Editing Atlanta Falcons (section)

==== Dan Quinn years (2015–2020) ====
[[File:Dan Quinn 2015 intro press conference.jpg|thumb|[[Dan Quinn (American football)|Dan Quinn]]]]
In February 2015, the team was investigated by the NFL for alleged use of [[artificial crowd noise]] in the Georgia Dome.<ref>{{cite news|last=Schefter|first=Adam|title=NFL investigating Atlanta Falcons for fake crowd noise at Georgia Dome|url=https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/12262464/nfl-investigating-atlanta-falcons-fake-crowd-noise-georgia-dome|work=ESPN|date=February 1, 2015|access-date=August 5, 2016|archive-date=April 29, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160429100321/http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12262464/nfl-investigating-atlanta-falcons-fake-crowd-noise-georgia-dome|url-status=live}}</ref> The Falcons lost a [[2016 NFL draft]] selection as a result of the league's investigation.<ref>{{cite web|last=Patra|first=Kevin|title=Atlanta Falcons lose 2016 pick for pumping fake noise|url=https://www.nfl.com/news/atlanta-falcons-lose-2016-pick-for-pumping-fake-noise-0ap3000000482500|website=National Football League|date=March 30, 2015|access-date=August 5, 2016|archive-date=August 12, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160812220806/http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000482500/article/atlanta-falcons-lose-2016-pick-for-pumping-fake-noise|url-status=live}}</ref>

Dan Quinn's first season saw a 5–0 start, the team's best start in four years. They would then struggle throughout the rest of the season by losing 8 of their last 11 games, resulting in an 8–8 record in the 2015 season.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atlanta Falcons 2015 Games and Schedule |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2015/gamelog/ |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> They did, however, give the Panthers their only regular-season loss. The Falcons used their first-round pick in the [[2016 NFL draft]] on safety [[Keanu Neal]] from the [[University of Florida]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Atlanta Falcons Draftees |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2016_draft.htm |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In the Falcons' 25th and final season in the Georgia Dome, Atlanta lost their week 1 game to the Buccaneers 24–31. The Falcons would then win their next four including one over the Panthers, when the franchise set new records: Matt Ryan threw for 503 yards, and Julio Jones caught 12 passes for 300 yards.<ref name="c681">{{cite web | last=McClure | first=Vaughn | title=Inside the record-setting numbers of Julio Jones, Matt Ryan | website=ESPN.com | date=2016-10-03 | url=https://www.espn.com/blog/atlanta-falcons/post/_/id/22849/inside-the-record-setting-numbers-of-julio-jones-matt-ryan#:~:text=And%20Ryan%20threw%20for%20a,same%20game%20in%20NFL%20history. | access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref> Beating the [[San Francisco 49ers]] 41–13 in Week 15, the Falcons improved to 9–5 and secured their first winning season since 2012. One week later, the Falcons defeated the Panthers in [[Charlotte, North Carolina]], and clinched their first NFC South division title since 2012. In their last regular-season game at the Georgia Dome, the Falcons defeated the [[New Orleans Saints]], and secured an 11–5 record and a first-round bye.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2016 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2016.htm |access-date=2024-08-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In the divisional round of the playoffs, Atlanta defeated the Seahawks 36–20 in the Georgia Dome, and hosted their last game at the Georgia Dome against the [[Green Bay Packers]] in the [[NFC Championship Game]] on January 22, 2017.<ref name="i265">{{cite web | title=Ryan leads Falcons to NFC title game, beating Seattle 36-20 | website=AP News | date=2017-01-15 | url=https://apnews.com/article/625572920a5f439b84aa202b07a5678b | access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref> The Falcons defeated the Packers 44–21 to advance to [[Super Bowl LI]] as the NFC champions.<ref name="p063">{{cite web | last=Newberry | first=Paul | title=Falcons head to Super Bowl after blowing out Packers 44-21 | website=AP News | date=2017-01-23 | url=https://apnews.com/falcons-head-to-super-bowl-after-blowing-out-packers-44-21-9a1e4bc98191411e850d7178ae83afc3 | access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref> Atlanta was up 28–3 late in the third quarter, and the [[New England Patriots]] scored 31 unanswered points, with the last 6 in the first-ever overtime in the Super Bowl. The Patriots' 25-point comeback was the largest in Super Bowl history.<ref>{{cite web|title=Patriots' Tom Brady earns 4th Super Bowl MVP trophy with epic comeback|url=http://sports.nbcsports.com/2017/02/05/patriots-tom-brady-earns-4th-super-bowl-mvp-trophy-with-epic-comeback/|website=NBC Sports|date=February 6, 2017|access-date=February 6, 2017|archive-date=February 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170206185538/http://sports.nbcsports.com/2017/02/05/patriots-tom-brady-earns-4th-super-bowl-mvp-trophy-with-epic-comeback/|url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2016, the Falcons scored 540 points in the regular season, the seventh-most in NFL history, tied with the [[Greatest Show on Turf]] (the [[2000 St. Louis Rams season|2000 St. Louis Rams]]).<ref>{{cite web|title=Falcons tied Greatest Show on Turf for record 7th most points scored ever|url=http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2017/1/2/14144812/falcons-greatest-show-on-turf-rams-7th-most-points-scored-ever-break-record-thats-a-lot-of-points|website=The Falcoholic|date=January 2, 2017|access-date=January 15, 2017|archive-date=January 18, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170118065859/http://www.thefalcoholic.com/2017/1/2/14144812/falcons-greatest-show-on-turf-rams-7th-most-points-scored-ever-break-record-thats-a-lot-of-points|url-status=live}}</ref> However, the Falcons defense gave up 406 points, 27th in the league.<ref>{{cite web|title=2016 Atlanta Falcons Statistics & Players|url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2016.htm|website=[[Pro-Football-Reference.com]]|access-date=January 15, 2017|archive-date=August 7, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170807022126/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2016.htm|url-status=live}}</ref>

The Falcons moved into their new home, the [[Mercedes-Benz Stadium]], this season.<ref name="m391">{{cite web | last=Moriarty | first=Morgan | title=Meet Atlanta's amazing new stadium, 2017's biggest college football stage | website=SBNation.com | date=2017-08-24 | url=http://www.sbnation.com/a/cfb-preview-2017/new-atlanta-stadium | access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref> Their first game ever played at the new stadium was a preseason loss to the [[Arizona Cardinals]]. The first regular-season game at the new stadium was a rematch of the 2016–17 NFC Championship, with Atlanta defeating Green Bay 34–23.<ref name="v944">{{cite web | last=Choate | first=Dave | title=Packers 23 final score: Atlanta bounces back behind Steve Sarkisian's explosive offense | website=The Falcoholic | date=2017-09-17 | url=https://www.thefalcoholic.com/2017/9/17/16320938/falcons-34-packers-23-final-score-atlanta-bounces-back-behind-steve-sarkisians-explosive-offense | access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref> Their first loss of the season was a 23–17 home defeat to the [[Buffalo Bills]] in week 4.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2017_games.htm |title=2017 Atlanta Falcons Schedule & Game Results |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en |access-date=December 10, 2017 |archive-date=December 10, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210072049/https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2017_games.htm |url-status=live }}</ref> The team returned to the playoffs with a 10–6 record (albeit with a third-place finish in the NFC South). The Falcons defeated the Los Angeles Rams 26–13 in the Wild Card round, but their 2017 season came to an end a week later in the Divisional Playoff round at the hands of the eventual Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles 15–10.<ref name="t115">{{cite web | last=Klein | first=Gary | title=Rams' season ends with a 26-13 loss to the playoff-tested Falcons in NFC wild-card game | website=Los Angeles Times | date=2018-01-07 | url=https://www.latimes.com/sports/rams/la-sp-rams-falcons-20180106-story.html | access-date=2024-07-24}}</ref><ref>{{cite web | last=Santoliquito | first=Joseph | title=Eagles Survive Atlanta, 15-10, To Advance To NFC Championship | website=CBS News - Philadelphia | date=2018-01-13 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/eagles-beat-atlanta-15-10/ | access-date=2024-07-24}}</ref> The 2018 and 2019 seasons saw the Falcons go 7–9 and miss the postseason both years.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2018 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2018.htm |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=2019 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2019.htm |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref>

In their first game with new uniforms, the Falcons lost to the Seattle Seahawks at home 38–25.<ref name="q087">{{cite web | agency=Associated Press | title=Falcons lose to Seahawks, Russell Wilson throws 4 touchdown passes | website=Tampa Bay Times | date=2020-09-13 | url=https://www.tampabay.com/sports/bucs/2020/09/13/falcons-lose-to-seahawks-wilson-throws-4-touchdown-passes/ | access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref> The Falcons then suffered comebacks made by both the Cowboys on the road (39–40) and then back in Atlanta against the Bears (26–30).<ref name="i971">{{cite web | last=Dixon | first=Schuyler | title=Cowboys' rally stuns Falcons 40-39 in McCarthy's home debut | website=San Diego Union-Tribune | date=2020-09-20 | url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2020/09/20/cowboys-rally-stuns-falcons-40-39-in-mccarthys-home-debut/ | access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref><ref name="u259">{{cite web | title=Another Falcons collapse: Foles' 3 TDs lead 30-26 Bears win | website=CBSSports.com|agency=Associated Press | date=2020-09-28 | url=https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/another-falcons-collapse-foles-3-tds-lead-30-26-bears-win/ | access-date=2024-08-02}}</ref> On October 11, after the team suffered a 23–16 loss at home against the Carolina Panthers and fell to 0–5, the Falcons announced the firings of Quinn and Dimitroff.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Schofield |first=Mark |date=October 11, 2020 |title=Report: Atlanta Falcons to move on from Dan Quinn |url=https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2020/10/11/report-atlanta-falcons-to-move-on-from-dan-quinn/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201027180711/https://touchdownwire.usatoday.com/2020/10/11/report-atlanta-falcons-to-move-on-from-dan-quinn/ |archive-date=October 27, 2020 |access-date=October 11, 2020 |website=Touchdown Wire|publisher=USA Today}}</ref> Defensive coordinator [[Raheem Morris]] took over for the rest of the season, leading the team to a 4–12 record.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2020 Atlanta Falcons Rosters, Stats, Schedule, Team Draftees, Injury Reports |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/2020.htm |access-date=2024-07-24 |website=[[Pro Football Reference]] |language=en}}</ref> Morris was not retained after the season, and soon joined the Los Angeles Rams as their defensive coordinator.<ref>{{cite web | title=Rams' defensive coordinator Raheem Morris hired as next head coach of Atlanta Falcons | website=CBS News - Los Angeles | date=2024-01-25 | url=https://www.cbsnews.com/losangeles/news/raheem-morris-hired-as-head-coach-by-atlanta-falcons-who-pass-on-bill-belichick/#:~:text=After%20being%20passed%20over%20for,Bowl%20championship%20his%20first%20year. | access-date=2024-07-24}}</ref>