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NFL Power Rankings: Division rankings after Week 3

By Brad Rowland

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) walks off the field after being defeated by Detroit Lions 19-7 at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports
Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers (12) walks off the field after being defeated by Detroit Lions 19-7 at Ford Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports /
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Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith is shown on the sideline in the fourth quarter of their loss to the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 56-14. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports
Tampa Bay Buccaneers coach Lovie Smith is shown on the sideline in the fourth quarter of their loss to the Atlanta Falcons at the Georgia Dome. The Falcons won 56-14. Mandatory Credit: Jason Getz-USA TODAY Sports /

5) NFC South

I’m fairly confident in three teams within the NFC South, but when one of your four members embarrasses themselves on national television, the group takes a hit. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers appeared to be the worst professional football team in recent memory on Thursday night, going down 56-0 (not a misprint) the Atlanta Falcons in the first 35 minutes of game action, before “rallying” to lose by 42 points. The Bucs certainly aren’t this bad, but with Josh McCown banged up, no semblance of offensive line talent and a defensive front seven that has major injury woes, Tampa Bay may not win four games this season.

The team that pelted Tampa Bay, led by Mike Smith and Matt Ryan, certainly looked good in doing so, but it is tough to evaluate. The Falcons possess one of the game’s most dynamic offenses when playing in their own backyard, but in their one road contest, Atlanta looked broken in a loss to Cincinnati, and the jury is out on their traveling units on both sides of the ball.

New Orleans and Carolina were on opposite sides of the win-loss ledger on Sunday, with the Saints topping Minnesota while the Panthers fell flat against Pittsburgh, but to be frank, neither result changed my opinion. The Saints are generally an overrated commodity, but at the same time, they could easily win double-digit games given their offense (still not clicking) and home-field advantage. On the Carolina side, that defense is for real, but they were gashed badly on Sunday evening, and it will be interesting to see how the front seven responds after watching Le’Veon Bell do as he pleased for 60 minutes.

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