The Atlanta Falcons have hit the halfway point of the season. Take a look at the best photos from the Falcons first eight games.
RB Antone Smith runs the ball for a touchdown during the Week 5 game against the New York Giants.
QB Matt Ryan makes a call on the line during the game against the New York Giants in Week 5.
WR Julio Jones runs after making a catch during the game against the Detroit Lions in Week 8.
RB Devonta Freeman celebrates his first career touchdown during the game against the Detroit Lions in London during Week 8.
LB Prince Shembo, LB Paul Worrilow and DE Kroy Biermann combine for a tackle during the Week 5 game against the New York Giants.
Players run onto the field before the Week 3 game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
TE Levine Toilolo dodges a tackle during the Week 1 game against the New Orleans Saints.
WR Devin Hester celebrates scoring a touchdown during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.
WR Devin Hester runs down the field during the game against the New York Giants in Week 5.
WR Roddy White runs the ball after a catch during the game against the Detroit Lions in London in Week 8.
RB Devonta Freeman runs the ball against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4.
QB Matt Ryan about to hand off the ball during the game against the Detroit Lions in London in Week 8.
CB Robert Alford intercepts the ball during the Week 7 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
WR Devin Hester high-steps into history with this punt return for a touchdown during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.
RB Antone Smith scores a touchdown against the Chicago Bears in Week 6.
QB Matt Ryan during the Week 7 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
FS Dwight Lowery, DE Malliciah Goodman and CB Desmond Trufant combine for a tackle during the Week 8 game against the Detroit Lions in London.
DE Jonathan Massaquoi fights through the line during the Week 1 game against the New Orleans Saints.
DT Jonathan Babineaux sacks Chicago Bears QB Jay Cutler during Week 6.
QB Matt Ryan drops back for a pass during the Week 7 game against the Baltimore Ravens.
DT Paul Soliai celebrates making a play against the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2.
CB Robert Alford, S Kemal Ishmael and LB Joplo Bartu combine for a tackle during the Week 8 game against the Detroit Lions in London.
RB Steven Jackson dives into the endzone during the Week 5 game against the New York Giants.
QB Matt Ryan looks down field for an open receiver during the Week 1 game against the New Orleans Saints.
The team celebrates after RB Antone Smith scores a touchdown against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1.
RB Jacquizz Rodgers runs the ball during the game against the Detroit Lions in Week 8.
WR Devin Hester runs the ball down field during the Week 1 game against the New Orleans Saints.
WR Roddy White runs a route during the Week 2 game against the Cincinnati Bengals.
DE Jonathan Massaquoi celebrates a sack against the Chicago Bears in Week 6.
WR Eric Weems celebrates a play against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.
DE Kroy Biermann makes a tackle during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.
QB Matt Ryan drops back for a pass during the game against the Minnesota Vikings in Week 4.
WR Roddy White celebrates scoring a touchdown with WR Devin Hester in the endzone during the Week 4 game against the Minnesota Vikings.
RB Devonta Freeman shakes off a tackle during the game against the New York Giants in Week 5.
DT Paul Soliai makes a tackle on a Chicago Bears player during the Week 6 game.
RB Antone Smith scores a touchdown against the Chicago Bears in Week 6.
RB Steven Jackson stiff-arms a New York Giants player during the Week 5 game.
WR Roddy White is tackled after making a catch during the Week 7 game agaisnt the Baltimore Ravens.
Players celebrate in the endzone after S Kemal Ishmael scores a touchdown off an interception during the game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 3.
WR Julio Jones runs after making a catch during the game against the New York Giants.
T Jake Matthews on the field during the game against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 7.
TE Levine Toilolo makes a catch against the New Orleans Saints in Week 1.
Falcons head coach Mike Smith was very clear at the start of the week about wanting his players to "disconnect from football" for a few days, resting and rejuvenating for a strong run in the second half of the season.
Falcons wide receiver Harry Douglas might have a tough time doing that, simply because of his love for the game that he was just recently able to return to in Week 8 following a foot injury that sidelined him for four weeks. In his return, Douglas grabbed three receptions for 42 yards against the Detroit Lions, including two third-down conversions.
Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter likes the diversity Douglas adds to the offense, able to use the sixth-year receiver in different spots, confident he knows where to be and when to be there for Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan.
In four games this season, the former Louisville Cardinals star has 15 receptions for 163 yards and one touchdown. Aside from returning to his college town Thursday night to support the Cardinals against the Florida State Seminoles, Douglas plans to rest a bit and then be right back at the team facility, receiving treatment and watching film to improve his game, confident in what is to come in Weeks 10-17.
"We're not out of anything yet," Douglas said. "All we have to do is handle our own business. We control our own destiny and it starts with our game against Tampa Bay. I think our bye week came at the right time, so we can relax ourselves, regroup and pull off a heck of a season."
Kickoff for the Week 10 game in Tampa Bay (Nov. 9) is scheduled for 1 p.m. ET.
