Coming into the 2018 season, the Falcons were rightfully considered one of the NFL’s top contenders. With a young roster led by a former MVP quarterback, they were projected to be in the thick of a deep NFC playoff race. It didn’t take long for the wheels to fall off, though.
A series of devastating injuries began in the very first game of the season, when safety Keanu Neal tore his ACL. Not long after, Ricardo Allen and Deion Jones joined him on injured reserve. Atlanta’s defense never recovered and the team sputtered to a 7-9 finish, missing out on the playoffs.
Now, expectations for the Falcons are considerably lower than at this time last year. According to a batch of way-too-early 2019 power rankings by ESPN, Atlanta is only the 18th best team in the league right now.
ESPN’s rankings included one reason for optimism for each team, and for the Falcons it was getting healthier, including the return of starting running back Devonta Freeman.
Nevertheless, No. 18 seems like a harsh place to put a team that was playing in the Super Bowl just two years ago. At the very least, they should be ranked head of the Titans, Packers and Browns.
