Falcons top power rankings after Week 2 win over Packers

Matt Ryan led the Falcons past the Packers on Sunday.

Matt Ryan led the Falcons past the Packers on Sunday.

After a 34-23 win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday night, the Atlanta Falcons have jumped on several NFL Power Rankings lists.

Here’s what the list creators had to say about the Dirty Birds headed into their Week 3 matchup at the Detroit Lions.

The Falcons are up six spots on ESPN's Week 3 NFL Power Rankings after shutting down the Packers over the weekend.

“Falcons fans can drop any concerns about Steve Sarkisian running the offense,” ESPN’s rankings read. “FPI has the Falcons as the second-rated offense so far this season, and Matt Ryan is averaging nearly 10 yards per pass attempt. The Falcons are just the fourth Super Bowl loser to start the next season 2-0.”

ESPN’s top 10 NFL teams for Week 3 were as follows:

  1. Atlanta Falcons
  2. Kansas City Chiefs
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers
  4. New England Patriots
  5. Oakland Raiders
  6. Green Bay Packers
  7. Denver Broncos
  8. Dallas Cowboys
  9. Seattle Seahawks
  10. Baltimore Ravens

The Falcons landed the No. 4 spot on NFL.com’s Week 3 NFL Power Rankings, up from the No. 5 spot in Week 2.

“Agreed wholeheartedly with (SNF broadcaster) Cris Collinsworth, who aptly pointed out the Falcons were decidedly more confident in playing man coverage ... especially with a healthy Desmond Trufant,” NFL.com reporter Elliott Harrison wrote. “Collinsworth also cited how different Atlanta's offense performs on the field turf of the Falcons’ new stadium.

“The offense looks faster. Which will, in turn, make this year’s road division matchups in Tampa and Carolina fascinating, especially given how both those defenses have been playing. Still think Dan Quinn’s group wins the NFC South.”

Harrison’s top 10 NFL teams headed into Week 3 can be read below:

  1. Kansas City Chiefs
  2. Oakland Radiers
  3. New England Patriots
  4. Atlanta Falcons
  5. Pittsburgh Stellers
  6. Denver Broncos
  7. Green Bay Packers (down six slots after Sunday night's loss to the Falcons)
  8. Detriot Lions
  9. Seattle Seahawks
  10. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

The Falcons jumped to the No. 1 spot on CBS Sports’ Week 3 NFL Power Rankings as well, replacing the Packers who previously held the top spot.

“They still haven’t quite clicked on offense yet, but it’s coming. When it does, watch out,” CBS’s Pete Prisco wrote.

Here were Prisco’s top 10 NFL teams as Week 3 approaches:

  1. Atlanta Falcons
  2. Pittsburgh Steelers
  3. Kansas City Chiefs
  4. New England Patriots
  5. Green Bay Packers
  6. Oakland Raiders
  7. Denver Broncos
  8. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
  9. Seattle Seahawks
  10. Detroit Lions

Sporting News put the Falcons at the No. 4 spot on Week 3’s Power Rankings, rising from the No. 6 spot last week.

“Matt Ryan and Julio Jones haven’t even exploded yet, and their offense has hummed along thanks to more great running from Devonta Freeman,” Sporting News’ Vinnie Iyer wrote. “The fast young defense is happy to have its old glue guy back at cornerback, Desmond Trufant.”

Here were the rest of Sporting News' Top 10 NFL teams for Week 3:

  1. Kansas City Chiefs
  2. Oakland Radiers
  3. Denver Broncos
  4. Atlanta Falcons
  5. Pittsburgh Steelers
  6. New England Patriots
  7. Baltimore Ravens
  8. Detroit Lions
  9. Green Bay Packers
  10. Dallas Cowboys