NFL power rankings: Are Falcons now NFC contenders?

Julio Jones and the Falcons flattened the Panthers. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

Credit: Michael Cunningham

Credit: Michael Cunningham

Julio Jones and the Falcons flattened the Panthers. BRANT SANDERLIN/BSANDERLIN@AJC.COM

1. Broncos (4-0)

The Bucs knocked Trevor Siemian out of the game with a shoulder injury so rookie Paxton Lynch stepped in and finished off the victory. Coach Gary Kubiak says Siemian still is the starter.

2. Eagles (3-0)

It’s all roses: They return from the bye to face the Lions and their blowout of the Steelers looks even better after what Pittsburgh did to KC.

3. Patriots (3-1)

The Bill shut them out on their field but now QB Tom Brady is back.

4. Vikings (4-0)

The defense keeps playing great and RB Jerick McKinnon provided hope of a revived running game against the Giants.

5. Packers (2-1)

After the bye week the Packers got back five key injured defensive players at practice.

6. Seahawks (3-1)

A knee injury limited his mobility so QB Russell Wilson passed the Seahawks to a W at the Jets. With a bye week and TE Jimmy Graham rounding into form, they are dangerous again.

7. Steelers (3-1)

You knew they’d play better after the embarrassing loss to the Eagles but, man, they walloped the Chiefs.

8. Ravens (3-1)

The first real test for the D didn’t go so well but they get Washington next so back to dominating.

9. Falcons (3-1)

I predicted that Matt Ryan and Kyle Shanahan would get the offense going in Year 2 of their partnership and they have. I also predicted the defense would be better and jury’s still out on that one.

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10. Raiders (3-1)

Not even the Ravens D could slow down the Raiders, who got 4 TD passes from QB Derek Carr.

11. Cowboys (3-1)

They came from two touchdowns behind to win at the 49ers with two rookies (QB Dak Prescott and RB Ezekiel Elliott( leading the way and without injured WR Dez Bryant. That’s legit.

12. Bengals (2-2)

Upset after he did little during a loss to the Broncos, Cincy WR A.J. Green went off on the Dolphins.

13. Bills (2-2)

The Pats own the Bills and Brady was out. But you still can’t blame Rex Ryan for crowing a bit about handing the Pats their first shutout loss in 15 years at Gillette Stadium

14. Texans (3-1)

They bounced back from the beatdown at New England by beating the Titans without star pass rusher J.J. Watt, who is out for the season.

15. Chiefs (2-2)

The defense finally collapsed against the Steelers so now they have big problems on both sides of the ball.

16. Washington (2-2)

QB Kirk Cousins tossed 4 TD passes and the defense forced turnovers on three second-half possessions to turn back the Browns.

17. Rams (3-1)

Good win at Cards but still don’t trust them.

18. Jaguars (1-3)

They nearly blew a 23-6 lead to the Colts in London.

19. Panthers (1-3)

Their secondary is really, really bad. And something just seems off about QB Cam Newton.

20. Cardinals (1-3)

They are in full crisis mode after a home loss to the Rams and a concussion for QB Carson Palmer.

21. Buccaneers (1-3)

Mike Smith’s defense is still leaking oil and now Dirk Koetter’s offense is sputtering, too.

22. Jets (1-3)

QB Ryan Fitzpatrick followed up his six-interception fiasco at KC with three picks against the Seahawks.

23. Giants (2-2)

WR Odell Beckham Jr.’s emotional outbursts are the least of the problems for a team that’s too often shoddy.

24. Saints (1-3)

They are not good but QB Drew Brees still has it: two TDs in final five minutes to win at Chargers.

25. Bears (1-3)

Bears beat the Lions because somebody had to win.

26. Dolphins (1-3)

The injuries are making this middling team look awful.

27. Lions (1-3)

They managed just one offensive TD at the Bears as QB Matthew Stafford struggles without a real running game.

28. Colts (1-3)

QB Andrew Luck continues to lose his shine.

29. 49ers (1-3)

The offense stinks.

30. Titans (1-3)

They had a chance to turn things around with a win at Houston before Will Fuller broke free for a 67-yard punt return TD.

31. Chargers (1-3)

They blew a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter . . . at home . . . to the Saints.

32. Browns (0-4)

Those three consecutive turnovers in the second half at Washington were so Browns.