Saints climb a little higher in updated NFL power rankings

The New Orleans Saints continued to rise in the updated NFL power rankings from Touchdown Wire, fueled by Taysom Hill’s first start and win.

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A victory for Taysom Hill in his first start with the New Orleans Saints helped to build their case as a superpower in the NFC, though some lackluster games from around the conference did make the Saints shine a little brighter.

New Orleans is a team on the rise, peaking at the right time and with more room to grow (superstar wide receiver Michael Thomas is finally healthy, and posted his first 100-yards receiving line of the year). It’s all the more impressive considering Drew Brees isn’t in at quarterback.

The latest NFL power rankings comes from Mark Schofield over at Touchdown Wire, who bumped the Saints up from the No. 4 spot to No. 3 — the best in the NFC, trailing two AFC favorites (the Kansas City Chiefs and Pittsburgh Steelers) for the top spot. Here’s some of what he had to say about Hill’s performance, giving the backup a hat-tip for some nice throws down the stretch while acknowledging Hill’s athleticism is what sets him apart:

“But it was really his ability as a ball-carrier that helped the Saints offense on Sunday. Hill carried the ball ten times for 51 yards and a pair of touchdowns. This run midway through the third quarter extended the New Orleans lead and showcased what Hill offers as a runner in short yardage and red zone situations:

With the win, the Saints manage to stay atop the NFC South for another week. With games coming up against Denver, Atlanta and Philadelphia the next three weeks, the Saints should be sitting pretty when they face the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 15… regardless of who is taking the snaps.”

Other NFC teams inside the top-10 include the Green Bay Packers (reeling from an overtime loss at No. 5), the surging Los Angeles Rams (at No. 6), the rapidly declining Tampa Bay Buccaneers (No. 8), and the inconsistent Seattle Seahawks (No. 9). Every one of those teams will figure into the eventual NFC playoff picture, but for now, the Saints are looking down on them with a favorable stretch of matchups ahead.

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