NFL preseason power rankings put Falcons in uncomfortable position
Falcons come in last in NFC South, 25th league-wide in power rankings
The Atlanta Falcons are scheduled to host the Denver Broncos at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for their first preseason game on Friday night. However, this matchup puts the Falcons in an uncomfortable position according to recent preseason power rankings. Nick Shook of NFL.com has the Falcons ranked as the worst team in the NFC South and just the 25th best overall in the league.
This ranking highlights the team's low expectations following a nine-year playoff drought, with only limited optimism regarding their chances of returning to the postseason. The rankings reflect the team's struggles, including the season-ending injury to Jalon Walker and the uncertainty surrounding their starting quarterback situation.
Michael Penix Jr. is still recovering from his latest ACL surgery, while Tua Tagovailoa began camp with back issues. The team had to quickly acquire Cooper Rush from the open market to address their quarterback needs. While the Falcons possess options at quarterback, neither option appears to be a reliable starter at this stage.
The recent positive news comes from both Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix impressing during training camp, providing a glimmer of hope for the team's outlook in the 2026 season. However, if neither quarterback can fully establish himself, the Falcons may struggle to climb out of the 25th position in the standings.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
