Regular season grades for every NFL team
. 8-8. 2nd NFC South. Atlanta Falcons. D. player. 44
The Atlanta Falcons started the 2015 regular season at 5-0 and then moved onto 6-1. At that point in the year, there were many people who would have looked at the way Matt Ryan, Julio Jones, and the emerging Devonta Freeman were playing and how new head coach Dan Quinn had the defense playing and would’ve said that this Falcons team was one of the best in the NFL. As it turns out, that couldn’t be further from the truth about this Atlanta team.
The Falcons followed up their 6-1 start with six consecutive losses, including three losses to teams that finished with records below .500. They salvaged their record and season somewhat over their last three games of the year by winning two out of their last three and by handing the Carolina Panthers their first loss of the season, though they did lose to the New Orleans Saints for the second time this year in Week 17 to ultimately finish 8-8.
Considering how far they fell and, largely, how terribly they choked throughout the heart of the regular season, this Falcons team can only be construed as a disappointment in 2015. They performed well below their potential when they couldn’t afford to and are on the outside of the postseason because of it. They weren’t a total failure, but they were close.
Next: Baltimore Ravens