Fansided

NFL power rankings: Patriots, Packers among Super Bowl favorites

By Matt Verderame

FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 22: Tom Brady
FOXBORO, MA - JANUARY 22: Tom Brady /
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ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 14: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrate a Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) touchdown during the NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons on January 14, 2017, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The Falcons beat the Seahawks 36-20. (Photo by Frank Mattia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – JANUARY 14: Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) celebrate a Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Julio Jones (11) touchdown during the NFC Divisional Playoff game between the Seattle Seahawks and the Atlanta Falcons on January 14, 2017, at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta, Georgia. The Falcons beat the Seahawks 36-20. (Photo by Frank Mattia/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /
2

Atlanta Falcons 0-0

Last week: L, 13-7 vs. JAX
Last rank: 2nd

The Atlanta Falcons remain one of the biggest threats to win Super Bowl LII. They continue to have one of the top offenses in football even with the departure of Kyle Shanahan, who left his coordinator post to take the had coaching gig with the San Francisco 49ers.

Atlanta has the reigning MVP in Matt Ryan at the controls, along with Tevin Coleman and Devonta Freeman in the backfield, giving the Falcons a potent combination. Additionally, Ryan has Julio Jones on the outside, arguably the most destructive wide receiver in in the game.

Defensively, this is a very underrated group. The secondary should be healthier with the return of Desmond Trufant, one of the elite shutdown corner in the league. He has Robert Alford on the other side of him, making it difficult to throw toward the boundary. In the front seven, the Falcons have an embarrassment of riches. Grady Jarrett and Dontari Poe should get push up the pocket from the interior, while the NFL’s reigning sack king, Vic Beasley, jets around the edge.

Atlanta has to fight the dreaded Super Bowl hangover and fend offf three good teams in the NFC South, but the talent and experience is there.

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