NFL Power Rankings: Falcons Underrated?

The latest NFL power rankings have the Atlanta Falcons ranked in the bottom half of the league.

Despite opening their 2023 season off with a win over the Carolina Panthers, the Atlanta Falcons still are not viewed as a above-average team in-and-around the league. 

Even with this being the first time they have been over .500 since the conclusion of the 2017 season, based on Sports Illustrated's NFL Week 1 Power Rankings, there are still areas of concern. SI's Conor Orr had the Falcons as the No. 19 team in the league behind a Pittsburgh Steelers team that was throttled by the San Francisco 49ers, but ahead of a young Indianapolis Colts team. 

Orr explained his appreciation for their run game and how they complimented first-round pick Bijan Robinson with Tyler Allgeier.

"The Falcons never looked like they belonged on the same field with the Panthers," SI writes. "I was super pleased with the way they almost mirrored the Lions earlier in the week, allowing Tyler Allgeier to soften the defense in that hammer role, the same way Ben Johnson used David Montgomery. While, at some point, it won’t make a ton of sense to have a “weapon” used in a complementary way, easing Bijan Robinson into the game as a knockout puncher is so effective. Also, some fullback love while we’re here: Keith Smith was burying folks on Sunday." 

It is worth noting that higher up the list were the Falcons' Week 2 opponents the Green Bay Packers who came in at No. 11. The Packers handled business in convincing fashion against the Chicago Bears in Week 1, beating them by a score of 38-20 thanks to a great showing by Jordan Love who threw three touchdowns.

The Falcons and Packers kick off at 1 p.m. on Sunday inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.