The Falcons have started to regain some respect as they head into the final week of the regular season. NFL.com has the Falcons ranked the highest at No. 1 with Bleacher Report putting the Falcons at No. 5:

NFL.com Power Rankings – “Roddy White was due for a big outing. Three of his previous four games coming into the Saturday night special in Detroit had been disappointing, but he was on point at Ford Field, hauling in eight balls for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Speaking of on point, Matt Ryan played at such a high level that general faith in the Atlanta Falcons must have risen a tick.” This Week: 1; Last Week: 2

NFL.com Week 15 Power Poll – The Falcons have vaulted back into the top 2, sitting behind the Broncos among the 13 NFL.com and NFL Network experts. This Week: 2; Last Week: 5

ESPN.com Power Rankings – “Matt Ryan completed all seven play-action attempts with three TDs against the Lions.” This Week: 2; Last Week: 5

CBSSports.com Power Rankings – “Has any top seed received as much scrutiny as the Falcons? It’s time to realize they are legit.” This Week: 2; Last Week: 2

Bleacher Report Power Rankings – “In a week when the Atlanta Falcons had lost the public vote for the best team in the NFC, they went out and won. Again. With 13 wins, the Falcons have the best record in the NFL. Critics will wisely point out that the best record in the regular season means nothing once the playoffs start. I agree, but that doesn’t mean we should all jump on the Falcons and overlook their success this season. The goal is to win a Super Bowl, and having the best record is a big help in getting there. Home-field advantage, a bye week to rest and recover and the benefit of never having to travel are all major advantages, and if the Falcons do their jobs next week, that’s all theirs.” This Week: 5; Last Week: 6

Pro Football Talk: – “In less than three weeks, we’ll find out whether this Falcons team really is different.” This Week: 2; Last Week: 3