Niner Noise
FanSided

NFL power rankings: Close isn’t enough for 49ers entering Week 5

By Peter Panacy

CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: D.J. Reed #32 of the San Francisco 49ers fumbles the ball during a kick return as he is tackled by Michael Davis #43 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter of the game at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
CARSON, CA - SEPTEMBER 30: D.J. Reed #32 of the San Francisco 49ers fumbles the ball during a kick return as he is tackled by Michael Davis #43 of the Los Angeles Chargers during the fourth quarter of the game at StubHub Center on September 30, 2018 in Carson, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /
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ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
ATLANTA, GA – SEPTEMBER 30: Head coach Dan Quinn of the Atlanta Falcons during the fourth quarter against the Cincinnati Bengals at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on September 30, 2018 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) /

44. . L, 37-36 vs. Bengals. Previous: . Atlanta Falcons. 17. team

Gosh, the Atlanta Falcons sure feel better than a 1-3 team. But as the Hall of Famer Bill Parcells once noted, your record is the exact indication of who you are.

So, one should assume, the Falcons are a 1-3 team after suffering a heartbreaking back-and-forth loss to the Cincinnati Bengals at home in Week 4.

Quarterback Matt Ryan was awesome — better than the Bengals’ Andy Dalton, for sure — after tossing well over 400 yards and three touchdowns against zero interceptions. And it’s been thrilling to watch rookie wide receiver Calvin Ridley emerge as the perfect threat to complement the always-dangerous Julio Jones.

Ridley added two touchdowns to his already-impressive first-year campaign.

But penalties, an inconsistent pass rush and a problematic secondary did little good in head coach Dan Quinn’s efforts to get the Falcons back to the .500 mark. Granted, this side of the ball has been ravaged by injuries. Yet the depth hasn’t been adequate, though, and that’s an issue.

It’s way too early to panic about Atlanta, but this is about as bad a start to the season this team could have experienced.