Falcons start 0-3 for the first time since 2007

When the Falcons lost to the Cowboys in week 2, it was the first time in the Matt Ryan era that the team had started 0-2. After the humiliating loss today to the visiting Chicago Bears, the team has set yet another record by starting 0-3 for the first time since 2007.

Yes, that season.

Bobby Petrino. Michael Vick in jail. The franchise in tatters en-route to a 4-12 finish and the number 3 pick in the NFL draft.

It’s hard to remember what that sort of year felt like, because Atlanta simply hasn’t had to deal with it since Matt Ryan was drafted. They’ve not all been great years by a long shot, but never has a Falcons team seemed so immediately out of the running this early on.

The Falcons will travel next week to Green Bay, a city they have rarely faired well in against a team that is playing winning football. An 0-4 start would almost certainly doom the hopes of even the most ardent optimists and the cries for Dan Quinn to be fired will only escalate from here.

While the team was missing guys like Julio Jones, Foye Oluokun, Takk McKinley and half of their starters in the secondary, it’s hard to ignore such a disastrous start, especially when the win in Dallas was so within reach and they follow it up with ... this.

With a critical game against the Packers looming, one has to wonder what the breaking point will be for owner Arthur Blank. Will he make a move mid-season like fans want? Will he let Quinn finish out this ride? Or, even worse, will the injury excuse subject fans to another year under the current leadership?

It’s sad that we even have to ask the question at this point, and sadder still that we’re now comparing this team to the 2007 squad.