The Falcons have done the one thing that usually settles an argument: they keep winning, and they keep doing it on a big stage. Two straight prime-time road blowouts have pushed Atlanta from afterthought to talking point across the national media, but the power rankings still can’t quite line up on what to make of them.
That split shows up everywhere. Some outlets have the Falcons inside the top 15.
Others still park them among the seven worst teams in the league. After a start that included a jump from No. 31 to much better territory in the span of two weeks, Atlanta’s latest surge has only widened the gap in how it’s being viewed.
The next week should bring a little more clarity. Baltimore comes to town, and the Ravens are sitting as high as No. 4 in some rankings. If Atlanta’s offense keeps rolling on Sunday night, the Falcons could climb again in a hurry.
SI moved Atlanta into the top 24 after what it called the Falcons’ “ruination” of the Saints. Conor Orr appears to be buying into the momentum, and he joked that we should all have prayer candles for Michael Penix Jr.'s continued health.
Across the rest of the NFC South, SI has the Panthers at No. 14, up nine spots; the Saints at No. 25, down five; and the Buccaneers at No. 30, unchanged.
Pete Prisco is even higher on Atlanta, placing the Falcons in the top 20. He sees the season as having turned around with Michael Penix Jr., and that may actually undersell how dramatic the swing has been. Atlanta scored just 16 points in its first two games, then exploded for 35 against Green Bay and 45 against New Orleans.
CBS has the Panthers at No. 18, up eight spots; the Saints at No. 23, down five; and the Buccaneers at No. 30, down one.
Nick Shook is also impressed by what Atlanta has done in back-to-back weeks. He lifted the Falcons from No. 31 after Week 2 all the way to No. 15 after Monday night, while saying there should be “cautious” optimism about the team. He also pointed to the next three games - home dates with Baltimore, Chicago, and San Francisco - as the stretch that will say the most about how real this version of the Falcons is.
NFL.com’s division rankings mirror that general shape, with the Panthers at No. 14, up eight spots; the Saints at No. 20, down four; and the Buccaneers at No. 30, down one.
ESPN, though, remains the outlier. Even after describing Atlanta as “worst to first,” it still has the Falcons oddly low, behind the 0-4 Texans, the Packers, and the Saints. Marc Raimondi highlighted the quick offensive flip since the switch from Cooper Rush to Michael Penix Jr., but that still wasn’t enough to move Atlanta ahead of the teams it just beat on national television.
ESPN’s NFC South rankings put the Panthers at No. 18, up four spots; the Saints at No. 21, down three; and the Buccaneers at No. 30, unchanged.
In Other News...
Falcons Just Added Backfield Depth Fans May Want To Track
The Falcons added another name to the backfield mix this week, signing running back Jam Miller to the practice squad while moving on from Cash Jones to clear the roster spot. It is the kind of small transaction that can matter later, especially for a team that keeps an eye on depth at running back throughout the season.
Miller arrives with an unusual backstory for a midseason addition. He was originally drafted by the Patriots in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft, but an injury led to his release before the season began. After working his way back, he reportedly stood out in a workout for Atlanta and now gets a chance to show whether that look can turn into something more. [Read more 🡒]
Saints Domecoming Disaster Got Even More Disturbing In The Stands
The Falcons left the Caesars Superdome with a lopsided win, but the day carried a heavier emotional backdrop than a normal rivalry game. The matchup marked 20 years since the first Saints game back after Hurricane Katrina, and instead of a celebratory homecoming, the building turned tense as New Orleans absorbed a 45-24 loss and slid to 1-3 on the season.
The unease in the stands only added to the mood. During the game, a Saints fan fell on the steep steps in the 600 level, though he appeared conscious and was helped by nearby fans, a jarring scene inside a stadium that was already hearing plenty of frustration from the home crowd. The Saints are still winless at home, and after another rough afternoon, the pressure around the team is starting to feel as loud as the disappointment in the seats. [Read more 🡒]
Drake London Said Exactly What Falcons Fans Love About Beating The Saints
The Falcons had the Saints in a familiar spot by halftime, up 24-7 and well in control, but the lead only kept growing from there. By the end of the game, Atlanta had pushed the margin to 31 points, a reminder that this rivalry still carries plenty of edge when the Falcons get rolling.
Drake London was right in the middle of it, finishing with five catches for 96 yards and again looking like one of Michael Penix Jr.'s most reliable targets. He also spoke to the extra motivation behind Atlanta's continued push to score, tying it back to a previous Saints moment involving Jameis Winston, which only added another layer to a win Falcons fans will happily savor. [Read more 🡒]