The Atlanta Falcons have struggled this season, but Matt Ryan thinks Thursday night's victory over the Carolina Panthers could spark a second-half surge.

"I hope it's the start of something," Ryan said. "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."

Last season the Falcons started 1-7 but went 6-2 over their final eight games.

"We've been in every game we've played this year," Ryan said. "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."