» Falcons haven’t ruled out Ryan playing Sunday,

The Falcons were body- slammed by the Rams on Sunday.

If the game was a champi- onship boxing match, and we know coach Dan Quinn likes his boxing, it would have been stopped early in the third quar- ter. Through seven games this season, the Falcons haven’t put together a full day’s work and are a dropped touchdown pass away from being 0-7.

At least back in 2007, the last time the Falcons started 1-6, you could see it coming. Once you knew quarterback Michael Vick was headed to federal prison, that season was over. The Joey Harrington-Byron Leftwich-Chris Redman team went on to finish 4-12 and coach Bobby Petrino bolted for the University of Arkansas after Game 13.

But with the returnof injured players on defense and an $80 million revamped offensive line this season, the Falcons were expected to contend with the Saints for the NFC South title. What happened?

Here are five things learned from the Falcons’ 37-10 loss to the Rams:

Well, the Falcons did actually lose the fight

Falcons running back Devonta Freeman, spotting Rams defen- sive tackle Aaron Donald 76 pounds, decided to jump up in the big fella’s face. Donald, who checks in at 290 to Free- man’s 206 pounds, lifted him off the ground and was prob- ably ready to toss him before a referee got in there and tack- led Freeman, essentially to save him from Donald.

The problem was that Freeman threw a punch and was disqualified from the game, leaving the Falcons with Kenjon Barner and Brian Hill at running back. Running back Ito Smith suffered head and neck injuries after a first-quarter collision with Rams linebacker Cory Littleton.

Ryan injured

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan suffered an ankle injury early in the fourth quarter after Donald beat left guard Wes Schweitzer for a sack and forced fumble. Ryan, who has not missed a game since the 2009 season, limped off the field under his own powers. He did not return to the game. The Falcons were getting an MRI on Monday to determine the extent of the injury.

Matt Schaub went into the game and completed 6 of 6 passes for 65 yards, tossing a touchdown pass to Austin Hooper.

Quinn gave up some play-calling

Quinn gave up some of his defensive play-calling duties against the Cardinals and Rams. He wouldn’t reveal who was help- ing him to call plays, but former defensive coordinator Bob Sutton is on the staff. However, linebackers coach Jeff Ulbrich and defensive passing game coordina- tor Jerome Henderson alternate speaking to the media each week.

“My job is to look at the big pic- ture and see if there are things we can do to change that,” Quinn said. “We actually started some of that in Arizona last week. I’m always looking to see during the game who can help with the play-calling and on the sidelines, we actually distributed that some in Arizona and this week as well. I’m always looking to do what’s best for the team. In every situ- ation at every time.”

Has Quinn lost the team?

The Falcons say they are playing hard for their coach, but the look of their play on the field leads to other notions. Folks want to know if Quinn has lost the team or is getting tuned out.

“That’s a fair question because I spend most of the time trying to connect and get the team to play like they are capable of,” Quinn said. “The answer, I would say, is no” — Quinn said he thinks the players are listening.

“I am at a disbelief at times for not playing like we are capable of,” he said. Quinn is still trying to hit the right buttons with this team. “That’s what I spend most of my time doing, to see what tweaks, what things need to be changed, whether it’s per- sonnel, scheme or an assistant doing the play-calling for me to apply some attention elsewhere,” Quinn said.

Quinn rejected the view that the Falcons’ season is lost. “You shouldn’t think that way as a team member and I certainly don’t as a coach,” he said. “I recognize when you don’t play well, those are fair questions. But I don’t feel like we’re out of fight.”

Special teams were not special

The Falcons special teams struggled against the Rams. Special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica discussed Rams punter Johnny Hekker’s passing ability with the media last Wednesday. He certainly brought it up in special teams meetings. But the Rams hit the Falcons for a 23-yard pass play to Nick Scott in the second quarter to keep a drive alive.

Falcons kicker Matt Bryant missed a 50-yard field goal, an onside kick went out of bounds, and the Rams recovered a fumbled punt in the end zone for a touchdown.

CURTIS COMPTON / CCOMPTON@AJC.COM Falcons kicker Matt Bryant, who had another missed field goal attempt during the game, sits dejectedly on the bench after losing 37-10 to the Rams on Sunday.