NFL teams were 440-0 scoring 39 or more with 0 turnovers until the Falcons lost Sunday

Sometimes, I’m sure people who are not Falcons fans look at us and think we’re engaging in hyperbole when we call Atlanta losses historic or unprecedented. All too often, though, we’re not exaggerating in the slightest.

Per ESPN Stats & Info, the Falcons became the first team in NFL history—at least recorded history, since 1933—to lose when scoring 39 points without a single turnover. That’s truly a historic, improbable loss.

I highlight this because it may be tempting for some of us in the coming weeks, if the Falcons start putting together a few wins, to talk ourselves into a streak coming together. There is not a zero percent chance of that, but a loss like this makes it clear enough that the Falcons are in real trouble, because losses that have never happened in NFL history do not just happen. They occur because something is missing, whether in terms of talent or coaching or something ineffable, and that’s something that doesn’t feel like it’s very easy to overcome.

We’re going to have to roll around in this misery for a little while, I fear, but thankfully another game is only a week away to give us something to briefly celebrate or at least something fresh to wallow in.