Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Breaking down all 32 teams’ standings in Week 14

By Peter Panacy

ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 3: Dion Dawkins #73 of the Buffalo Bills shakes hands with Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots after a game on December 3, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images)
ORCHARD PARK, NY - DECEMBER 3: Dion Dawkins #73 of the Buffalo Bills shakes hands with Tom Brady #12 of the New England Patriots after a game on December 3, 2017 at New Era Field in Orchard Park, New York. (Photo by Brett Carlsen/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 03: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons is tackled by Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – DECEMBER 03: Matt Ryan #2 of the Atlanta Falcons is tackled by Anthony Barr #55 of the Minnesota Vikings during the second half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on December 3, 2017 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

Atlanta Falcons. 9. team. 44. . L, 14-9 vs. Vikings. Previous:

The Atlanta Falcons drop a few spots in our NFL power rankings after their offense went anemic at home against the defensively tough Minnesota Vikings.

And with both the Carolina Panthers and New Orleans Saints — both ahead of Atlanta in the NFC South — squaring off against each other, the Falcons needed to win this game to keep pace in what has become a tough division.

But that didn’t happen, as Atlanta managed just 275 yards of offense. Quarterback Matt Ryan wasn’t much of a factor, and wide receiver Julio Jones had just two catches for 24 yards

Hardly a factor either.

Strangely enough, the Falcons could have gone for it on fourth down late in the fourth quarter, as they were trailing by five points. Instead, head coach Dan Quinn had kicker attempt a field goal from 45 yards out. He missed, and that pretty much wrapped things up in this head scratcher.

The Falcons are still in the hunt, but this loss hurts in a big way.