Last week: 2 (-1)

Record: 6-0

I know what you’re thinking. Atlanta is the last undefeated team in the NFL. Why are they #3? Well, they simply haven’t been impressive enough. They haven’t beaten a single team with a winning record. They’ve won their last 3 games by a touchdown or fewer against teams that aren’t very good, with the exception of maybe Washington. If Carolina wasn’t so poor in late game situations, and Robert Griffin didn’t get hurt, and Billy Cundiff didn’t exist, and Carson Palmer didn’t threw that ridiculous pick 6, they’d be 3-3 right now. I’m not saying they deserve to be a 3-3 team, but they’ve hardly been impressive recently.

Some say they “know how to win.” I say that’s bullshit. Everyone knows how to know. It’s all about execution and in the last 3 weeks, the Falcons have executed just well enough to barely beat 3 teams that probably won’t make the playoffs. Maybe they’re better than Houston, who, spoiler alert, is my #2 team, but I needed one team from each conference in the top-2 and I think there’s one team better than Atlanta in the NFC.

Studs

RE John Abraham: 3 sacks and 4 quarterback hurries on 25 pass rush snaps, 1 batted pass, 3 solo tackles, 5 stops, 1 missed tackle

Duds

RB Michael Turner: Rushed for 33 yards (14 yards after contact) on 11 carries, caught 1 pass for 6 yards on 1 attempt

RG Garret Reynolds: Allowed 3 quarterback hits and 2 quarterback hurries on 41 pass block snaps, run blocked for 8 yards

RT Tyson Clabo: Allowed 1 quarterback hit and 3 quarterback hurries on 41 pass block snaps, 2 penalties

FS Thomas DeCoud: Allowed 2 catches for 32 yards on 4 attempts, 1 pass deflection, 5 solo tackles, 1 stop, 4 missed tackles

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