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2017 NFL Power Rankings Summary - Wild Card Round
| Average ranking (# of rankings) | 4.50 (6) |
|---|---|
| Average ranking (# of rankings) | 4.50 (6) |
| Average change from last week | +0.33 |
| Highest ranking (source) | 4th (multiple sources) |
| Lowest ranking (source) | 5th (multiple sources) |
| Biggest positive change (source) | +2 (CBS) |
| Biggest negative change (source) | -1 (ESPN) |
SB Nation: 5th (last week: 5th)
Of the six teams in the NFC half of the playoff bracket, Atlanta is the only one that was there a year ago. Unlike last season — when they earned a first-round bye — the Falcons will need to win road games to get back to the Super Bowl.
But they’re a win over the Rams away from a matchup with the Eagles, who don’t look scary at all without Carson Wentz. The Falcons spent 2017 trying to forget about the Super Bowl loss of last year, but that experience could prove useful now.
The Rams finished first in scoring after finishing last in 2016, becoming just the second team to complete that turnaround according to the Elias Sports Bureau (the first was the 1965 49ers). What makes that even more impressive is the Rams played a group of opponents who finished the season above .500.
The Rams rested everybody on Sunday, or at least it felt that way when watching Tavon Austin drop a ball thrown right in his hands. Oh, wait -- he plays regularly. Sorry. Anyway, Sean Mannion got the call from Sean McVay. The kid owns a live arm, as well as live inaccuracy. Which is of no matter now, as the Rams prepare to host their first NFL postseason game in Southern California since the 1985 Divisional Round. Remember that game well ... as a childhood Cowboys fan, I thought Dallas could go into Anaheim Stadium and steal a road win from John Robinson's team. Yep, so the Rams won 20-nothing while Eric Dickerson busted Tom Landry's defense for 248 yards on the ground. TWO HUNDRED FORTY-EIGHT. L.A. quarterback Dieter Brock went 6 of 22 for 50 yards, and the Rams still won by three scores. Unbelievable. Jared Goff will fare better. Much, much better. Think 148 will be enough for current running back Todd Gurley, much less 248.
CBS Sports: 5th (7th)
They rested guys against the 49ers to get ready for the playoffs. Now they will face a tough challenge in the 2016 NFC-champion Atlanta Falcons.
Yahoo! Sports: N/A (2nd)
Pro Football Talk: N/A (7th)
Sports Illustrated’s MMQB: 4th (5th)
USA Today: 4th (4th)
It's been 39 years since they last hosted playoff game in L.A. Coliseum. Hopefully Saturday goes better than their 28-0 loss to Dallas in 1979.