Technically, the Falcons still have to play three more games, but they have arrived at the abyss a little ahead of schedule. With a 20-17 loss to the Chargers where they failed to score a single second half point, failed to take advantage of a mighty predictable Los Angeles gameplan, and endured some of the most boneheaded throws of Matt Ryan’s long and mostly successful career, Atlanta’s hit the lowest point of the season even if they lose the next three games against the excellent Chiefs and playoff-bound Buccaneers.
This colossal, clunky failure happened to coincide with the team being officially eliminated from the playoffs, which felt like the cosmic justice their unspeakably terrible second half effort deserved.