Wednesday, September 29, 2021

Atlanta Falcons Week 4 NFL Power Rankings Roundup

Throughout the 2021 NFL season, we will compile a consensus NFL Power Rankings that averages the rankings of all 32 NFL teams.

Here is where the Atlanta Falcons rank in terms of average, best and worst:

  • Average ranking: 26.2 (26th)
  • Best ranking: 25th (Multiple)
  • Worst ranking: 28th (USA Today)

Below you will find a Week 4 roundup for the Falcons in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 25

Matt Ryan has become a short-field passer this season under new coach Arthur Smith. Without star receiver Julio Jones, he is registering his lowest yards per attempt (6.04) and yards per dropback (5.29) of his career. That could have to do with how often he has been hit -- a career-worst 20.7% of the time -- yet he is on pace to complete a career-high 70.9% of his passes. Atlanta's offense hasn't been pretty for much of the season, and there haven't been many shot plays involved, which is why the Falcons' QBR is where it is. -- Michael Rothstein

NFL.com -- Rank: 25

Matt Ryan and the Falcons' offense has been extremely uneven to start the season, but the Atlanta attack perked up in the final quarter of Sunday's 17-14 comeback win over the Giants at MetLife Stadium. Ryan engineered a 72-yard touchdown drive to draw the Falcons even, then connected on big gainers to Cordarrelle Patterson and Kyle Pitts to set up Younghoe Koo's game-winning 40-yard field goal as time expired. Koo's boot officially put Arthur Smith in the win column as an NFL head coach, and now the Falcons have a chance to reset their season with Washington and the Jets on tap in the next two weeks.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 27

They showed some life in coming back against the Giants. Will that jump-start their season? Maybe, but they have to be better up front, especially this week against a Washington defense that has talent on the line.

USA Today -- Rank: 28

Who would have guessed 33-year-old blocking TE Lee Smith would find the end zone before widely acclaimed rookie Kyle Pitts?

The Athletic -- Rank: 26

Surprise! The Falcons have the third-worst offensive EPA in the league. Even during a 4-12 season in 2020, Atlanta finished 14th in that category. It's jarring to see Matt Ryan have such trouble getting the ball down the field. His 4.25 air yards per attempt are 32nd among 33 qualifying NFL quarterbacks.

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