NFL Power Rankings: Division rankings after Week 2
By Brad Rowland
6) NFC South
The NFC South sustained the largest drop between the first two weeks of the season, and Week 2 was a catastrophe for three-fourths of the group. The biggest disappointment came in the form of the New Orleans Saints, who inexplicably fell to 0-2 with a road loss against the seemingly hapless Cleveland Browns. New Orleans has struggled defensively throughout both losses, punctuated by the game-winning drive engineered by Brian Hoyer, and Drew Brees hasn’t been his dominant self this season. It is too early to write off Sean Payton’s crew, but the signs aren’t positive.
Elsewhere, both the Atlanta Falcons and Tampa Bay Buccaneers suffered less than desirable results in week two, though Atlanta’s was explainable given a tough opponent (the Cincinnati Bengals) on the road. In the case of Tampa Bay, the Bucs lost a home game to the offensively challenged Rams, and frankly, the quarterback play from Josh McCown has been enough to give any supporter pause. Tampa Bay was a trendy sleeper in the preseason, but that momentum has almost wholly evaporated.
Fortunately, the Carolina Panthers are sitting pretty at 2-0, and that is enough to sustain the division for the most part. It hasn’t been a gaudy 2-0, but Carolina’s defense dismantled the high-powered Lions in week two, and Cam Newton’s return injects some realism into their offensive capability. There are still questions about the Panthers, from wide receiver play to hefty losses on the offensive line, but that defense is legitimate, and that keeps Carolina alive and well.