New Orleans Saints

NFC power rankings week 2: Where are the New Orleans Saints?

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The New Orleans Saints drop another heart breaker on Sunday. The NFC, luckily is stacked with a bunch of 1-1 teams. The Saints really aren’t that bad off, even though they sit at 0-2. Let’s see who reigns supreme atop the NFC after week two.

Next: 1. Arizona Cardinals

GLENDALE, AZ – SEPTEMBER 11: Quarterback Carson Palmer

After being beat by the Patriots last week 23-21, the Cardinals destroyed a very hot Tampa Bay team 40-7. The Cardinals have outscored their opponents 61-30 in two games. They have also put up eight touchdowns. Although the Cardinals are 1-1, they are simply the top dog in the NFC. As long as quarterback Carson Palmer stays healthy, the Super Bowl could be a realistic goal at the end of the season.

CHARLOTTE, NC – SEPTEMBER 18: Cam Newton

The Super Bowl runner ups also rebounded on Sunday with a 46-27 victory over the San Francisco 49ers. The Panthers lead the league in rushing with 166.5 yards per game. Add running back Fuzzy Whittaker’s lofty 5.9 yards per carry with Newton’s 5.4 yards per carry, and the Panthers are looking very impressive early on. The Panthers also are putting up 33 points a game, which is first in the NFL. They are deserving of the number two slot being at 1-1.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Sam Bradford

This is not a misprint. The Minnesota Vikings right now are the third best team in the NFC. After beating the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, the team definitely has earned this slot. The Vikings are ranked fifth on total defense allowing only 289.5 yards a game. Quarterback Sam Bradford earned a 121.2 passing rating with two touchdowns in his first start. Adrien Peterson did get hurt, but it seems that there’s something brewing with these guys. The Vikes will get the Houston Texans next week before the bye week. A 3-0 start would have the purple fan base excited.

SEATTLE, WA – SEPTEMBER 11: Cornerback Richard Sherman

The Seattle Seahawks lost to the hapless Rams in week two 9-3. The Seahawks laid an egg just about to a very bad Rams team. Quarterback Russell Wilson is still not 100%, but the defense is ranked first in the NFL averaging 248.5 yards given up in total defense. Book it, that this team will be around come January. Once again this team could easily be the representative for the NFC.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 18: Sterling Shepard

Don’t look now, but the New York Giants are 2-0. The Giants beat the Saints yesterday16-13 on a field goal as time expired. The win may have not been pretty, but a win is a win. Everyone knows who Odell Beckham Jr. is, but there’s another budding superstar in the making, wide receiver Sterling Shepard. Shepard caught eight balls for 117 yards on Sunday. The Giants are now the team to beat in the NFC East.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 18: Aaron Rodgers

Yes the Green Bay Packers are now ranked behind the Minnesota Vikings after getting beat last night. The Packer’s offense was held to only 263 yards in total offense. Sam Bradford simply outplayed Rogers last night, and the Vikings defense looks much more dominant. Rodgers was also sacked five times as well. Green Bay will play the Lions next week at home in a must win division game.

PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 11: Carson Wentz

No one has the guts to say this right now, but Carson Wentz is going to be a franchise quarterback for a long time in Philly. The Eagles have only played one game so far. To me this team is starting to look like contenders for the division at least. They will play the Bears tonight on Monday Night Football. Regardless of the outcome their ranking won’t change. The Eagles could be the surprise of the league. Look for the Eagles to roll tonight as well. Yes it’s early, I get it. Wentz though is the real deal.

TAMPA, FL – JULY 31: Runningback Doug Martin

The Buccaneers were the surprise loser yesterday. After a huge road win against division foe Atlanta last week, the Bucs got smoked by Arizona. Jameis Winston threw four interceptions as well. This team though will go as far as Doug Martin can take them. Martin went off for1,402 yards last year with a 4.9 per carry average. I Still believe that Tampa Bay is a legit contender for the NFC South. Time will tell.

LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 18: Cornerback Josh Norman

The Cowboys rebounded, be it barely on Sunday to beat the Skins 27-23. The Cowboys are simply a big question mark right now. With Tony Romo out for an extended period, no one knows for sure if Dak Prescott can handle a whole season as a rookie starter. Prescott will need more games like yesterday from Dez Bryant. Bryant caught seven balls for 102 yards. The Cowboys will be lucky to finish .500 at this point.

DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 18: Matthew Stafford

The Detroit Lions will always be the doormat until they actually win something. This team could easily be 2-0 in 2016. However, with the Vikings and Packers in the division, the Lions will always be the third fiddle. Coach Jim Caldwell is in his third year with a great 2014 season to look back on. That’s the problem though. There’s nothing here that excites me. Another long season will be in store for the Lions’ faithful.

OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 18: Matt Ryan

The Atlanta Falcons started the 2015 season at 6-1 to only finish with a disappointing 8-8 season. Now the Falcons are looking to go to another level. The only problem is that their defense is simply made out of paper with plenty of holes in it. The Falcons are giving up a whopping 29.5 points a game. Furthermore, the defense is giving up 413 yards a game. The Falcons and Saints will battle it out for last place in the NFC South.

SANTA CLARA, CA – SEPTEMBER 12: Head coach Chip Kelly of the San Francisco 49ers looks on from the sidelines against the Los Angeles Rams in the second half of their NFL game at Levi’s Stadium on September 12, 2016 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

The 49ers are so hard to figure out. Last week they blanked the Rams 28-0. This week they got destroyed by the Carolina Panthers. Everything will be on Chip Kelly fair or not. Your guess is good as mine. Kelly seems to have the right mind to be a creative genius, yet sometimes he can be as dumb as a stick. We’ll find out more next week when they face Seattle.

LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 18: Cassius Marsh

The Rams are finally back in Los Angeles. They came up big yesterday beating the Seattle Seahawks 9-3. Case Keenum performed respectfully as he threw for 18 of 30 for 239 yards. This game was simply a fluke. Don’t expect the Rams to put up more than six wins. The division is getting tougher and tougher.

EAST RUTHERFORD, NJ – SEPTEMBER 18: Brandin Cooks

The Saints have all the tools on offense so it would seem. No one can explain what happened yesterday. The defense looked like the 1985 Chicago Bears forcing three turnovers early. The offense looked stagnant especially the running game. The concern is starting to grow as to whether or not this team is capable of even finishing .500. Their next game will be against the Atlanta Falcons on Monday Night Football. It will be the 10th anniversary of the Steve Gleason block. This is a must win.

HOUSTON, TX – SEPTEMBER 11: Jay Cutler

Win or lose tonight, the Bears are gonna be one of the worse teams in the NFC. Cutler’s time is up. It’s a shame because John Fox is a great coach, but the team doesn’t have any play makers. Chicago will be fortunate to win four games this year.

LANDOVER, MD – SEPTEMBER 18: Quarterback Kirk Cousins

Congratulations to the Washington Redskins! They have a legitimate shot of getting that first round pick next year. Jay Gruden probably should’ve stuck to Arena Football. This relationship will not end well. There’s been a line of fired coaches that have walked the plank in recent years. What else can you say? Kirk Cousins is not the answer, and the problems run deeper than that.