Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is hoping that the team's Week 8 win over the Carolina Panthers is “the start of something.”

Although the Falcons are long shots to make the playoffs this season with a record of just 2-6, Ryan isn't giving up hope just yet after a big win over the Panthers.

“I hope it's the start of something,” Falcons QB Matt Ryan said, via ESPN.

“I really feel like, although we're 2-6, I feel like we've been in some tight ones. We've played some good football. I think we can play some really tough football here in the second half of the season. We've been in every game we've played this year. We've had some crazy losses, just to be frank, and I really believe that we've got the caliber of team to go be in the games we're going to play the rest of the season.

“Why can't we win them all? That's the mindset that I have.”

The Falcons are in last place in the NFC South division. To make the postseason, they'll have to clinch a Wild Card spot.

Atlanta is 2-1 since Raheem Morris took over for Dan Quinn. They should probably be 3-0 had Todd Gurley not made the mistake of scoring a touchdown against the Detroit Lions in Week 7.

By scoring, Gurley gave Lions passer Matthew Stafford too much time to throw a touchdown to defeat the Falcons with no time left on the clock.

The Falcons will face the Denver Broncos in Week 9. Ryan and Co. pretty much have to go undefeated the rest of the season to have a shot of making the postseason. Let's see if they can do it.