Falcons move to No. 1 spot in ESPN power rankings
FLOWERY BRANCH – The Falcons have used a three-game home winning streak to improve to 7-2 and climb to the top of ESPN’s power rankings.
The Falcons’ 7-2 mark is the best in the NFC.
If they are going to stay on top, they will have to prove their mettle on the road.
The Falcons play four of their next five games on the road.
If you count their last two exhibition games, the Falcons opened the season playing six of eight games on the road.
“We have a part of the season, albeit part of it was in the preseason, that we’ve gone on the road almost twice as much as we’ve been at home,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “Playing on the road is a big challenge.”
The Falcons 2-2 on the road this season. They have road victories over New Orleans and Cleveland. They have road losses to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia.
“This season, so far we’ve had some success on the road,” Smith said. “We’d like to have a little bit more.”
With ESPN’s No. 1 power ranking and with the best record in the NFC, the Falcons will now have teams gunning for them.
“We try not to concern ourselves with what our record is and the record of the team that we are playing,” Smith said. “We try to come in, and I know it gets harder from week to week, we come in and we try to do what we have to do to get better. . . We feel like it’s all about us and not who we are playing.”
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138 comments Add your comment
Gman
November 17th, 2010
1:33 pm
Politics and athletics should NEVER be mixed. Go Falcons!
falconfan 24-7
November 17th, 2010
1:49 pm
The number 1 ranking is flattering however it doesn’t mean anything until February after the Super Bowl. Fox Sports have the Jets ranked number one and the Falcons number two. Go figure and Go Falcons.
Falcon Jim
November 17th, 2010
2:00 pm
F U
edhaire
November 17th, 2010
2:02 pm
Wow #1 on ESPN power rankings! But other than that not much else as far as Falcon coverage. Maybe we will continue to fly under the radar. I think we will finish 13-3 or maybe 14-2. Green bay and New Orleans may be trap games.
On another note, I think we need to find a way to get Harry Douglas involved more. He is a big threat and I don’t think we gave Jenkins enough credit for the great 3rd down catch against the Ravens.
Go you DIRTY BIRDS!
SeenThisB4
November 17th, 2010
2:05 pm
Somebody slammed somebody’s nerve, hard! LOL!
GEAUX SAINTS! OUR TIME!!
1911A1
November 17th, 2010
2:11 pm
Count me in as another who can’t take ESPN seriously (and hasn’t in a long time.) Their continuous, over-the-top man-crush on Brett Favre destroyed what little credibility they had.
FalconsFan284
November 17th, 2010
2:13 pm
Low is the day that I find myself on the same side of an argument as Tea Party, but here goes.
Mr. Mustard—–What you have said about the original Teap Party is incorrect and very badly so. First of all, those Patriots, were not rallying against big corporations. Especially, when a good many of them owned businesses in the Americas. No, in fact, these men were rallying against over taxation from the British Government. You have heard of the British Government before, right? Perhaps the rallying cry of one Thomas Payne, whose writings were the inspiration for revolution, may clear up your memory. Thomas Payne once wrote, “No taxation without respresentation.” Have you hear that phrase in your American History classes, when you were in high school? I am only trying to point out your error, without submitting my opinion.
Also, the NFL is not truly Socialist. I think the better argument would be to say they are a form of Socialism known as Market Socialists. Those two things aren’t really the same. And, when used in the contexts of your argument, very poorly applied. Even that description, Market Socialists, is not truly accurate as there is still several higher authorities then the NFL. It was a good try though. It is more fair to say that the NFL has Socialist qualities while still operating with Capitalist tendencies.
As for football, the Falcons are perhaps the fifth or sixth best team in the NFL. We just don’t have a strong enough defense to be any higher. I believe that Indianapolis, Philadelphia, New England, Pittsburgh and the New York Giants are more complete teams. However, in the dome, Atlanta could defeat any of them.
Samantha
November 17th, 2010
2:13 pm
The Falcons will never play in the superbowl anytime soon! They should have lost the last 2 games they played. The ONLY reason why they barely beat the New Orleans Saints was because the majority of the really good players were not able to play due to their injuries. They will lose the majority of their games that are left…you’ll see
Dave
November 17th, 2010
2:14 pm
I think the Eagles are clearly better than the Falcons. Not only due to their impressive showing Monday, but because the Eagles have beaten us three years running, and whipped us badly this season without Vick.
real12real
November 17th, 2010
2:40 pm
So what if the Eagles beat the Falcons? We got beat by the Steelers, but yall aren’t saying they’re better than the Falcons. The Patriots beat them. The Jets are also 7-2. It isn’t about who beat who but who’s doing the way they are doing at this part of the season. Yall are jokes. Seriously.
SeenThisB4
November 17th, 2010
2:45 pm
tick…tick…tick………………….only a matter of time B4 I become a Falcon fan.
Pete
November 17th, 2010
2:45 pm
The Falcons are a different team on the road, make no mistake. They don’t seem to have the “toughness” or sense of urgency on the road as when at home in the Dome. It’s probably 80% mental but with their growing success and confidence let’s hope they play like “grownups” this Sunday in St. Louis.
Scott
November 17th, 2010
2:50 pm
It is amazing to me that the national sports media is giving the Falcons a very much deserved number one ranking, but the local sports talk radio idiots rank them number three. The Falcons are no longer flying under the radar nationally. The only place the Flacons fly under the radar is in the Atlanta media. “SERIOUSLY”..
Fish Bisch
November 17th, 2010
2:58 pm
Dan Uggla will be a good player for the Braves.
yeahsure
November 17th, 2010
3:15 pm
@real12real.
My thoughts exactly. Hawks swept the Celtics last season. So what. We still didn’t make it to the Finals. Sure, the Eagles always seems to outcoach and outplay us. But there is still plenty of football left to be played. Let’s wait before we crown them Superbowl Champs after one win over the Deadskins (as impressive as it may have been).
For now, let’s just enjoy our Falcons moment on top and concentrate on whooping the Lambs on Sunday.
Bird Droppings
November 17th, 2010
3:31 pm
Personally, I can’t stand these blogs being upside down. You can’t follow a thread, and you don’t know if SeenThisB4 has actually seen this before or whether he hasn’t seen it yet.
TMoney
November 17th, 2010
3:39 pm
IMO, there are currently 11 teams still alive in the NFC for playoff births: NYG, PHI, CHI, GB, ATL, NO, TB, SEA, STL, SF, ARI. I list all 4 NFC West teams because one of them has to get in, leaving 7 teams battling for the other 5 spots.
Each of the teams I listed plays at least plays at least 2 games against the other teams I listed, as seen below:
SF (6) – vsTB, @ARI, @GB, vsSEA, @STL, vsARI
ATL (5) – @STL, vsGB, @TB, @SEA, vsNO
SEA (5) – @NO, @SF, vsATL, @TB, vsSTL
STL (5) – vsATL, @ARI, @NO, vsSF, @SEA
GB (4) – @ATL, vsSF, vsNYG, vsCHI
NO(4) – vsSEA, vsSTL, @ATL, vsTB
TB (4) – @SF, vsATL, vsSEA, @NO
ARI (3) – vsSF, vsSTL, @SF
NYG (3) – @PHI, vsPHI, @GB
PHI (3) – vsNYG, @CHI, @NYG
CHI (2) – vsPHI, @GB
Power Rankings are worthless, the teams that make the playoffs are going to have to earn their way in, beating other teams that are trying to get there as well.
RobbE33
November 17th, 2010
3:46 pm
We’ll enjoy it while it lasts. Who knows, this could very well be the start of a long, adventurous relationship. Thanks, Falcons! 2010 has been a fun ride.
Joe Tess Fish House
November 17th, 2010
4:00 pm
Agian, what dus Power Rangers have to do with the flacons?
SawThat1nce
November 17th, 2010
4:24 pm
Man, you are one weird idiot.
Frozen Rope
November 17th, 2010
4:31 pm
@ LuckyCamaroJoeFishTea
What to Flacons have to do with the Falcons,, and just what is a Meber
Lucky
November 17th, 2010
4:36 pm
What R U sayin?
Frozen Rope
November 17th, 2010
4:49 pm
Your asking me what I’m saying,, HAHAHAHAHA,, your funny guys,, I’m asking what is a Flacon , whats a Meber,, and I dont even want to know what a Superbowel is,,,,
Buccaneer in atl
November 17th, 2010
6:08 pm
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO BUCS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Buccaneer in atl
November 17th, 2010
6:14 pm
Los Bucaneros de Tampa Bay son un número no espacios en blanco Aurthur Dixie Chicos Chicas
Falcon Jim
November 17th, 2010
6:51 pm
Mano, me almosto understando what Bucco sayo. Me’o musto bi’o gittin’o assemilato.
Who Dat Nation President
November 17th, 2010
10:28 pm
Falcons ain’t all Dat! We have a Lombardi trophy in New Orleans! Where is yours? You will still be looking for one in 2010!
question
November 17th, 2010
10:45 pm
home many times are you going to say road?
Falcon Jim
November 17th, 2010
10:59 pm
Every time I read the Taints gumbo breaths mention the “Lombardi Trophy,” I feel like I should have a pain in my lumbar. I think I do.
Falcon Jim
November 17th, 2010
11:01 pm
Rope,
GO DUDE ! ! !
HA HA HA HA HA………….
$howme
November 18th, 2010
5:21 am
NFL Playbook just came on the NFL Network and the opening statement from Shannon Sharpe was, “whose the best team in the NFC, the Giants or the Eagles?’ What!!!? Is that disrespectful of the Falcons or what? Last time I checked the Falcons had the best record in the NFC.
Calvin G. Sims, Sr.
November 18th, 2010
6:09 am
Please change the order of the posts. The current order makes a once enjoyable blog almost unreadable.
FrontRow
November 18th, 2010
7:30 am
I’m pretty sure the reason why MV is successful now and working hard now is 2 yrs behind bars is a long time to think about what could have been.
Nino
November 18th, 2010
7:58 am
Please change the order of the posts. It is seriously annoying. I can’t think of another instance of Internet blog that is set up in reverse order…
Keith Mercer
November 18th, 2010
12:45 pm
Yeas and everyone bet their house and 401K or what is left of it, that the Falcons will win the Super Bowl. After all ESPN said they were #1.
FrontRow
November 18th, 2010
2:41 pm
@mars since you like herman cain, you must be a “fair tax” supporter.
lemme explain some simple logic to you. corporations are entities that use government services and therefore should be taxed. any arguement otherwise is invalid.
THE OBGYN
November 21st, 2010
7:13 am
Mustard,
Ignorance is bliss… Isn’t it.
THE OBGYN
November 21st, 2010
7:24 am
Front Row,
Any argument is otherwise invalid? Argue this then. No tax or low tax corporation has higher profit margin and thus has money to expand. expansion requires more jobs to be added. Previously out of work person goes to work…
The higher the tax on said corporation the higher the item costs. Corporations don’t get taxed they get to pass that buck on to their consumers so all you are really doing is taxing yourself more.
Is the fair tax perfect? No but at the same time it evens the bill and a majority of the less fortunate wouldn’t pay any tax after the prebate anyway.
Sad so many people spread lies and hate just cause it’s what they have been taught.
Abe Lincoln – Republican.
80% of republican’s voted yes to Black voting rights.