Atlanta Falcons must finish the season on positive note

Dec 13, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers wide receiver Ted Ginn, Jr (19) makes a reception and scores a touchdown during the first half of the game against the Atlanta Falcons at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports

2. The moment the Falcons hit rock bottom

It was always going to be extremely difficult to enter Bank of America Stadium and defeat the Carolina Panthers, but everyone hoped the Falcons would show some fight. I expected Dan Quinn to have his team pumped up and ready to go, but any hope of an upset seemed to be deflated when the Panthers marched down the field on their opening possession and put up seven.

But that wasn’t the defining moment. Even when Matt Bosher was lining up to punt, the Falcons still had plenty of time remaining to get settled. Bosher pinned the Panthers back on their own 7-yard line, and there was a tiny momentum shift that came along with it. If the Falcons could force a stop, they could get the ball back with good field position.

Then came the dagger. It took just three plays for Cam Newton to move the offense 93 yards for a 14-0 lead. He found Ted Ginn Jr. for a 74-yard touchdown. That was the end. Despite it only being a two possession game inside the first quarter, there was no way the Falcons were going to come back from this.

On October 4, Terron Ward ran in an 8-yard touchdown to put the Falcons 48-0 up against the Houston Texans. Atlanta was heading to 4-0 and expectations were rising. Little did we know, Ward’s touchdown was the peak of the 2015 season. Since then, the performances have declined dramatically.

With Ginn’s touchdown, the floodgates were opened. The Falcons had hit rock bottom.

Next: Bucs fall short