2024 Atlanta Falcons season

59th season in franchise history From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The 2024 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 59th in the National Football League (NFL), their eighth playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, their fourth under general manager Terry Fontenot and their first under head coach Raheem Morris. They improved on their 7–10 record from the previous three years, but failed to make the playoffs, extending a six-year absence and their seven-year NFC South title drought. Despite this, their highlights included a sweeping the eventual NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a Week 2 road victory over the eventual Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles.

Quick facts Atlanta Falcons season, Owner ...
2024 Atlanta Falcons season
OwnerArthur Blank
General managerTerry Fontenot
Head coachRaheem Morris
Home stadiumMercedes-Benz Stadium
Results
Record8–9
Division place2nd NFC South
PlayoffsDid not qualify
All-ProsRG Chris Lindstrom (2nd team)
Pro BowlersRB Bijan Robinson
G Chris Lindstrom
ST KhaDarel Hodge
Uniform
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In a Week 5 Thursday night matchup against the Buccaneers, Kirk Cousins set a franchise record for most passing yards in a game, throwing for 509 yards, beating the record previously set by Matt Ryan in 2016.[1] The Falcons' 6–3 start was also their best since 2016. They then went through a four-game losing streak plagued by turnovers and poor defensive play; the Falcons would subsequently bench Cousins after Week 15 for first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. Their Week 16 win over the New York Giants secured their eighth victory of the season, their most since 2017.

The Falcons were eliminated from playoff contention for a seventh consecutive season as regulation time was expiring in their Week 18 game against the Carolina Panthers, due to a Buccaneers win over the Saints. The Panthers subsequently defeated Atlanta in overtime, extending Atlanta's streak of losing seasons to seven years.

Draft

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Draft trades

  1. The Falcons traded second- and third-round selections (43rd and 79th overall) to the Arizona Cardinals in exchange for second- and sixth-round selections (35th and 186th overall).[2]
  2. The Falcons traded WR Calvin Ridley to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a third-round selection (79th overall) and a 2023 fifth-round selection (159th overall).[3]
  3. The Falcons traded a seventh-round selection (230th overall) and LB Deion Jones to the Cleveland Browns in exchange for a sixth-round selection (197th overall).[4]

Staff

2024 Atlanta Falcons staff

Front office

  • Owner/chairman – Arthur Blank
  • CEO – Rich McKay
  • President – Greg Beadles
  • General manager – Terry Fontenot
  • Assistant general manager – Kyle Smith
  • Vice president of football operations/player personnel – Ryan Pace
  • Director of college scouting – Adetokunbo Abanikanda
  • Assistant director of college scouting – Michael Ross
  • Director of coaching operations – Brian Griffin
  • Senior director of football administration – Chris Olsen
  • Senior personnel executive – Ruston Webster

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams coordinator – Marquice Williams
  • Assistant special teams – Steven King

Strength and conditioning

  • Director of Player Performance – John Griffin
  • Assistant director of strength & conditioning – Paul Constantine
  • Assistant director of strength & conditioning – Erik Jernstrom
  • Assistant director of strength & conditioning – Josh Nelson

Final roster

2024 Atlanta Falcons roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 12 reserve, 15 practice squad (1 exempt)

Preseason

More information Week, Date ...
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 August 9 at Miami Dolphins L 13–20 0–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
2 August 17 at Baltimore Ravens L 12–13 0–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
3 August 23 Jacksonville Jaguars L 0–31 0–3 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
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Regular season

Schedule

More information Week, Date ...
Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap
1 September 8 Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–18 0–1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
2 September 16 at Philadelphia Eagles W 22–21 1–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap
3 September 22 Kansas City Chiefs L 17–22 1–2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
4 September 29 New Orleans Saints W 26–24 2–2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
5 October 3 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 36–30 (OT) 3–2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
6 October 13 at Carolina Panthers W 38–20 4–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap
7 October 20 Seattle Seahawks L 14–34 4–3 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
8 October 27 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–26 5–3 Raymond James Stadium Recap
9 November 3 Dallas Cowboys W 27–21 6–3 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
10 November 10 at New Orleans Saints L 17–20 6–4 Caesars Superdome Recap
11 November 17 at Denver Broncos L 6–38 6–5 Empower Field at Mile High Recap
12 Bye
13 December 1 Los Angeles Chargers L 13–17 6–6 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
14 December 8 at Minnesota Vikings L 21–42 6–7 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap
15 December 16 at Las Vegas Raiders W 15–9 7–7 Allegiant Stadium Recap
16 December 22 New York Giants W 34–7 8–7 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
17 December 29 at Washington Commanders L 24–30 (OT) 8–8 Northwest Stadium Recap
18 January 5 Carolina Panthers L 38–44 (OT) 8–9 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
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Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week 1: Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Steelers 3 6 6318
Falcons 3 7 0010
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at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

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Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles

Week 2: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 6 9722
Eagles 0 7 31121
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at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Despite being down 18–15 and not having the ball past the two minute warning, an incomplete pass by the Eagles on 3rd down gave the Falcons the ball back with over a minute and a half down by 6. Kirk Cousins drove down the field to give the Falcons a one-point lead on a late touchdown by Drake London. The Falcons defense then secured the upset when Jessie Bates III intercepted Jalen Hurts, allowing Atlanta to pick up its first win in Philadelphia since the 2012 season.[8] This would be the Eagles only home loss of the season.

Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

Week 3: Kansas City Chiefs at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 13 9022
Falcons 7 7 0317
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at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

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Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 4: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Saints 7 7 3724
Falcons 7 10 3626
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at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

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Younghoe Koo went 4/4 on field goals including a 58-yard field goal, the longest in Mercedes-Benz Stadium history, in a 26–24 divisional win against the New Orleans Saints.

Week 5: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 5: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
More information Quarter, OT ...
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Buccaneers 10 14 33030
Falcons 7 10 310636
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at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

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Week 6: at Carolina Panthers

Week 6: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 15 61038
Panthers 7 10 3020
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at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

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Week 7: vs. Seattle Seahawks

Week 7: Seattle Seahawks at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Seahawks 3 14 71034
Falcons 0 7 7014
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at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: October 20
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 72 °F (22 °C) (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 70,691
  • Referee: Bill Vinovich
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Megan Olivi
  • Recap, Game Book
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Week 8: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 8: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 17 7031
Buccaneers 7 10 0926
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at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

  • Date: October 27
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 79 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,787
  • Referee: Shawn Hochuli
  • TV announcers (Fox): Adam Amin, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Game Book
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Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week 9: Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 3 7 3821
Falcons 7 7 7627
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at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: November 3
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 72,665
  • Referee: Scott Novak
  • TV announcers (Fox): Adam Amin, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Game Book
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Week 10: at New Orleans Saints

Week 10: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 7 10017
Saints 0 17 3020
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at Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: November 10
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 70,005
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Joe Davis, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Game Book
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Week 11: at Denver Broncos

Week 11: Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 3 006
Broncos 7 14 71038
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at Empower Field at Mile High, Denver, Colorado

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Week 13: vs. Los Angeles Chargers

Week 13: Los Angeles Chargers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chargers 3 6 8017
Falcons 7 0 6013
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at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

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Week 14: at Minnesota Vikings

Week 14: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 3 11021
Vikings 7 7 72142
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at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: December 8
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 67,008
  • Referee: Alex Kemp
  • TV announcers (Fox): Joe Davis, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Game Book
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In addition to suffering their fourth straight loss, the Falcons fell out of the NFC South lead for the first time since Week 4 after the Buccaneers defeated the Raiders the same day.

Week 15: at Las Vegas Raiders

Week 15: Atlanta Falcons at Las Vegas Raiders – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 2 3315
Raiders 0 3 069
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at Allegiant Stadium, Paradise, Nevada

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The next day, the Falcons benched Kirk Cousins for rookie Michael Penix Jr.

Week 16: vs. New York Giants

Week 16: New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
More information Quarter, Total ...
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Giants 0 7 007
Falcons 0 17 14334
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at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: December 22
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 70,404
  • Referee: Tra Blake
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Kugler, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Game Book
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With the win, the Falcons improved to 8–7 and, with the Buccaneers' loss later that day to the Cowboys, regained first place in the NFC South.

Week 17: at Washington Commanders

Week 17: Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders – Game summary
More information Quarter, OT ...
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Falcons 7 10 07024
Commanders 7 0 710630
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at Northwest Stadium, Landover, Maryland

  • Date: December 29
  • Game time: 8:20 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 58 °F (14 °C)
  • Game attendance: 63,480
  • Referee: Alex Kemp
  • TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Cris Collinsworth and Melissa Stark
  • Recap, Game Book
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With the loss, the Falcons fell to 8–8, and combined with the Buccaneers' win over the Panthers earlier in the day, caused Atlanta to fall behind once again in the NFC South race. In addition, the Falcons failed to sweep the NFC East following the loss.

Week 18: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week 18: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
More information Quarter, OT ...
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Panthers 3 14 147644
Falcons 3 21 014038
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at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

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Before the overtime period began, the Buccaneers defeated the Saints, clinching the NFC South and eliminating the Falcons from playoff contention for the seventh consecutive season. With the loss, they finished with an 8–9 record, also suffering their seventh consecutive losing season.

Standings

Division

More information NFC South, W ...
NFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(3) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 7 0 .588 4–2 8–4 502 385 W2
Atlanta Falcons 8 9 0 .471 4–2 7–5 389 423 L2
Carolina Panthers 5 12 0 .294 2–4 4–8 341 534 W1
New Orleans Saints 5 12 0 .294 2–4 4–8 338 398 L4
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Conference

More information Seed, Team ...
Seed Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV STK
Division leaders
1 Detroit Lions North 15 2 0 .882 6–0 11–1 .516 .494 W3
2 Philadelphia Eagles East 14 3 0 .824 5–1 9–3 .453 .424 W2
3[a] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 10 7 0 .588 4–2 8–4 .502 .465 W2
4[a][b] Los Angeles Rams West 10 7 0 .588 4–2 6–6 .505 .441 L1
Wild cards
5 Minnesota Vikings North 14 3 0 .824 4–2 9–3 .474 .408 L1
6 Washington Commanders East 12 5 0 .706 4–2 9–3 .436 .358 W5
7 Green Bay Packers North 11 6 0 .647 1–5 6–6 .533 .412 L2
Did not qualify for the postseason
8[b] Seattle Seahawks West 10 7 0 .588 4–2 6–6 .498 .424 W2
9[c] Atlanta Falcons South 8 9 0 .471 4–2 7–5 .519 .426 L2
10[c] Arizona Cardinals West 8 9 0 .471 3–3 4–8 .536 .404 W1
11 Dallas Cowboys East 7 10 0 .412 3–3 5–7 .522 .387 L2
12 San Francisco 49ers West 6 11 0 .353 1–5 4–8 .564 .402 L4
13[d] Chicago Bears North 5 12 0 .294 1–5 3–9 .554 .388 W1
14[d][e] Carolina Panthers South 5 12 0 .294 2–4 4–8 .498 .329 W1
15[e] New Orleans Saints South 5 12 0 .294 2–4 4–8 .505 .306 L4
16 New York Giants East 3 14 0 .176 0–6 1–11 .554 .412 L1
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Team leaders

More information Category, Player(s) ...
Category Player(s) Value
Passing yardsKirk Cousins3,508
Passing touchdownsKirk Cousins18
Rushing yardsBijan Robinson1,456
Rushing touchdownsBijan Robinson14
ReceptionsDrake London100
Receiving yardsDrake London1,271
Receiving touchdownsDrake London9
PointsYounghoe Koo101
Kickoff return yardsAvery Williams408
Punt return yardsAvery Williams185
TacklesKaden Elliss149
SacksArnold Ebiketie6.0
Forced fumblesJessie Bates4
InterceptionsJessie Bates4
Pass deflectionsDee Alford11
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Notes

  1. Tampa Bay clinched the #3 seed over Los Angeles based on conference record. (Tampa Bay 8–4 to Los Angeles 6–6)
  2. Los Angeles clinched the NFC West and #4 seed over Seattle based on strength of victory. (Los Angeles .441 to Seattle .424)
  3. Atlanta finished ahead of Arizona based on conference record. (Atlanta 7–5 to Arizona 4–8)
  4. Chicago finished ahead of Carolina based on head-to-head victory.
  5. Carolina finished ahead of New Orleans based on strength of victory. (Carolina .329 to New Orleans .306)

References

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