Falcons rise up seven spots in NFL.com’s latest power rankings

Many NFL analysts wrote off the Atlanta Falcons following their 1-2 start, but now that they’ve beaten two division rivals in consecutive weeks, people are buying in again.

The team has won two out of three prime-time games and both wins came down to last-minute heroics by quarterback Kirk Cousins. The Falcons jumped from No. 19 to No. 12 in NFL.com‘s power rankings after their Week 5 win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

NFL.com’s Eric Edholm still thinks the division will come down to the final few weeks of the season but was impressed with how Atlanta has performed in big games:

That’s five one-possession outcomes in five weeks. Kirk Cousins had a career game Thursday night, and his pass catchers seemed to step up with big plays for him. Mistakes piled up, and that really should have cost Atlanta the game, but the Falcons don’t care about that. There’s a little mojo now, and they’re pretty darned seasoned in a playoff-like atmospheres with this spate of highly competitive games. — Eric Edholm, NFL.com

There’s no doubt this team has more “mojo” than at any point over the last three seasons. Falcons head coach Raheem Morris has an infectious energy that seems to loosen up his players in the game’s biggest moments.

If you look at the NFL’s most successful coaches, like Andy Reid, Dan Campbell, DeMeco Ryans and Kevin O’Connell, their personalities are more down to earth than drill sergeant. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to have a competent quarterback.

The Falcons will play their second road game of the season in Week 6 when they face off against the Carolina Panthers at Bank of America Stadium. Sunday’s game kicks off at 4:25 p.m. ET in Charlotte.

[lawrence-auto-related count=5 category=1360]