2019 NFL power rankings, Week 16: Cowboys won, 49ers stunned

Recap: Last Sunday, quarterback Drew Brees threw for 349 yards and five touchdowns without an interception, the team totaled 46 points and Sean Payton’s squad still managed to lose at home for the second time this season. The New Orleans’ defense has been somewhat shaky as of late, giving up 31 points in a home victory over the Carolina Panthers (Week 12) and surrendering 48 points in last week’s wild loss to the visiting San Francisco 49ers. Still, the team can tie for the best record in the conference with a win on Monday night. You can make a strong case that this is still the most complete team in the league and has already won 10 games in numerous ways.

Next Week: Payton’s team makes the relatively short trip to Nashville for the first time since 2011 as they take on the Tennessee Titans collide for the first time since ’15. That year, the Saints fell at home in overtime, 34-28. But in the Saints’ last appearance at Tennessee, New Orleans came away with a 22-17 triumph four seasons ago.

Playoff Hopes: New Orleans’ three losses this season are to the Los Angeles Rams, Atlanta Falcons and San Francisco 49ers – the latter two at home. More importantly, it means that Payton’s club will be no better than 9-3 in the conference standings. Of course, if the Saints run the table, they will equal last season’s record of 13-3.

Recap: Kyle Shanahan welcomed the Atlanta Falcons to the Bay Area and faces this former employer for the first time since he was the team’s offensive coordinator three years ago. A 49ers’ victory would clinch the club’s first playoff berth since 2013. Coordinator Robert Saleh’s unit would be without cornerback Richard Sherman and pass-rusher Dee Ford. And perhaps that cost the club in the end as the Niners owned a 22-17 lead with 1:48 to play. But the San Francisco defense allowed the Falcons to drive 70 yards in 10 plays in just 1:46, disappointing considering they held Atlanta to only 290 total yards. Tight end George Kittle caught 13 passes for 134 yards in a losing effort.

Next Week: Thanks to a solid 20-7 victory back in Week 6 at the Los Angeles Coliseum, the Niners are in position to sweep the Rams for the first time since 2016. Worth noting that San Francisco actually owns an 8-5 record in this series dating back to 2013, but three of those losses have come since 2017 to the Sean McVay-coached Rams.

Playoff Hopes: Despite a third loss in their last six games (following an impressive 8-0 start), the 49ers clinched their first playoff berth since 2013 when the Los Angeles Rams lost at Dallas on Sunday. Shanahan’s team also technically slipped behind the rival Seahawks in the NFC West due to the team’s home loss to Seattle in Week 10.

Next: Nos. 2 and 1