The Falcons scored their first third quarter offensive touchdown of 2017 on Sunday

We have our jokes about the Falcons’ third quarter ineptitude, and we have for years. The truth is, though, there was absolutely nothing funny about how terrible Atlanta had been after halftime through the 2017 season.

As the AJC’s D. Orlando Ledbetter tweeted yesterday, the Falcons had managed just 19 points in the third quarter all season before Sunday. That included a defensive touchdown and four Matt Bryant field goals, but absolutely zero offensive touchdowns.

Luckily, the Falcons reversed that with an impressive drive that culminated in a zippy pass from Matt Ryan to Justin Hardy in the back of the end zone. That score put the Falcons up 17-7, and they had ten more points in them in the fourth quarter as they utterly dominated Dallas.

You can’t make too much of one touchdown, but considering Atlanta had legitimately not scored one in the third quarter over eight friggin’ games, I think it’s safe to imbue this one with a little more importance. If Atlanta is finally figuring things out on the offensive side of the ball, they’re going to be making one hell of a push here over the last seven games.