2022 NFL power rankings, Week 14: 49ers roll, Colts flop
New Orleans Saints. 24. team. 15. . 4-9. Previous:
The Saints and Buccaneers would clash in prime time for the third consecutive year. This time around, New Orleans was in danger of being swept in this series for the first time since 2007. New Orleans’ defense kept Tom Brady and company in check for three-plus quarters.
Dennis Allen’s club owned a seemingly-safe 16-3 advantage with just over five minutes to play. Allen’s defense couldn’t prevent Brady from orchestrating a pair of touchdown drives.
Previous: . Atlanta Falcons. 23. team. 44. . 5-8
The Falcons looked to inch closer to the first-place Buccaneers as the team hosted the Steelers. Arthur Smith’s club was down by 10 points at halftime and trailed 19-6 in the third quarter. Atlanta’s running game would eventually awaken.
The club finished with 146 rushing yards – 118 yards after intermission. The Falcons narrowed the deficit to three points. In the closing seconds, Marcus Mariota was picked off by Steelers’ safety Minkah Fitzpatrick.
53. . 5-7. Previous: . Cleveland Browns. 22. team
Quarterback Deshaun Watson made his Cleveland Browns’ debut, and it would be against his former team as Kevin Stefanski’s club traveled to Houston. In his first action in over a year, the young signal-caller threw for only 131 yards and was picked off once.
Despite the lackluster performance from Watson, Stefanski’s special teams and defense combined for three TDs as Donovan Peoples-Jones scored on a 76-yard punt return and Denzel Ward and Tony Fields took back turnovers for scores.