At times this year, Atlanta has looked like a playoff-caliber team — and it did for spurts last Sunday against a good opponent. A lack of three-phase consistency, though, has prevented the Falcons from truly ascending, and their recent play has them moving in the wrong direction.
“It’s frustrating, you know,” Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss said. “I know this is a very capable team — us. I know we’re talented. I know we’ve got coaches that work extremely hard and put good game plans together, and we got players that can go out and execute. But right now, it’s just not happening consistently enough. So, it stings. It hurts.”
The Falcons own wins against three 2024 playoff teams, including two that went to their respective conference’s championship game. Yet, their six losses overshadow those moments of brilliance and have the Falcons in a precarious spot with eight games remaining on the schedule.
According to Stats Perform, only 10 teams since the NFL postseason era began in 1933 have started the year 3-6 or worse and continued playing after the regular season. The Athletic’s 2025 NFL Playoff Simulator currently gives Atlanta a 5% chance at reaching the postseason.
Interestingly enough, these are not uncharted waters for Falcons head coach Raheem Morris.
In Morris’ final year as defensive coordinator for the Los Angeles Rams, he helped the team rally from a 3-6 start to the 2023 season to go 7-1 down the stretch and reach the postseason. He was also part of the now-famous 2012 Washington Commanders staff as the secondary coach, when they regrouped for a flawless 7-0 finish after a 3-6 start to make the playoffs.
“We’ll be detailed. We’ll be sharp. We’ll practice,” Morris said of how his group will handle this loss. “The guys do the right thing like they always do. They’ll respond. We’ll find a way to win this game next week.”