Atlanta Falcons NFL Power Rankings 2025: Welcome back to the basement

SB Nation

The playoff picture is getting clearer, the NFL draft order is forming, the final stretch of the 2025 NFL season is upon us, and it is shaping up to be a good one.

Last week, we had a new team at the top

of the rankings, the sixth newcomer this season, no movement at the bottom of the barrel, including the woeful Atlanta Falcons, and a few teams that were thought to be out of the playoff race emerged as potential playoff contenders, including a dangerous-looking San Francisco 49ers team.

With the Denver Broncos, Los Angeles Chargers, Miami Dolphins, and Washington Commanders on a well-needed, late-season bye, let’s get into the new power rankings:

1) Los Angeles Rams (8-2) (+1)

Welcome to the top of the power rankings, Matthew Stafford and the Los Angeles Rams. From a bad back for Matthew Stafford to forcing four back-breaking interceptions to secure the dub on Sunday, this Rams team has shown they are possibly the most complete team in the NFL, with the MVP front-runner in Stafford leading the charge.

2) Seattle Seahawks (7-3) (-1)

How far can the Seahawks really fall after that game last week? I mean, sure, Sam Darnold turned into a bit of a pumpkin, but this defense is phenomenal and is set up to help Seattle make a deep playoff run come January.

3) Buffalo Bills (7-3) (+2)

MVP Josh Allen is back, and he carried the Bills to their 15th game with 40 or more points scored in the Allen era, 2nd only to the Dak Prescott-led Cowboys. Allen also continues to prove he is the ultimate weapon at QB, becoming the only player with 3 passing and rushing touchdowns in a single game.

4) Indianapolis Colts (8-2) (even)

Nice rest week for the Colts as they look for a statement win against the bully on the blocks in Kansas City.

5) Detroit Lions (6-4) (-2)

Nasty loss to the Eagles, but I still think the Lions are one of the more complete builds in the NFL. A statement against a bottom-dwelling New York Giants team should do wonders in keeping the Lions in top five talks.

6) Denver Broncos (9-2) (even)

This is a team that drags you down to the sewer with them to fight. So, having Bo Nix make more than enough plays against a tough Kansas City defense should give Denver fans plenty to smile about.

7) Green Bay Packers (6-3-1) (+1)

Though they messed up the Winston 2025 debut, the Packers did find a way to win against the Giants and continue their fight at the top of the NFC North.

8) New England Patriots (9-2) (+1)

The Drake Maye hype train is on and chugging as New England continues to shock the world atop the AFC East. Next? Cincinnati.

9) Philadelphia Eagles (8-2) (+3)

The vibes are still low, but the talent level on this team is still too high to ignore. Philadelphia is atop the NFC East easily and has plenty of room to smooth out the wrinkles like they did last year.

10) Kansas City Chiefs (5-5) (-3)

We’ve reached unprecedented times in the Patrick Mahomes era of the Kansas City Chiefs. They’re threatening to be under .500 and potentially missing the playoffs. All they have to do to avoid all of this is beat one of the most explosive offenses of the season right now in the Colts.

11) Tampa Bay Buccaneers (6-4) (even)

The lead for the NFC South is starting to get smaller by the week, and the schedule isn’t getting any easier with the potentially best team in the league, the Los Angeles Rams, hosting next week on primetime.

12) Baltimore Ravens (5-5) (+1)

Since Lamar Jackson has returned, the Ravens have that spark that made them the favorite in this division from the start. Mix in the fact the Steelers refuse to take off with the lead they have and the Ravens are the favorites to take off with this division.

13) San Francisco 49ers (7-4) (+1)

The 49ers are starting to look like their old selves again with Brock Purdy. The offense is looking without holes, and the defense is doing enough with all the injuries on that side.

14) Los Angeles Chargers (7-4) (-4)

Listen, will they probably make the playoffs? Probably. But you can’t lose by 29 points to the Jacksonville Jaguars. That offensive line is truly swiss cheese, and is really getable, no matter how good the defense may be playing at any time. This is dangerous territory to be in with Todd Bowles and company coming to town.

15) Pittsburgh Steelers (6-4) (+1)

Guys, Aaron Rodgers is questionable to play against the Bears…the Ravens are sneaking up. It’s starting to get dicy in the Steel city.

16) Chicago Bears (7-3) (+1)

Don’t look now, but the Chicago Bears are on top of the NFC North. Can Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson stay on top? It’s going to be fun to see…

17) Jacksonville Jaguars (6-4) (+2)

Well, hello there, Jacksonville. An absolutely sensational showing from the Jags throttling the Chargers, and there’s another chance at solidifying their dominance against the Cardinals on Sunday.

18) Houston Texans (5-5) (even)

Scraping out a last-second win against this Tennessee Titans team is not the kind of performance this team needs if it’s going to continue to jockey for a wild-card spot. But with C.J. Stroud on his way back soon, all Houston has to do is weather the storm until he returns.

19) Carolina Panthers (6-5) (+1)

The Panthers are closing the gap on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South, and they have a perfect opportunity to announce they mean business against the San Francisco 49ers on Monday Night Football.

20) Minnesota Vikings (4-6) (-5)

It’s time to let the dream go with Minnesota. They don’t have the juice with “Nine” under center. At least not yet. And that’s a shame given the clear ‘win-now’ state of this roster.

21) Dallas Cowboys (4-5-1) (+2)

Well, that was certainly a statement, albeit against the Las Vegas Raiders. The Cowboys aren’t necessarily a playoff team, nor a team that should be looked at with playoff implications, but they are going to be a tough out and I hope Philadelphia understands that this week.

22) Miami Dolphins (4-7) (+1)

For a season that once felt lost, the Dolphins have shown some true fight these past few weeks. This last game against the Commanders was ugly, but hey, a win is a win.

23) Washington Commanders (3-8) (-2)

Jayden Daniels hasn’t played since the beginning of this month and it feels like it. This team is missing that dynamic element to the offense and the defense is downright atrocious.

24) Arizona Cardinals (3-7) (-2)

Being the little brother in a division as stacked as the NFC West is not a good feeling. The Cardinals are going to have some real existential concerns to deal with as the offseason approaches.

25) Cincinnati Bengals (3-7) (+1)

Despite getting embarrassed by the Steelers, there is at least a semblance of life to this organization, unlike the one they jumped this week. This is more a testament to how nasty the bottom quarter of the league looks right about now.

26) Atlanta Falcons (3-7) (-1)

Welcome back to the basement, Falcons fans. Penix is out, Drake is out this week, and now Billy Bowman has an Achilles injury to add on to things we’re not looking forward to this hate week. This has been a season from hell, and it has never been more over.

27) New York Giants (2-9) (+1)

We had the most Jameis game on Sunday, and I loved every bit of it. Now, we get to see him against another stout Detroit Lions defense, and we are all blessed to have the opportunity to.

28) Las Vegas Raiders (2-8) (-1)

Not a great showing against the Cowboys, but maybe a game against the Shedeur Sanders-led Cleveland Browns can lift your spirits? Maybe?

29) New York Jets (2-8) (even)

You’re headed to Baltimore, and the Ravens are looking to go on a run for the AFC North crown, just don’t embarrass yourselves. Let’s keep it a game until the end of the third, at least.