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USA Today Sports Media Group

Sport

Matt Urben

Falcons power rankings roundup heading into Week 3

Falcons Desmond Ridder Atlanta CBS Sports ESPN PFF Touchdown Wire Bijan Robinson Dale Zanine Kevin C Cox

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aThe Atlanta Falcons are one of the NFL’s most surprising 2-0 teams, although they haven’t exactly faced the league’s best competition. Regardless of how anyone feels about the Falcons, though, the team is undefeated and that’s all that really matters.

As Atlanta prepares for its first road matchup against the Detroit Lions on Sunday, let’s check out what national analysts are saying about the team’s 2-0 start. Here’s our Week 3 power rankings roundup.

NFL.com: 14th

That’s two home victories against teams breaking in new quarterbacks in two weeks. But Atlanta has a newish QB, as well, and the Falcons have now won four straight games started by Desmond Ridder. He threw his first career interception and frankly should have had two more (one a potential pick-six, the other in Green Bay’s end zone). But Ridder found answers on Sunday, both as a runner (posting 39 rushing yards and a crucial fourth-down TD run) and thrower. There was some trust on two big passes in the fourth: the 45-yard flea flicker to Mack Hollins and the 24-yard dart to Drake London that set up the go-ahead field goal. There’s room to grow, but Ridder made his biggest plays when his team needed them most. — Eric Edholm, NFL.com

CBS Sports: 12th

At 2-0, they are off to a good start. That was a nice comeback victory for Desmond Ridder and the offense against Green Bay. — Pete Prisco, CBS Sports

Bleacher Report: 12th

The Atlanta Falcons may be the most surprising 2-0 team in the league. And they are winning games by turning back the clock. For the second straight week, the Falcons ran the ball more than they threw it—a rarity in today’s NFL. When the Falcons were nursing a lead last week against the Carolina Panthers, that was understandable. But Atlanta entered the fourth quarter of Sunday’s tilt down double digits to the Green Bay Packers—and still stayed committed to playing its brand of football. — Bleacher Report staff

ESPN: 11th

The fourth-year cornerback still has his fifth-year option to play on in 2024, but how Atlanta handles his contract will be worth watching. At this point there’s little reason to believe Terrell would not get extended — he’s a team leader, one of the best young corners in the league and a franchise staple — it’s just a matter of when. That “when” could be close to the new league year as there’s precedent from Atlanta here. That’s when Falcons right guard Chris Lindstrom received his deal in March. — Michael Rothstein, ESPN

Touchdown Wire: 18th

The Falcons are 2-0, and yet I feel no different about them. Desmond Ridder looks like the lead in a Cialis commercial and still does little to blow anyone away. Bijan Robinson already looks like a great running ba- *dodges wrench thrown at head* I mean offensive weapon, but the Packers gave their defense hell without their top running back and receiver. Could Atlanta win the NFC South? Sure, but being the best NFC South team is like being the tallest of the seven dwarfs. — Jarrett Bailey, Touchdown Wire