Falcons rise in Week 11 power rankings

DONTARI POE ON OFFENSE Falcons' defensive tackle provided the lead block for Tevin Coleman's 1-yard touchdown to give Atlanta 10-7 lead. ADRIAN CLAYBORN'S SACK RECORD Clayborn took down Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott six times. Clayborn had recorded six sacks over the course of an entire season just once in his previous six years. He now has 8 sacks this season. Chuck Smith and Claude Humphrey shared the old team record of five sacks in a game. MATT RYAN's RECORD DAY Ryan went into the league record bo

After a dominant 27-7 win over the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday, the Atlanta Falcons rose in NFL power rankings.

The Falcons (5-4) face their next challenge against the Seattle Seahawks on Monday night.

Here’s what NFL analysts are saying about the Falcons after Week 7:

ESPN Week 11 Power Rankings

Ranking this week: 11

Ranking last week: 17

Reasoning: “No team has a more difficult remaining schedule than the Falcons,” ESPN’s rationale read. “They still have a trip to Seattle, two games against the Saints and home games against the Vikings and Panthers. If there's any reason for hope, it's that they have four home games left, and two games against the 3-6 Buccaneers.”

ESPN's Top 10:

  1. Philadelphia Eagles
  2. New England Patriots
  3. New Orleans Saints
  4. Pittsburgh Steelers
  5. Kansas City Chiefs
  6. Minnesota Vikings
  7. Los Angeles Rams
  8. Seattle Seahawks
  9. Jacksonville Jaguars
  10. Carolina Panthers

NFL.com’s Week 11 Power Rankings

Ranking this week: 12

Ranking last week: 19

Reasoning: “What Adrian Clayborn produced Sunday was nothing short of awesome, no matter who it came against. Chaz Green is in the NFL,” NFL.com’s Elliott Harrison wrote. “Clayborn beat him five times. Then he beat backup Byron Bell, too. Clayborn was bigger than Matt Ryan, Julio Jones or anyone else in that win over Dallas.”

NFL.com’s Top 10:

  1. Philadelphia Eagles
  2. Los Angeles Rams
  3. New England Patriots
  4. New Orleans Saints
  5. Pittsburgh Steelers
  6. Minnesota Vikings
  7. Jacksonville Jaguars
  8. Kansas City Chiefs
  9. Seattle Seahawks
  10. Carolina Panthers

Bleacher Report’s Week 11 Power Rankings

Ranking this week: 12

Ranking last week: 16

Reasoning: “Against Dallas, the Falcons were the team we've been waiting all season long to see,” Bleacher Report’s Chris Simms wrote. “There were big plays in the pass game, Atlanta was ripping off key runs, and the defense finally got back to doing what it does best. That's flying around the field and using its speed to disrupt the passing game... Atlanta looked more like last year's incarnation in Week 10, but the Falcons are a long way from being a title contender.”

Bleacher Report’s Top 10:

  1. Philadelphia Eagles
  2. New England Patriots
  3. New Orleans Saints
  4. Carolina Panthers
  5. Minnesota Vikings
  6. Los Angeles Rams
  7. Pittsburgh Steelers
  8. Jacksonville Jaguars
  9. Kansas City Chiefs
  10. Detroit Lions

Ranking this week: 11

Ranking last week: 13

Reasoning: “They seemed to get the offense back on track against Dallas - especially by running it well -- but now face a brutal road game at Seattle,” CBS Sports’ rationale read.

ESPN's Top 10:

  1. Philadelphia Eagles
  2. New England Patriots
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers
  4. Los Angeles Rams
  5. New Orleans Saints
  6. Minnesota Vikings
  7. Kansas City Chiefs
  8. Carolina Panthers
  9. Seattle Seahawks
  10. Jacksonville Jaguars

USA TODAY's Week 11 Power Rankings

Ranking this week: 12

Ranking last week: 14

Reasoning: “Only natural to wonder how Super Bowl LI might have turned out had (defensive end) Adrian Clayborn not torn his biceps in last season's divisional round,” USA TODAY’s rationale read.

USA TODAY’s Top 10:

  1. Philadelphia Eagles
  2. New England Patriots
  3. Pittsburgh Steelers
  4. Los Angeles Rams
  5. New Orleans Saints
  6. Carolina Panthers
  7. Kansas City Chiefs
  8. Minnesota Vikings
  9. Jacksonville Jaguars
  10. Tennessee Titans