Friday, November 26, 2021

Atlanta Falcons Week 12 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 (26th)
  • Best ranking: 24 (ESPN)
  • Worst ranking: 28 (NFL.com)

Below you will find a Week 12 roundup for the Falcons in our consensus 2021 NFL Power Rankings.

ESPN -- Rank: 24

Most memorable Thanksgiving game: Falcons beat the Lions 27-7 on Nov. 24, 2005

This is mostly by default -- Atlanta played four times on Thanksgiving, and the others were a double-digit loss to Indianapolis and two losses to the Saints. The Falcons took a 27-0 lead on Detroit, allowing Michael Vick (12-for-22, 146 passing yards, two passing TDs, one INT) to sit for part of the fourth quarter. It would be one of the high points of the season for the Falcons, who were 7-4 after the win before finishing the season at 8-8. Unfortunately for the Falcons, they missed the playoffs -- and Taylor Swift singing the national anthem in Detroit by a year, as she performed before the Dolphins-Lions Thanksgiving game the following season. -- Michael Rothstein

NFL.com -- Rank: 28

Hope for the 2021 season is officially in short supply after a 25-0 home loss to the Patriots in prime time. Over a humbling five-day span, the Falcons were outscored 68-3 in setbacks to the Pats and Cowboys -- blowouts that reaffirmed Atlanta's also-ran status and should prompt introspection about where this team is and what it wants to be moving forward. On that subject: The combination of a shoddy offensive line and an aging, increasingly immobile quarterback is killing the Falcons when they face opponents with a strong pass rush. Matt Ryan is a former MVP and the greatest passer in franchise history, but it's looking more and more apparent a fresh start is needed for both sides.

CBS Sports -- Rank: 26

Two straight losses has them falling out of playoff contention, as if they were really in it anyway. They have way too many holes.

USA Today -- Rank: 25

They were first team in 21 years to have three quarterbacks serve up an interception in the same game. Matt Ryan's still the only one to throw a TD pass this year, but he hasn't done that in nearly nine quarters.

The Athletic -- Rank: 27

Best side dish: The Falcons' brief playoff hopes are likely over. Their stretch of three wins in four games was immediately followed by losses the last two weeks, when they were outscored 68-3 by the Cowboys and Patriots. They're in a bit of a weird spot with a veteran quarterback and only one foot in on a rebuild. But they seem to have hit on their last two first-round picks in cornerback A.J. Terrell and tight end Kyle Pitts. While watching Pitts might be more fun, we're giving the nod here to Terrell, who looks like he could become one of the best shutdown corners in the league.

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