Atlanta Falcons: NFC Power Rankings, Week 16
By John Buhler
Previous: . San Francisco 49ers. 16. team. 42. .
The San Francisco 49ers’ last two losses have not been pretty. The Niners are a mess in both the front office and on the sidelines. While this team still has a shot at six wins in 2015 (@Detroit, St. Louis), this might end up being the worst team in the NFC in 2015 at four wins.
San Francisco could benefit tremendously from going with the best player available draft strategy in the 2016 NFL Draft as opposed to going strictly for need. The 49ers lost a ton of talent last offseason and in the final weeks of the season it became obvious how big of a discrepancy it was in 2015. This team will likely have a Top 5 pick.
123. . . Previous: . Dallas Cowboys. 15. team
The Dallas Cowboys will use their fourth starting quarterback in 2015 when Jerry Jones will use former Boise State southpaw Kellen Moore on Sunday versus in the friendly weather of Orchard Park, New York when Dallas takes on the Buffalo Bills.
What has been the most astonishing part of the Cowboys’ ghastly season is how bad the quarterback play has been since Tony Romo went down. He’s a fantastic player, but with the strong offensive line of the Cowboys, wouldn’t most pocket passers have some idea how to use that protection to their advantage? That’s why Dallas is 4-10 and probably picking in the Top 5.
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. Previous: . New Orleans Saints. 14. team. 15.
The New Orleans have by far and away the worst defense in football. Through the first 15 weeks of the 2015 NFL season, the Saints have allowed opponents to score 432 points on their defense. The next closest team is Cleveland at 387.
Monday night’s loss to the Detroit Lions epitomizes how the Saints have to play by attempting to win shootouts. Losing 35-27 to Detroit gives the Saints their fifth loss in six games. Going against a high-octane offense in the Jacksonville Jaguars in Week 16 and arch nemesis in the Atlanta Falcons on the road in Week 17 may give this Saints team a 5-11 record and a Top 10 pick in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Chicago Bears. 13. team. 57. . . Previous:
The Chicago Bears in the middle of the season looked at times like a Wild Card contender. However, losing three straight to the 49ers, the Redskins, and the Vikings have the Bears as possibly the worst team in the NFC North.
While the Bears could win their final two games at Tampa Bay and at home versus the Detroit Lions, the Buccaneers and the Lions might actually be better teams than the Bears. That could lead to the Bears finishing 5-11 for the second straight season. Picking in the Top 10 seems very possible again in 2016.
Next: Tier III: Not Making the Playoffs