1. Atlanta's road loss to New Orleans
This was the first hint that Atlanta's season could tilt in the wrong direction. The Falcons had a perfect division record and were looking to move to 5-0 within the division giving themselves a huge cushion. Win this game and you're going to be able to coast the rest of the season. New Orleans was on a losing streak and had just fired head coach Dennis Allen. Atlanta only needed to get to 21 points to win this game and continually Cousins made mistakes.
Atlanta's first hint that the quarterback running out of gas was in this game. Kirk's turnovers and lack of confidence were glaring with the Saints begging the Falcons to take control of this game. Over and over the Falcons were handed the ball needing just one drive to put themselves back in control and survive the worst offensive game of the season.
These are the type of games in which true playoff teams won't fumble away. Even when things are ugly and the team is in their own way, one final drive gets the job done. Atlanta was unable to do this and would be blown off the field in Denver the very next week.
2. Atlanta's loss to the Chargers
Two weeks later the Falcons had lost a heartbreaking game to the Saints and gotten demolished by the Broncos. There was never a hint the game in Denver was going to be close and the Falcons were very quickly put out of their misery. With the Bucs closing in on the division lead the Falcons needed this game to maintain their spot and put confidence back in a team that had fallen nearly to .500 after a great start.
Another moment when it became so clear the team could no longer rely on Kirk Cousins. Jim Harbaugh's plan was very simple, make Cousins beat you with his arm. The veteran coach watched the Denver and New Orleans games and saw what the Falcons wouldn't admit.
Still, this was a four-point game the Falcons were given every chance to flip. It could be argued this was the best defensive game of the season when you consider the stakes. The pass rush was better than usual and Atlanta limited the Chargers to 17 points. You held Justin Herbert under twenty and still didn't find a way to win the game. This was the moment when it became clear the Falcons were Falconing.
3. Atlanta blows their last chance
Even after an awful losing streak and refusing to turn to Michael Penix Jr. the Falcons were given a second chance. After beating the Giants, the Falcons were given back the division lead. Cooper Rush and the Dallas defense played one of their best games of the season against Tampa Bay. The Bucs fumbled the lead and all Atlanta needed to do is win out to take the division and host a playoff game.
While Penix was in the lineup at this point the quarterback needed more runway. Making the most of the reps he did have the quarterback still found a way to make plays when the team needed it most. Raheem Morris deserves the bulk of the blame for how this one played out.
The issues calling timeouts have been well-covered so there isn't a reason to revisit it here. Morris made key mistakes and the Falcons would lose their final chance at a playoff berth in overtime. Jayden Daniels and Washington locked up their playoff spot and would eliminate the first team in what would be a truly impressive postseason run.
