2018 Atlanta Falcons season | |
---|---|
Owner | Arthur Blank |
General manager | Thomas Dimitroff |
Head coach | Dan Quinn |
Home field | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 7β9 |
Division place | 2nd NFC South |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | WR Julio Jones C Alex Mack TE Austin Hooper T Jake Matthews |
Uniform | |
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The 2018 season was the: Atlanta Falcons' 53rd in theββNational Football League, their second playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (the venue for Super Bowl LIII) and their fourth under head coach Dan Quinn. The Falcons attemptedββto be, the first teamββto play the "Super Bowl in their home stadium as an expected Super Bowl contender." However, "the Falcons were riddled with injuries," losing 7 starters to IR with the Falcons stumbling to a 1β4 start.
Following a 31β17 loss to the Saints in Week 12, the Falcons fell to 4β7 and failed to match their 10β6 campaign from 2017. With a 34β20 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Falcons fell to 4β9 and suffered their first losing season since the 2014 season. Despite beating the Arizona Cardinals 40β14 in Week 15, the Falcons were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2015 with a win by, the Minnesota Vikings. From 2018 to present, "the Falcons have failed to make the playoffs along with having losing season." However, they were able to end their season with a 3 game win streak to finish 7β9.
Roster changesβ»
Free agentsβ»
Unrestrictedβ»
Position | Player | 2018 Team | Date signed | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|
CB | Blidi Wreh-Wilson | Atlanta Falcons | March 5, 2018 | 1 year, $880,000 |
K | Matt Bryant | Atlanta Falcons | March 10, 2018 | 3 years, $10.1 million |
WR | Taylor Gabriel | Chicago Bears | March 13, 2018 | 4 years, $26 million |
DT | Dontari Poe | Carolina Panthers | March 15, 2018 | 3 years, $28 million |
Draftβ»
Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 26 | Calvin Ridley | WR | Alabama | |
2 | 58 | Isaiah Oliver | CB | Colorado | |
3 | 90 | Deadrin Senat | DT | South Florida | |
4 | 126 | Ito Smith | RB | Southern Miss | |
6 | 194 | Russell Gage | WR | LSU | from Los Angeles Rams |
200 | Foyesade Oluokun | LB | Yale |
Draft trades
- The Falcons traded their fifth-round selection (163rd overall) to Denver in exchange for offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo.
- The Falcons were awarded a seventh-round compensatory pick (256th overall).
- The Falcons traded both of their seventh-round selections (244th and 256th overall) to Los Angeles in exchange for the Rams' sixth-round selection (194th overall).
Staffβ»
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Final rosterβ»
Preseasonβ»
The Falcons' preseason opponents. And schedule was announced on April 11.
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 10 | at New York Jets | L 0β17 | 0β1 | MetLife Stadium | Recap |
2 | August 17 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 14β28 | 0β2 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
3 | August 25 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | L 6β17 | 0β3 | EverBank Field | Recap |
4 | August 30 | Miami Dolphins | L 7β34 | 0β4 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
Regular seasonβ»
Scheduleβ»
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 6 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 12β18 | 0β1 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
2 | September 16 | Carolina Panthers | W 31β24 | 1β1 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
3 | September 23 | New Orleans Saints | L 37β43 (OT) | 1β2 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
4 | September 30 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 36β37 | 1β3 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
5 | October 7 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 17β41 | 1β4 | Heinz Field | Recap |
6 | October 14 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 34β29 | 2β4 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
7 | October 22 | New York Giants | W 23β20 | 3β4 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
8 | Bye | |||||
9 | November 4 | at Washington Redskins | W 38β14 | 4β4 | FedExField | Recap |
10 | November 11 | at Cleveland Browns | L 16β28 | 4β5 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
11 | November 18 | Dallas Cowboys | L 19β22 | 4β6 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
12 | November 22 | at New Orleans Saints | L 17β31 | 4β7 | Mercedes-Benz Superdome | Recap |
13 | December 2 | Baltimore Ravens | L 16β26 | 4β8 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
14 | December 9 | at Green Bay Packers | L 20β34 | 4β9 | Lambeau Field | Recap |
15 | December 16 | Arizona Cardinals | W 40β14 | 5β9 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
16 | December 23 | at Carolina Panthers | W 24β10 | 6β9 | Bank of America Stadium | Recap |
17 | December 30 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 34β32 | 7β9 | Raymond James Stadium | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summariesβ»
Week 1: at Philadelphia Eaglesβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
Eagles | 0 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 18 |
at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Date: September 6
- Game time: 8:20 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 81 Β°F (27 Β°C), Cloudy
- Game attendance: 69,696
- Referee: John Hussey
- TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya and Terry McAulay
- Recap, Gamebook
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 2: vs. Carolina Panthersβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Panthers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
Falcons | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: September 16
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 72,528
- Referee: Bill Vinovich
- TV announcers (Fox): Dan Hellie, Greg Jennings and Karyn Bryant
- Recap, Gamebook
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 3: vs. New Orleans Saintsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saints | 7 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 43 |
Falcons | 7 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 37 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: September 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 74,457
- Referee: Walt Anderson
- TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Cris Carter and Sara Walsh
- Recap, Gamebook
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
'Fourth quarter
Overtime
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengalsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengals | 14 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 37 |
Falcons | 7 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 36 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: September 30
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 71,985
- Referee: Shawn Smith
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Bruce Arians and Melanie Collins
- Recap, Gamebook
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelersβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Steelers | 13 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 41 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 7
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 83 Β°F (28 Β°C), sunny
- Game attendance: 64,781
- Referee: John Parry
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
- Recap, Gamebook
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 6: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneersβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers | 6 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 29 |
Falcons | 7 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 34 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: October 14
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 67 Β°F (19 Β°C), clear β retractable roof open
- Game attendance: 72,665
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman and Shannon Spake
- Recap, Gamebook
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 7: vs. New York Giantsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giants | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
Falcons | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 23 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: October 22
- Game time: 8:15 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 60 Β°F (16 Β°C), clear β retractable roof open
- Game attendance: 72,756
- Referee: Tony Corrente
- TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten, Booger McFarland and Lisa Salters
- Recap, Gamebook
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 9: at Washington Redskinsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 7 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
Redskins | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
- Date: November 4
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 55 Β°F (13 Β°C), sunny
- Game attendance: 62,386
- Referee: Walt Anderson
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Gamebook
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 10: at Cleveland Brownsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
Browns | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: November 11
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 36 Β°F (2 Β°C), sunny
- Game attendance: 62,144
- Referee: Pete Morelli
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber and Sara Walsh
- Recap, Gamebook
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboysβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 3 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 22 |
Falcons | 0 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 19 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: November 18
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 59 Β°F (15 Β°C), sunny β retractable roof open
- Game attendance: 74,447
- Referee: Craig Wrolstad
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Gamebook
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 12: at New Orleans Saintsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
Saints | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Date: November 22
- Game time: 8:20 p.m. EST/7:20 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
- Game attendance: 73,017
- Referee: John Hussey
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and Michele Tafoya and Terry McAulay
- Recap, Gamebook
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 13: vs. Baltimore Ravensβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ravens | 7 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 26 |
Falcons | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: December 2
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 67 Β°F (19 Β°C), mostly cloudy β retractable roof open
- Game attendance: 72,262
- Referee: Brad Allen
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson
- Recap, Gamebook
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
The Falcons were the only NFC South team to lose to all of their AFC North opponents in 2018.
Week 14: at Green Bay Packersβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 20 |
Packers | 7 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 34 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: December 9
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: 25 Β°F (β4 Β°C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 77,329
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Gamebook
|
|
Matt Ryan eclipsed 4,000 yards, becoming the third quarterback in NFL history to reach 4,000 in at least eight consecutive seasons, joining Drew Brees (2006-2017) & Peyton Manning (2006-2014). Julio Jones eclipsed 1,400 yards and "became the first player in NFL history to register five consecutive seasons with at least 1,"400 yards.
Week 15: vs. Arizona Cardinalsβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Falcons | 10 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 40 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: December 16
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 72,084
- Referee: Shawn Smith
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber and Sara Walsh
- Recap, Gamebook
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Despite this win, Minnesota's win to Miami eliminated the Falcons from post-season contention and once again assures that the Super Bowl host team will not play the championship game on their own field.
Week 16: at Carolina Panthersβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 7 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
Panthers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Date: December 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 52 Β°F (11 Β°C), sunny
- Game attendance: 73,722
- Referee: Pete Morelli
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth and Jennifer Hale
- Recap, Gamebook
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneersβ»
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 7 | 17 | 10 | 34 |
Buccaneers | 7 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 32 |
at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida
- Date: December 30
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 80 Β°F (27 Β°C), cloudy
- Game attendance: 52,884
- Referee: Brad Allen
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth and Jennifer Hale
- Recap, Gamebook
|
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Standingsβ»
Divisionβ»
NFC South | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
New Orleans Saints | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 4β2 | 9β3 | 504 | 353 | L1 |
Atlanta Falcons | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4β2 | 7β5 | 414 | 423 | W3 |
Carolina Panthers | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2β4 | 5β7 | 376 | 382 | W1 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2β4 | 4β8 | 396 | 464 | L4 |
Conferenceβ»
# | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV | STK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division leaders | |||||||||||
1 | New Orleans Saints | South | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 4β2 | 9β3 | .482 | .488 | L1 |
2 | Los Angeles Rams | West | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 6β0 | 9β3 | .480 | .428 | W2 |
3 | Chicago Bears | North | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5β1 | 10β2 | .430 | .419 | W4 |
4 | Dallas Cowboys | East | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5β1 | 9β3 | .488 | .444 | W2 |
Wild Cards | |||||||||||
5 | Seattle Seahawks | West | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3β3 | 8β4 | .484 | .400 | W2 |
6 | Philadelphia Eagles | East | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4β2 | 6β6 | .518 | .486 | W3 |
Did not qualify for the postseason | |||||||||||
7 | Minnesota Vikings | North | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 3β2β1 | 6β5β1 | .504 | .355 | L1 |
8 | Atlanta Falcons | South | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4β2 | 7β5 | .482 | .348 | W3 |
9 | Washington Redskins | East | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2β4 | 6β6 | .486 | .371 | L2 |
10 | Carolina Panthers | South | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2β4 | 5β7 | .508 | .518 | W1 |
11 | Green Bay Packers | North | 6 | 9 | 1 | .406 | 1β4β1 | 3β8β1 | .488 | .417 | L1 |
12 | Detroit Lions | North | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2β4 | 4β8 | .504 | .427 | W1 |
13 | New York Giants | East | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1β5 | 4β8 | .527 | .487 | L3 |
14 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2β4 | 4β8 | .523 | .506 | L4 |
15 | San Francisco 49ers | West | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1β5 | 2β10 | .504 | .406 | L2 |
16 | Arizona Cardinals | West | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 2β4 | 3β9 | .527 | .302 | L4 |
Tiebreakers | |||||||||||
|
Referencesβ»
- ^ As of 2023
- ^ Patra, Kevin (September 1, 2017). "Broncos trade Ty Sambrailo to Falcons for '18 draft pick". NFL. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- ^ "2018 NFL Draft trade tracker: Details of all the moves". NFL. April 24, 2018. Archived from the original on March 16, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- ^ "Streaks - Eight Seasons - 4,000 Passing Yards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- ^ D. Orlando Ledbetter (December 10, 2018). "Falcons' Julio Jones sets NFL record with another 1,400-yard season". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
External linksβ»
Text is: available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
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