Photos: Ups and downs of Falcons' 50th season

Atlanta Falcons

The 50th year of the Super Bowl is also the Falcons' 50th season as a franchise (1965). Here: noteworthy moments from the team's Golden Jubilee

Before the 50th season even started, the Falcons made an announcement about season 52, and no, it wasn't about the steakhouse. Pictured here on Aug. 24, 2015, Falcons owner Arthur Blank reveals that the team's world-class stadium opening in 2017 will bear the name of luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz. The agreement, which continues through 2042, includes official naming rights and other partnership benefits. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. KENT D. JOHNSON /KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

The Falcons hired Dan Quinn after his second consecutive Super Bowl appearance as the Seattle Seahawks' defensive coordinator. The anticipation reached a peak when the NFL announced his first game would be under the bright lights of Monday Night Football. To mark the occasion, Dan Quinn’s brothers, mom, and sister (from left) Tim Quinn, Sue Quinn, Mary Beth, Bryan Quinn and Pete Quinn were on the sidelines for his first NFL game as a head coach against the Eagles on Sept. 14, 2015, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

Falcons head coach Dan Quinn celebrates winning his first NFL game as a head coach with General Manager Thomas Dimitroff after beating the Eagles 26-24 during their Monday Night Football game on Monday, Sept. 14, 2015, in Atlanta. Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com

A photo doesn't do it justice, but Julio Jones, while sideways, made a catch literally on top of a Giants defender during Week 2 of season 50. The catch went from his hand to his shoulder and chest before he secured it while on his back. (Photo by Alex Goodlett/Getty Images)

The Falcons, who had especially struggled against the Giants in NY/NJ, looked like they were going to lose again when facing a deficit late in the fourth quarter of a Week 2 showdown. Down 3 with just a few minutes to go, Matt Ryan tossed a Hail Mary that landed perfectly in a basket made by a (wide open) Jones. He rolled into the end zone only to be down by contact at the 1 after review. The catch allowed the Falcons to score a go-ahead touchdown shortly after and start the season 2-0. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

In just the third game of their 50th season, the Falcons made NFL history by becoming the first team to start 3-0 after trailing in the fourth quarter of every game. Against the Cowboys, the Falcons used three touchdowns from Devonta Freeman (soon to be repeated) and another monster game from Julio Jones for the win. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images)

Devonta Freeman's first start in the NFL came one week prior. The three touchdowns he scored in that game were no fluke, as Freeman again ran for a hat trick of scores when the Falcons dominated the Houston Texans at home in Week 4. His seven touchdowns in the first four weeks has only been done once before, by former NFL MVP LaDanian Tomlinson (who started the 2005 season with eight TDs). In this photo, Freeman celebrates his first of three touchdowns on the day. Click here for more on how the Falcons got to 4-0 in season 50. (Curtis Compton / ccompton@ajc.com)

Dan Quinn's mark on the defense announced its arrival when Robert Alford intercepted a pass from Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins in overtime and ran it back for a touchdown.

The only highlight from the Falcons' first loss of the season, which came against New Orleans.

During a road win against the Tennessee Titans, Matt Ryan became the fifth fastest and fourth-youngest quarterback to pass for 30,000 yards, according to ESPN. (Photo by Wesley Hitt/Getty Images)

Despite losing to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in OT in the eighth game of the season, the Falcons never punted once the entire game, which was a franchise first. "Punter Matt Bosher didn't exactly have the day off. He’s also the holder and the kickoff specialists. He booted six kickoffs into the endzone for touchbacks."

A questionable call to kick a field goal instead of going for a touchdown from their own red zone despite being down by four late in the fourth quarter ultimately proved costly during a game in which the San Francisco 49ers started Blaine Gabbert, then an un-materialized top draft pick from Jacksonville. Gabbert came to life with two touchdowns during the 49ers' 17-16 win.

Heading into the season, the Falcons had one of the easiest schedules in the league. That seemed to be the case even more so when Andrew Luck was ruled out for the Indianapolis Colts' showdown with Atlanta, yet a costly and questionable interception - by the Falcons' Matt Ryan - led to the team's third consecutive loss.

Despite subpar performances, the Falcons had the league's number one rushing defense before hosting the Vikings. The reign was short-lived as Adrian Peterson ran for 158 yards and two touchdowns at the Georgia Dome in a 20-10 Vikings win.

Not long after stealing a game in Atlanta, Jameis Winston and the Buccaneers outplayed the Falcons in Tampa, handing the Dirty Birds their fifth consecutive loss.

The Falcons were throttled 38-0 by the undefeated Carolina Panthers, who advanced to 13-0 after dismantling Atlanta. It was a game the Falcons hardly seemed prepared for, as Carolina opened the game with a 21-point first quarter.

It took nearly two months for the Falcons to win their seventh game after starting the season 5-0. The win - hardly a masterpiece - came at the expense of the Jaguars and kept the Falcons' playoffs hopes alive, albeit by the most outside of scenarios. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)

One day after the Falcons ended a 6-game losing streak, Arthur Blank announced he hired Steve Cannon, the president and chief executive officer of Mercedes-Benz USA, to become CEO of AMB Group, the parent company of the Falcons, the new Atlanta United professional soccer team and Blank’s other businesses.

Julio Jones leaps over Carolina Panthers' LB Luke Kuechly for a spectacular catch that resulted in a 70-yard touchdown.

Carolina Panthers quarterback looks on as Falcons players celebrate a 20-13, ending Carolina's bid at a perfect season.

Falcons owner Arthur Blank embraces QB Matt Ryan after the team pulls off an upset by ending the Panthers' bid for a perfect season that was also a reply to a 38-0 defeat to the same team in Charlotte two weeks prior.

While playoffs were no longer a possibility, the Falcons' last game of the season still meant something because it was against their arch rival, the New Orleans Saints. A fast game ended with a Matt Ryan interception inside 2 minutes (pictured) and led to a game-winning Saints field goal as time expired.

Falcons fans react to a scenario that they had witnessed multiple times this season, except this time there was no next game to get over it.

The Falcons ended the season 8-8 and 1-5 in their division. Here, equipment is shown as the Falcons clear out their locker rooms at the team's Flowery Branch headquarters.

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Before the 50th season even started, the Falcons made an announcement about season 52, and no, it wasn't about the steakhouse. Pictured here on Aug. 24, 2015, Falcons owner Arthur Blank reveals that the team's world-class stadium opening in 2017 will bear the name of luxury automaker Mercedes-Benz. The agreement, which continues through 2042, includes official naming rights and other partnership benefits. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed. KENT D. JOHNSON /KDJOHNSON@AJC.COM

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