14. Washington Commanders, 2-5-1
For the second season in a row, the Washington Commanders aren't going to make the playoffs and are dealing with injuries. Quarterback Jayden Daniels missed some time earlier this year and appears to be a QB who might have to re-prove himself in 2027 and beyond.
It doesn't feel like Washington is going to rush to give him an extension, and, beyond that, we could be approaching a major coaching change, as this franchise has regressed each year following Dan Quinn's first season on the job back in 2024, which was clearly a bit of an outlier season.
All in all, even in the weak NFC East, the Commanders could not be less of a threat. They're poorly coached, have a shaky roster, and just don't really do anything well. There was a ton of optimism with this team following that 2024 season, but, even with a likely franchise QB in the building, the Commanders continue to get in their own way.
13. Atlanta Falcons, 3-6
Coming in at No. 13 in our power rankings, the Atlanta Falcons are now going in the opposite direction after some encouraging play from Michael Penix Jr earlier this year. Penix has thrown five interceptions over the past two weeks, and the Falcons are now 1-4 over the last five games after an encouraging 2-0 start in Penix's first games of the season.
The Falcons also traded stud safety Jesse Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars, so it's clear this team isn't necessarily trying to make a run at the NFC South title this year. All in all, though, Penix certainly hasn't been bad, and there is a sliver of optimism still present, but erasing this losing streak is paramount, as the NFC South is still wide open.
However, this team isn't doing anything to warrant a higher ranking at the moment.
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