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NFL power rankings: 2019 edition – Patriots finish on top, again

By Russell S. Baxter

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 20: New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton looking at the field during the NFC Championship Football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints on January 20, 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LA – JANUARY 20: New Orleans Saints head coach Sean Payton looking at the field during the NFC Championship Football game between the Los Angeles Rams and the New Orleans Saints on January 20, 2019 at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA. (Photo by Jordon Kelly/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

4. New Orleans Saints (14-4)

Won NFC South

Reached NFC Championship Game

Season Review: Off last season’s heartbreaking playoff loss at Minnesota, Sean Payton’s team kicked off 2018 at home with a stunning 48-40 loss to the Buccaneers. But that was merely a bump for the eventual NFC South champions as the Saints would not lose a game until late November. Veteran quarterback Drew Brees was sharp (74.4 completion percentage) and threw for 32 scores compared to only five interceptions. Payton’s club finished third in the NFL in points scored (504) thanks to a balanced attack. But the season would end in controversial fashion in overtime at home vs. the Rams in the NFC title game.

2018 Turning Point: Obviously, the team saw its 10-game losing streak snapped on a Thursday night at Dallas (13-10) in Week 13. But there has been speculation that Brees may not have been healthy late in the year. Conspiracy theories aside, the Saints did appear to lose a lot of steam down the stretch.

2019 Priorities: Despite being winners of two straight division titles for the first time in franchise history, this is a team strapped with some salary cap issues and without picks in the first, third and fourth rounds in this April’s draft. Will the team allow veteran running back Mark Ingram to test free agency?

Next: No. 3

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