Are the Falcons the best team in NFL?

Atlanta Falcons

Are the Falcons the best team in NFL?

ESPN analysts have ranked the Atlanta Falcons as best team in NFL. Should others be considered?

A ESPN panel of analysts has voted the Falcons as the No. 1 team in the NFL following their Week 10 win over the Ravens. Here are their credentials in order of ranking ... 1. FALCONS (7-2): Behind Matt Ryan, Atlanta has the 8th best offense in the NFL, scoring 24.7 points per game. Atlanta has run more plays (638) than any other team. The defense allows 19.4 ppg and gives up about 340 yards of offense per game.

2. PATRIOTS (7-2): Don't let the loss to Cleveland fool you. Tom Brady and the Patriots have scored more points than any other team this season (258, 28.7 ppg). And that's a good thing, because the defense allows 23.8 ppg and nearly 400 yards to opposing offenses.

3. JETS (7-2): New York's defense allows a stingy 16.7 ppg. Mark Sanchez and the offense (23.1 ppg) have needed overtime the last two weeks to defeat Cleveland and Detroit (two teams with losing records).

4. RAVENS (6-3): Ray Rice and the Ravens score just as many points as the 2-7 Dallas Cowboys per game (21.8), but they don't need that much when the defense allows just 18.3 ppg.

5. STEELERS (6-3): Pittsburgh is 1-2 in their last three games. Their 22.2 ppg is 16th best in the league, while the defense is ranked in the top 10 allowing just 18 ppg.

6. EAGLES (6-3): Michael Vick's historic performance against the Redskins vaulted the Eagles to the No. 2 spot in scoring and total offense in the NFL (28.6 ppg, 400 yards average total offense). The defense in turn allows 324 ypg and 23.8 ppg.

7. PACKERS (6-3): Clay Matthews and Green Bay's defense allows the fewest points per game (16.7) in the league. The offense averages 24.6 ppg.

8. GIANTS (6-3): Eli Manning's offense ranks second in the NFL, piling up about 410 ypg - their 23.1 percentage on first down in best in the league. New York's defense is one of the stingiest in the league allowing just 270 ypg to opposing offenses. They face the Eagles next.

9. SAINTS (6-3): These aren't last year's Saints. Drew Brees' team is averaging 22.3 ppg - compared to 31.9 ppg last season. The defense ranks third in the league, allowing just 16.8 ppg and 277.0 ypg.

10. COLTS (6-3): Despite numerous injures, Indianapolis - with Peyton Manning at the helm - is averaging 26.7 ppg. The defense stands 18th in the league allowing 20.8 ppg.

1/10

A ESPN panel of analysts has voted the Falcons as the No. 1 team in the NFL following their Week 10 win over the Ravens. Here are their credentials in order of ranking ... 1. FALCONS (7-2): Behind Matt Ryan, Atlanta has the 8th best offense in the NFL, scoring 24.7 points per game. Atlanta has run more plays (638) than any other team. The defense allows 19.4 ppg and gives up about 340 yards of offense per game.

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