Need More Explosive Plays
Both sides still need work for Atlanta. The offense wants to establish an outside-zone and play-action offense, with Bijan Robinson as the focal point. The defense wants to establish a split-safety scheme.
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Atlanta Falcons 2026 Team Rankings and Ratings
PFM Archetype
No Soft Spot, No Superpower
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76.6PFM Team Scorei
PFM Verdict
Why PFM Ranks the Falcons Here
The offense can control early downs through Bijan Robinson and the run game and create defined play-action throws. The defense has a back-end eraser in Jessie Bates III. Atlanta sits in the lower half because quarterback health is unsettled and the pass rush still does not finish enough plays without help.
NFL Rank#22Current PFM ranking
NFC Rank#12Among NFC teams
QB Stability#22Tua Tagovailoa · QB Limbo
Season OutlookIn the Playoff Mix
Head coachKevin Stefanski
Offensive coordinatorTommy Rees
Defensive coordinatorJeff Ulbrich
PFM Team DNA
View all NFL team rankingsAtlanta Falcons Team DNA
Quarterback Floor
Kevin Stefanski is the swing factor. The staff has to solve quarterback health and a pass rush that still has to prove it can finish plays. Kevin Stefanski took over and Atlanta added Tagovailoa while Michael Penix Jr. continued his recovery.
Kevin Stefanski Has to Settle Atlanta’s Quarterback Job
Stefanski owns the 20th-ranked coaching grade while Tua Tagovailoa and Michael Penix Jr. give Atlanta two very different paths. The offense needs a clear answer before the competition starts shaping every week.
Atlanta’s Quarterback Situation Still Carries a Health Question
Tua Tagovailoa can make the offense work off Bijan Robinson, but the 22nd-ranked setup remains fragile when protection or durability becomes the story.
PFM ROAD AHEAD
2026 Atlanta Falcons Strength of Schedule
Atlanta has one of the league’s more favorable schedules at No. 25, with opponents averaging 78.8. Kansas City Chiefs, Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions still give the schedule a real test, but 3 games against current top-10 teams keep the full road from looking as heavy as most.
Difficulty Rank#25No. 1 is toughest
Opponent PFM Avg.78.8Average across opponents
Next 3 Avg.78.4Upcoming opponents
Top-10 Matchups3Games vs. current top 10
Away games left8
Away opponent average76.7
at Pittsburgh Steelers79.1 PFM · #18
Sep 13 · 1:00 pmAway
vs. Carolina Panthers72.3 PFM · #29
Sep 20 · 1:00 pmHomeBottom 10
at Green Bay Packers83.8 PFM · #13
Sep 24 · 8:15 pmAway
Toughest remaining opponent: 
Kansas City Chiefs at 87.2 PFM.
PFM Reporter
Falcons go all-in on Kyle Pitts
Atlanta and Pitts have agreed to a three-year $54 million extension that keeps him locked up for the foreseeable future. This contract sets the mark for the largest TE deal in league history. Now Pitts has to back this up on the field and become more consistent.
Analysis updatedJune 23, 2026
Around the League
League Context
Closest Team DNA Match
Built Like Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Tampa Bay BuccaneersMatch distance: 2.11 rating points
Shared profile: Defense and Roster Strength.
Atlanta gets pressure without heavy blitzing from coverage and the defensive front, while Tampa Bay uses coverage and the defensive front to disguise pressure by changing fronts. Defensive Rating and Roster Strength line up because the front has help behind it and the lineup can survive when the preferred matchup disappears. The clear separation is QB Stability, where Tampa Bay has the steadier answer on difficult downs.
Where they separate: QB Stability. Buccaneers hold the stronger current rating.
Division Pressure
NFC South
Tampa Bay remains the most proven obstacle in the NFC South. Atlanta can stay in the race by controlling early downs with Robinson, creating defined play-action throws and keeping the quarterback out of long-yardage situations. The remaining problem is quarterback health and a pass rush that still has to prove it can finish plays.
Supporting Team Information
More About the Team
Atlanta Falcons in the Super Bowl Era
Atlanta has reached 2 Super Bowls and is still chasing its first win.
- Super Bowl Titles
- 0
- Super Bowl Appearances
- 2
- Super Bowl Record
- 0–2
- Last Appearance
- 2017 Super Bowl LI
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