twice on the road, this is the sure-fired 2015 NFC Championship matchup: Arizona at Carolina.

The Carolina Panthers made a grand statement to the National Football League on Sunday by annihilating their division rival Atlanta Falcons, 38-0 on Sunday to move to 13-0 on the year. This team has a similar roster makeup of the AFC’s New England Patriots and anything less than an NFC Championship appearance for this team is a letdown.

Next: Atlanta Falcons should trade back in 1st round of NFL Draft

Cam Newton is the MVP through the first 14 weeks of the 2015 NFL season. The path to regular season perfection seems likely (@New York Giants, @Atlanta, Tampa Bay). When your team has the swagger to take a team photo just inside of the two-minute warning on the sidelines against your biggest division rival, then you know this team is legit. This Carolina Panthers team may have the first perfect season since the 1972 Miami Dolphins.