The Falcons have lost 4 regular season home games in which Matt Ryan has started, and 2 additional home games when Matt Ryan was injured with turf toe 3 years ago, the only year under Ryan and Smith that the Falcons missed the playoffs. That was one of the home games they lost against the Saints the year the Saints won the Superbowl. Saying the playoffs confuse the Falcons isn't entirely accurate. They have had some exceedingly bad playoff play, but also they in 3 playoff appearances under Smith and Ryan have ran into the eventual NFC champions as the first playoff game. And two of those three won the Superbowl.
The Falcons are playing their best football in years, and I credit that to Mike Nolan and Dirk Koetter doing new things with the offense and defense, Matt Ryan working out in the off season to be better at deep passing (put on like 12 lbs of muscle),and Asante Samuel for giving the secondary some swagger they've needed ... his mouth is a fantastic asset for pumping up the D.