Atlanta Falcons: NFC Power Rankings, Week 3

Minnesota rebounded nicely with a strong home win over rival Detroit in Week 2 after Week 1’s embarrassing performance in Santa Clara to the 49ers. Adrian Peterson can still carry the rock with the best of them, as Minnesota had to lean on AD in Week 2. I hope to see the Vikings become the multi-dimensional offense I know they can become in 2015. With the Mike Zimmer defense, Peterson at tailback, and Teddy Bridgewater under center, Minnesota could stand as a very tough team to beat in the cold this winter. In Week 2, the Vikings proved that they have resiliency and that makes them a contender in my mind entering Week 3.

While the St. Louis Rams lost by two scores in Washington in Week 2, they still did beat the NFC West rival Seattle in Week 1 at home. Though it wasn’t great against the Redskins, I think the Rams have the playmakers on defense to become a Top 10 unit in the NFL this year. But do the St. Louis Rams have enough firepower on offense to complement that tenacious defense of theirs? I feel like the Rams got ahead of themselves against Washington, thinking that they were going to win they game before it began. The Rams have talent, but have they matured enough to end their decade-long playoff drought in 2015?

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The 2x reigning NFC Champion Seattle Seahawks begin the regular season in the hole at 0-2. Not to say that St. Louis and Green Bay aren’t worthy adversaries (they are), but are the Seattle Seahawks still the favorite to win the NFC? With the Arizona Cardinals looking very strong and the St. Louis Rams already beating them once, Seattle has to play better in the next several weeks to take back control of the NFC West. I have a feeling that Kam Chancellor will end his holdout here shortly and get back into his role in the Legion of Boom, but will Russell Wilson take that next step as a passer in 2015? I can’t in good faith put the Seahawks out of the NFC Playoff Picture just yet, but starting out 0-3 might do the trick in next week’s power rankings.

The Carolina Panthers are 2-0, but it’s not like they’ve beaten world-class teams in Jacksonville and Houston. Carolina still has many tough games remaining on their schedule, but the team is doing well in beating the teams they should. Should the Panthers continue to play with poise, even with a dearth of weapons on offense, I feel that there is enough defensive continuity to keep the Panthers in the NFC South race and in the NFC Playoff Picture. Cam Newton’s touchdown dive in the red zone over the Texans was spectacular, I’ll give him that. This feels like a team capable of winning 10 games this year entering Week 3.

Next: Tier I: NFC Division Winners