Falcons vs. Vikings: Atlanta searches for meaning headed into Week 6 matchup

Let’s be honest, the Falcons locker room and fan base are navigating different paths right now. In other words, we see this embarrassing start through a different lens. But that said, there’s some noteworthy overlap, because both groups are in the middle of an earnest search for meaning. When you are 0-5 (or your favorite team is 0-5) and staring down 2.5 more months of football, you’d better find some purpose.

At 0-5, the Falcons have pretty much hit rock bottom. Dan Quinn was hired shortly after the Super Bowl in February 2015, and he’s been a fixture on the Falcons’ sideline ever since. Raheem Morris has taken over as interim head coach, adopting a more heavy-handed than that of his predecessor. We’ll see if it works, but I suppose there’s no harm in mixing things up. They are past the point where gimmicky slogans mean much of anything anyway, and a lot of these guys are playing for their future in the NFL.

For what it’s worth, having mixed emotions about the state of this team is totally natural. Matt Ryan has had his detractors for a number of years, but this the loudest the chatter about his longevity has ever gotten. All successful franchises go through this at some point, and it might just be our turn. Whether a wholesale rebuild is really going to be necessary remains to be seen, but we will find a way to navigate this adversity. That won’t dull the pain of suffering through a lost season, but it is the reality of being a fan of any NFL team.

On the injury front, things are still less than ideal for the Falcons. Takk McKinley will miss another game (groin), but Julio Jones (hamstring) is likely to play. Jaylinn Hawkins has been ruled out (concussion), and Keanu Neal (hamstring) was a limited participant in Friday’s practice. Lucky for us, Ricardo Allen (elbow) was a full participant in Friday’s practice, so the secondary shouldn’t be a complete mess. (Never mind, yes it will.) Evan Birchfield’s Friday injury report can be found here, if you’re into that kind of thing.

Your thoughts about the state of the team, Falcoholics?