While the New Orleans Saints have struggles of their own this season, it’s hard to ignore the type of year the Atlanta Falcons have had. After their last playoff appearance in 2012 that ended in blowing a 17-point fourth quarter lead, the Falcons turned in a 18-30 record from 2013-2015.
Head coach Mike Smith would be fired after going 6-10 in 2014, and enter Dan Quinn, a promising face hoping to revitalize the franchise after having much success in Seattle. The Falcons started hot, going 5-0 in 2015, but their Thursday Night Football loss to the Saints gave the team their first loss of the season and including that game they’d lose seven of their next eight games.