Atlanta Falcons shown no love in latest ESPN 2020 power rankings

Atlanta Falcons received very little love from the ESPN “power panel” as they ranked all teams 1-32.

We all know that there is very little love for the Atlanta Falcons heading into 2020 and no one can blame them given the fact that this franchise has severally underachieved over the last decade under general manager Thomas Dimitroff.

After the freak Super Bowl appearance in 2016, the Falcons have continued to move in the wrong direction, however, this offseason has simply felt different. Falcons fans across the world have to acknowledge that Dimitroff has done everything that he could in order to flip the roster with trades, free agent moves as well as his 2020 draft class.

Will the moves all work? We will find out in just a couple weeks.

The ESPN “power panel” which is constructed of “more than 80 writers, editors and TV personalities” have given their expert opinions and ranked NFL teams 1-32.

The Atlanta Falcons come in initially at number 18, they believe that there are 10 NFC teams better than the Falcons in 2020. Not shockingly, both the Saints and Bucs found themselves well ahead of the Falcons from the NFC South, though the Panthers came in at number 28.

Here is what ESPN Falcons reporter Vaughn McClure had to say about the franchise:

"Falcons owner Arthur Blank retained Quinn and Dimitroff following another 7-9 season but made a significant change in having team president Rich McKay oversee Quinn and Dimitroff this year. Blank said his standard is the playoffs, but one has to wonder if Quinn and Dimitroff will get a little bit more leeway based on how the coronavirus pandemic has already altered 2020. But that can’t be used as an excuse, so Quinn and Dimitroff have to show the Falcons can compete with the Saints and Bucs in the NFC South."

However, the Rams, Cowboys, Eagles, Colts, and Steelers all ranked ahead of the Falcons on this power ranking should be a shock. The belief in old quarterbacks like Ben Roethlisberger and Philip Rivers is a sick joke and just more proof that “experts” don’t look objectively at any data or game film.

The ‘power panel’ highlights just how difficult the Atlanta Falcons schedule is.

Looking at the rankings, it becomes very clear how tough of a road the Atlanta Falcons have in 2020 and that should they successfully navigate that road, they will be battle-tested and playoff ready.

Seven of the 13 different franchises that the Atlanta Falcons will face in 2020 are ranked in the top ten of this list. The Chiefs, Seahawks, Cowboys, Vikings, Packers, Saints, and Bucs are projected by ESPN to be Super Bowl-caliber teams and among the best teams during 2020.

The Atlanta Falcons will face off against the Seahawks, Cowboys, and Packers all within the first four weeks of the season and will end the season with five games against the Saints, Bucs, and Chiefs in their final season matchups of the year.