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NFL power rankings: 2019 edition – Patriots finish on top, again

By Russell S. Baxter

ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA - FEBRUARY 03: Julian Edelman #11 of the New England Patriots and teammate Tom Brady #12 celebrate at the end of the Super Bowl LIII at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on February 3, 2019 in Atlanta, Georgia. The New England Patriots defeat the Los Angeles Rams 13-3. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 11, 2018: Wide receiver Calvin Ridley #18 of the Atlanta Falcons carries the ball in the third quarter of a game against the Cleveland Browns on November 11, 2018 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 28-16. (Photo by: 2018 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH – NOVEMBER 11, 2018: Wide receiver Calvin Ridley #18 of the Atlanta Falcons carries the ball in the third quarter of a game against the Cleveland Browns on November 11, 2018 at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio. Cleveland won 28-16. (Photo by: 2018 Nick Cammett/Diamond Images/Getty Images) /

17. Atlanta Falcons (7-9)

2nd Place, NFC South

Season Review: The Falcons entered 2018 as the only team in the NFC to reach the playoffs each of the previous two seasons. But there would not be a third straight postseason appearance as a series of major injuries on defense saw the team dig itself a hole early in the season. Not having running back Devonta Freeman for a long spell hurt the club as well. Quarterback Matt Ryan put up the kind of numbers that more resembled his 2016 NFL MVP season, throwing for 4,924 yards, 35 scores and only seven picks. But Dan Quinn’s club wilted down the stretch often, allowing 144 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.

2018 Turning Point: A battered Atlanta defense was a big reason Quinn’s team got off to a 1-4 start. The Falcons rallied with three straight wins to get back to the .500 mark and headed to Cleveland to face the Browns. But the team was humbled, 28-16, the first of four straight costly setbacks.

2019 Priorities: A year ago, the franchise did very little in free agency and in retrospect, the team is in need of depth on defense. The Falcons also have some big-time questions to answer in terms of 19 potential unrestricted free agents in running back Tevin Coleman and defensive tackle Grady Jarrett.

Next: No. 16

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