Atlanta Falcons: NFC Power Rankings, Week 17

Though the Atlanta Falcons have been officially been eliminated from NFC Playoff contention, where do the Dirty Birds land in this week’s power rankings?

While the Atlanta Falcons pulled off the biggest upset of the 2015 NFL season in Week 16 by beating the then undefeated Carolina Panthers at home, 20-13, the Atlanta Falcons have officially been eliminated from the 2015 NFC Playoffs thanks to Eli Manning and the hapless New York Football Giants. Atlanta needed both the Minnesota Vikings and the Seattle Seahawks to lose out to get the sixth seed.

At 8-7, the Atlanta Falcons have rattled off two straight wins after their dreadful six-game losing streak mid-season. The Dirty Birds will host their arch nemesis in the New Orleans Saints on Week 17. While Atlanta has already locked up second place in the NFC South, Atlanta could finish above .500 with one more win in Dan Quinn’s first season as head coach of the Atlanta Falcons by beating the Saints on Sunday.

As much as much as I would have liked to have played a game with playoff implications in Week 17, it’s difficult not to have immense pride in this football team for how the Atlanta Falcons knocked off a 14-0 rival at home, extending their playoff life for a few more hours.

The Atlanta Falcons have seemed to have turned the page on their mid-season woes and look to become the seventh and final team in the NFC to finish above .500 in 2015 next week. Here are this week’s NFC Power Rankings.

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