We're just two games into the NFL season, but it seems like the Atlanta Falcons have found the remedy for the Super Bowl hangover.
It's called having a damn good team.
Since they blew the 25-point lead to the New England Patriots in the Super Bowl last February, all we've heard about was how they would have problems responding to that loss.
As a team, they did a lot of things to overcome it, including training with Navy Seals, having head coach Dan Quinn reach out to a lot of coaches in other sports who had those types of losses, and having their MVP quarterback go into a funk for two weeks before snapping out of it.
It all seems to have worked.
The Falcons blew out the injury-plagued Green Bay Packers Sunday night to stake a claim as the best team in the NFC, and right now the top team in my Power Rankings.
I thought all summer that the Falcons would have no issues bouncing back from the loss in large part because I thought their team would be much improved on defense. The offense can still be a points machine, which we saw glimpses of Sunday night, but it's that defense that will make this team better -- and a real threat to get back to the Super Bowl.
Against the Packers, the Falcons had three sacks and two takeaways, returning one for a touchdown, while showing off their defensive strength. Corner Desmond Trufant, who didn't play in the playoffs last season after being lost with a shoulder injury, got the touchdown on a fumble recovery and also had an interception of Aaron Rodgers.
The rest of the defense is playing much faster, mainly because they are a year older. This was a defense that started four rookies in the Super Bowl.
So about that Super Bowl hangover, you can forget about it. Being good, which the Falcons are again, is a cure for it.
| Rk | Teams | Chg | Rcrd |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | 7-10-0 | |
They still haven't quite clicked on offense yet, but it's coming. When it does, watch out.
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| 2 | 1 | 10-7-0 | |
Here's another team that hasn't been as good as expected on offense. Maybe Le'Veon Bell missing the preseason matters now.
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| 3 | 1 | 11-6-0 | |
This team is for real, which I didn't expect. They have two victories over two good teams. Watch out in Los Angeles this week.
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| 4 | 1 | 4-13-0 | |
That team we saw in New Orleans is the one we expected to see all season. The defense made big strides.
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| 5 | 4 | 9-8-0 | |
The injuries are really starting to pile up. It would be nice to see this team at full strength.
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| 6 | 1 | 8-9-0 | |
That offense is going to put up a ton of points. It must be nice to have one of the league's best offensive lines.
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| 7 | 5 | 8-9-0 | |
If Trevor Siemian keeps it going, they will be a deep playoff team. But now they have to play their first road game at Buffalo.
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| 8 | 2 | 9-8-0 | |
The defense was impressive against the Bears, which could make this team even better than expected.
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| 9 | 1 | 9-8-0 | |
Where is the offense? It can't do much without an offensive line. Chris Carson did give them some hope in the fourth quarter running the football.
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| 10 | 1 | 12-5-0 | |
Winning on the road against the Giants Monday night is a good sign. That defense is much improved over a year ago.
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| 11 | -- | 11-6-0 | |
That was a big-time win on the road after dealing with a lot of issues the past few weeks. Jay Cutler did some good things in that victory.
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| 12 | 6 | 12-5-0 | |
The loafing in the blowout loss to the Broncos was not a good look. Neither was Jason Garrett putting the offensive issues on Dak Prescott.
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| 13 | 2 | 2-15-0 | |
The defense is off to a fast start, but Cam Newton hasn't looked himself throwing it. Maybe that shoulder is still an issue.
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| 14 | 2 | 13-4-0 | |
The defense is playing great football, and taking it away. They haven't played good offenses yet, and won't this week against Jacksonville.
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| 15 | 2 | 11-6-0 | |
The defense has impressed in the first two weeks. The front four is nasty.
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| 16 | 2 | 7-10-0 | |
I didn't think they would win at Pittsburgh with a healthy Sam Bradford, but now his knee might be an issue going forward. That's not good.
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| 17 | 2 | 4-13-0 | |
They haven't looked good the first two weeks, but now come home for a big one against Dallas. They had five offensive starters out last week against the Colts.
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| 18 | 3 | 6-11-0 | |
The Titans were staring 0-2 in the face, but had a big second half against the Jaguars to get back on track. They looked like the team we expected to see before the season.
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| 19 | 6 | 4-13-0 | |
They ran all over the Rams, which is a good sign for the offense. Now they have to amp up the passing game.
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| 20 | 2 | 10-7-0 | |
What happened to the defense? Wasn't Aaron Donald back for this one? It wasn't good.
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| 21 | 1 | 5-12-0 | |
The same old song: Losing close games. When does it end?
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| 22 | 5 | 6-11-0 | |
The offensive line is killing this team. They have a survival game this week at Philadelphia.
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| 23 | 1 | 9-8-0 | |
The offense is pedestrian, which is why the defense will be stressed all season long. They have to be able to throw it better.
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| 24 | 1 | 10-7-0 | |
Deshaun Watson did some good things with his legs against the Bengals, but he has to be better throwing it.
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| 25 | 2 | 11-6-0 | |
Their offense has to improve. They didn't do anything against the Panthers. LeSean McCoy needs more touches than what he got against Carolina.
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| 26 | -- | 9-8-0 | |
The defense is the same as always: Horrible. Do they cover anybody?
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| 27 | 3 | 9-8-0 | |
It's now eight quarters being shutout. Do they really think a change in coordinators will matter? The line stinks.
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| 28 | -- | 11-6-0 | |
DeShone Kizer will have growing pains like he did against the Ravens. It happens to rookie passers. This is a learning year.
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| 29 | -- | 7-10-0 | |
Why don't they just play Mitchell Trubisky? It's clear they aren't going anywhere.
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| 30 | -- | 9-8-0 | |
They competed against the Cardinals, which is an improvement. Andrew Luck is sorely missed.
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| 31 | -- | 12-5-0 | |
They ran the ball well against Seattle, so they have that to build on. The passing game has to be better.
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| 32 | -- | 7-10-0 | |
They make so many mistakes. It's going to be a long, long season.
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