NFL Power Rankings: Division Rankings After Week 14

8) NFC South

Another week. Another 1-3 output from the NFC South.

It is becoming comical to discuss the “division lead” in the group, as the Atlanta Falcons and New Orleans Saints currently sit atop the standings with a 5-8 record, and even if one of them miraculously wins out, it will finish with an 8-8 record. In fairness, the Falcons are actually playing reasonably well right now, as winners of three out of their last five games, but that is the end of the positives.

The Saints have, somehow, lost four consecutive games in the friendly confines of the Superdome to magnify their issues, but on the bright side, they aren’t quite as inept as the 2-11 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. For a few weeks, it looked as if Tampa Bay may be “frisky” as a talented bunch looking to pay spoiler down the stretch, but that came to a crashing halt in a lopsided loss to the Lions in Week 14.

Lastly, the Panthers were the lone team to grab a win in Week 14, but unfortunately, their week was marred by the car accident that injured quarterback Cam Newton. First and foremost, it is great news that Newton was able to emerge without life-threatening injury from the crash, but on the field, Carolina is 4-8-1 and needing a victory in Week 15 to stay alive. We’ll see if they can get one.

Next: AFC South