Saints are third in NFC South power rankings after embarrassing Week 3 loss

The New Orleans Saints shouldn't be the third-best, or second-worse, team in the NFC South but that's exactly where they've found themselves after three weeks of action.

In all honesty, the Saints should consider themselves lucky that they're not in the cellar of the division after how poorly they've performed this season. A fourth-quarter comeback against the Falcons in Week 1 netted New Orleans with their only win of the season but they looked inept for the rest of that game.

With all of that said, the record states that the Saints are 1-2 and with them only playing divisional opponents through the first three weeks, we know how they stack up against those foes in the NFC South.

NFC South Power Rankings -- Saints squarely in third

1. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-1)
2. Carolina Panthers (1-2)
3. New Orleans Saints (1-2)
4. Atlanta Falcons (1-2)

The Bucs are obviously the best team in the division and they honestly might cakewalk to the NFC South title this year. They did lose this past weekend against the Packers but they're head and shoulders better than the rest of the division.

The Panthers own the head-to-head over NOLA so obviously they deserve to be in the two spot here. Carolina was not good in that game and probably isn't the second-best team in the division but I can't rank the Saints over them after they lost to them in such an embarrassing fashion.

As for last place, the Falcons earned that spot due to their loss to New Orleans in Week 1. Atlanta did notch their first win of the season on Sunday after taking down the Seahawks but that Week 1 loss to the Saints has to even more daunting for them now. They were in full control but imploded in the fourth quarter.

It's really hard to argue with these rankings because the Saints have gone up against each team so we know how they faired against them. Third place even seems generous considering how bad they've looked.