Atlanta Falcons get disrespect in latest offseason power rankings

The Atlanta Falcons are ranked 18th in Yahoo Sports’ offseason rankings. It’s not the fact that Atlanta is placed in the bottom tier that’s disrespectful, but the teams that have been placed ahead of them. Looking at each team’s offseason, it’s becoming frustrating for a franchise that has felt cursed since its infamous Super Bowl appearance.

Still, it seems disrespectful to put two equally bad 2023 teams ahead of Atlanta. The Colts and Bears are both ranked ahead of the Falcons, which is a surprising change. What did the Colts do this offseason to improve and give Richardson confidence that he can stay healthy while playing his style?

The Bears had a good draft but with a rookie quarterback in an incredibly tough division, they don’t deserve a spot ahead of Atlanta. Caleb Williams is a great prospect but he’s relegated to a division with two NFC contenders.

Chicago has a much better case to edge Atlanta than Indy. Both rankings, however, don’t take into account the level of difficulty. For Chicago, it’s about playing in one of the league’s best divisions. The Packers and Lions both have reason to believe they’re a Super Bowl threat.

For the Colts, it’s easy to look at their offseason and look at the AFC landscape and write them off. They’re not a playoff team or anything close to it. They’re going to be home in January while Atlanta hosts a first-round playoff game.

This is based on the fact that Atlanta’s division and conference are a much easier path. Indy lost its starting quarterback and Richardson has yet to give the team a reason to believe he is the long-term solution. Atlanta deserved to be at least two spots higher in these rankings.

That said, it’s more than fair to be wary of Atlanta. The Falcons have lived up to their reputation throughout the franchise’s history. It’s much easier to get your hands on teams that have been good in recent years.

The last time Atlanta was close to its capabilities was in the playoff losses to Tom Brady in historic fashion and the following year to Nick Foles. Atlanta made itself an easy target and has had years of underachievement. While some of the skepticism and seemingly low rankings may seem unfair, they have been deserved. It is up to Atlanta to change that perception by consistently stringing together quality seasons.