2002 Atlanta Falcons season | |
---|---|
Head coach | Dan Reeves |
Home field | Georgia Dome |
Results | |
Record | 9–6–1 |
Division place | 2nd NFC South |
Playoff finish | Won Wild Card Playoffs (at Packers) 27–7 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Eagles) 6–20 |
Pro Bowlers | QB Michael Vick LB Keith Brooking |
AP All-Pros | LB Keith Brooking (2nd team) |
The 2002 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 37th in the National Football League (NFL) and their first in the newly formed NFC South. It was also the team's first season under new owner Arthur Blank, who acquired the team during the 2002 offseason. The team improved upon their previous season's output of 7–9 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1998. The team was also involved in a rare tie, matching the Pittsburgh Steelers 34–34 at the end of overtime. [1] This was the last time the Atlanta Falcons ended a season with a tie.
Before the season, the Falcons acquired running back Warrick Dunn to help with the team’s running game. Their running game had suffered the past three years. Dunn finished the season with 927 rushing yards and 9 total touchdowns. With the boost of Dunn, the Falcons rushed for 2,368 yards (148 yards per game) and 23 touchdowns, both the fourth-best in the NFL.
After seeing limited action as a rookie, this was Michael Vick's first full season as starting quarterback.
In the Wild Card Game, Vick and the Falcons defeated the Brett Favre-led Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, 27–7, giving the Packers their first ever playoff loss in Lambeau. However, a 20–6 loss to Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles in the next round kept the Falcons from advancing in the playoffs.
This was Dan Reeves' last full season as head coach as he was replaced by interim Wade Phillips during the following season.
Vick and linebacker Keith Brooking were voted to play in the Pro Bowl after the season. However, neither Vick not Brooking actually participated in the game. The Pro Bowl was Vick's first and Brooking's second. It was the final season the Falcons used their traditional black falcon helmet logo.
The last remaining active member of the 2002 Atlanta Falcons was quarterback Michael Vick, who played his final NFL game in the 2015 season, although he missed the 2007 and 2008 seasons.
Signings | Departures |
---|---|
RB Warrick Dunn (Buccaneers) | QB Chris Chandler (Bears) |
DE John Thierry (Packers) | G Bob Hallen (Chargers) |
DT Ellis Johnson (Colts) | LB Henri Crockett (Vikings) |
LB John Holecek (Chargers) | FS Ronnie Bradford (Vikings) |
T Todd Weiner (Seahawks) | WR Terance Mathis (Steelers) |
CB Allen Rossum (Packers) | DE Chuck Wiley (Vikings) |
CB Kevin Mathis (Saints) | |
CB Fred Weary (Saints) |
2002 Atlanta Falcons draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 16 | T. J. Duckett | Running back | Michigan State | from Washington via Oakland |
3 | 80 | Will Overstreet | Linebacker | Tennessee | |
4 | 116 | Martin Bibla | Guard | Miami | from Houston |
5 | 148 | Kevin McCadam | Safety | Virginia Tech | |
5 | 158 | Kurt Kittner | Quarterback | Illinois | from Oakland |
6 | 184 | Kahlil Hill | Wide receiver | Iowa | |
7 | 217 | Michael Coleman | Wide receiver | Widener | from Dallas |
7 | 244 | Kevin Shaffer | Offensive tackle | Tulsa | |
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|
Matt Allen | Punter | Troy State |
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
| Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
In addition to their NFC South rivals, the Falcons played all teams from the NFC North and AFC North. In addition, the Falcons played the New York Giants from the NFC East, and the Seattle Seahawks from the NFC West, based on 2001 standings.
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 8 | at Green Bay Packers | L 37–34 (OT) | 0–1 | 63,127 |
2 | September 15 | Chicago Bears | L 14–13 | 0–2 | 68,081 |
3 | September 22 | Cincinnati Bengals | W 30–3 | 1–2 | 68,129 |
4 | Bye | ||||
5 | October 6 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 20–6 | 1–3 | 68,936 |
6 | October 13 | at New York Giants | W 17–10 | 2–3 | 78,728 |
7 | October 20 | Carolina Panthers | W 30–0 | 3–3 | 68,056 |
8 | October 27 | at New Orleans Saints | W 37–35 | 4–3 | 67,883 |
9 | November 3 | Baltimore Ravens | W 20–17 | 5–3 | 68,532 |
10 | November 10 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | T 34–34 (OT) | 5–3–1 | 62,779 |
11 | November 17 | New Orleans Saints | W 24–17 | 6–3–1 | 70,382 |
12 | November 24 | at Carolina Panthers | W 41–0 | 7–3–1 | 72,533 |
13 | December 1 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 30–24 (OT) | 8–3–1 | 63,947 |
14 | December 8 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 34–10 | 8–4–1 | 65,648 |
15 | December 15 | Seattle Seahawks | L 30–24 (OT) | 8–5–1 | 69,551 |
16 | December 22 | Detroit Lions | W 36–15 | 9–5–1 | 69,307 |
17 | December 29 | at Cleveland Browns | L 24–16 | 9–6–1 | 73,528 |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 21 | 3 | 10 | 0 | 34 |
Packers | 3 | 10 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 37 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Falcons | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengals | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Falcons | 13 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 30 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 30 |
Vikings | 7 | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 15 |
Falcons | 3 | 10 | 6 | 17 | 36 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|
Wild Card | January 4 | at Green Bay Packers | W 27–7 | 65,358 |
Divisional | January 11 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 6–20 | 66,452 |
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 14 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 27 |
Packers | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Game information | ||
---|---|---|
|
NFC South | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 4–2 | 9–3 | 346 | 196 | W1 |
(6) Atlanta Falcons | 9 | 6 | 1 | .594 | 4–2 | 7–5 | 402 | 314 | L1 |
New Orleans Saints | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 7–5 | 432 | 388 | L3 |
Carolina Panthers | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 4–8 | 258 | 302 | W2 |
# | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division leaders | ||||||||||
1 [lower-alpha 1] | Philadelphia Eagles | East | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 11–1 | .469 | .432 |
2 [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .482 | .432 |
3 [lower-alpha 1] [lower-alpha 2] | Green Bay Packers | North | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 9–3 | .451 | .414 |
4 | San Francisco 49ers | West | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–1 | 8–4 | .504 | .450 |
Wild Cards | ||||||||||
5 | New York Giants | East | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–1 | 8–4 | .482 | .450 |
6 | Atlanta Falcons | South | 9 | 6 | 1 | .594 | 4–2 | 7–5 | .494 | .429 |
Did not qualify for the postseason | ||||||||||
7 | New Orleans Saints | South | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 3–3 | 7–5 | .498 | .566 |
8 [lower-alpha 3] | St. Louis Rams | West | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .508 | .446 |
9 [lower-alpha 3] | Seattle Seahawks | West | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .506 | .433 |
10 [lower-alpha 4] | Washington Redskins | East | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .527 | .438 |
11 [lower-alpha 4] | Carolina Panthers | South | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .486 | .357 |
12 | Minnesota Vikings | North | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .498 | .417 |
13 [lower-alpha 5] | Arizona Cardinals | West | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 5–7 | .500 | .400 |
14 [lower-alpha 5] | Dallas Cowboys | East | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .500 | .475 |
15 | Chicago Bears | North | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–4 | 3–9 | .521 | .430 |
16 | Detroit Lions | North | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 1–5 | 3–9 | .494 | .375 |
Tiebreakers [lower-alpha 6] | ||||||||||
|
The 2002 season was the Chicago Bears' 83rd in the National Football League (NFL) and their fourth under head coach Dick Jauron.
The 2002 season was the Green Bay Packers' 82nd in the National Football League (NFL) and their 84th overall.
The 1998 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 38th in the National Football League (NFL). The Vikings became the third team in NFL history to win 15 games during the regular season, which earned them the National Football Conference (NFC) Central division championship and the first overall seed in the NFC playoffs. The team entered the playoffs as the favorite to win Super Bowl XXXIII, but their season ended when they were upset by the Atlanta Falcons 30–27 in the 1998 NFC Championship Game.
The 2002 season was the Carolina Panthers' eighth in the National Football League and their first under head coach John Fox. They tried to improve upon their 1–15 record in 2001, and make it to the playoffs for the second time in franchise history.
The 2002 season was the Detroit Lions' 73rd in the National Football League (NFL). It was the Lions’ inaugural season at the new Ford Field in Downtown Detroit and their first in the city since the team left Tiger Stadium after the 1974 season. Following the season, Marty Mornhinweg was fired and Steve Mariucci was hired as the Lions' head coach. The Lions entered the 2002 season looking to improve on their 2–14 record from 2001 and make the playoffs for the first time since 1999.
The 2010 Atlanta Falcons season was the 45th season for the team in the National Football League (NFL).
The 2011 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's 46th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the fourth under head coach Mike Smith.
The 2011 season was the New Orleans Saints' 45th in the National Football League (NFL), their 36th playing home games at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome and their sixth under head coach Sean Payton. In Week 16, Drew Brees broke the single-season passing record previously held by Dan Marino; Brees ended the season with 5,476 passing yards, an NFL record. The team also broke the record for offensive yards from scrimmage with 7,474 and Darren Sproles broke the record for all purpose yards, with 2,696. The Saints also finished second in scoring for total points with 547, and finished second for points per game with 34.2 points and sacks with 24.
The 2013 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's 48th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the sixth under head coach Mike Smith. The Falcons entered the season as one of the Super Bowl favorites; however, due to multiple key injuries to the team, the Falcons failed to improve on their 13–3 season from 2012, finishing 4-12. They did not qualify for postseason contention for the first time since 2009 and secured the Falcons’ first losing season since 2007.
The 2014 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's 49th season in the National Football League (NFL) and the seventh and final under head coach Mike Smith. The Falcons were defeated by the Carolina Panthers in week 17, officially eliminating them from postseason contention for the second straight year. As a result, Smith was fired after his seventh year as head coach, after two straight years with a losing record.
The 2016 Green Bay Packers season was their 98th season overall, 96th season in the National Football League (NFL), and the 11th under head coach Mike McCarthy. Despite a 4–6 start to the season, the Green Bay Packers went on a 6-game winning streak to finish the regular season with a 10–6 record. The team clinched the NFC North for the fifth time in six years with their week 17 win over the Detroit Lions. They routed the fifth-seeded New York Giants 38–13 in the wild card round of the playoffs and defeated the top-seeded and heavily favored Dallas Cowboys 34–31 in the divisional round of the playoffs, but their season came to an end when they were beat by the second-seeded Atlanta Falcons in the NFC Championship Game 44–21.
The 2017 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's 52nd season in the National Football League (NFL) and their third under head coach Dan Quinn. They entered the season as the defending NFC champions and tried to defend their NFC title for a second consecutive trip to the Super Bowl after losing the previous year against the Patriots in Super Bowl LI after blowing a 28-3 lead. This was the Falcons' first year in Mercedes-Benz Stadium after spending the previous 25 seasons in the Georgia Dome, which was demolished on November 20, 2017. Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened as scheduled on August 26, 2017; however, its retractable roof system was incomplete. The roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium remained in the closed position for most of the 2017 season, with the roof opened only during the September 17 game against the Green Bay Packers, as contractors continued to fully mechanize the roof.
The 2018 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 53rd in the National Football League, their second playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and their fourth under head coach Dan Quinn. The Falcons attempted to be the first team to 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 1–4 start.
The 2019 season was the Green Bay Packers' 99th in the National Football League (NFL), their 101st overall and their first under new head coach Matt LaFleur. After suffering back-to-back losing seasons for the first time since 1990–91 and missing the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2005–06, the Packers improved on their 6–9–1 record from 2018, finishing 13–3 and returning to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. This guaranteed the Packers' first non-losing season since that same year. Green Bay swept the NFC North for the first time since their franchise-best 2011 season, and achieved their best record since that season as well.
The 2019 season was the Minnesota Vikings' 59th in the National Football League (NFL), their fourth playing home games at U.S. Bank Stadium and their sixth under head coach Mike Zimmer. They improved on their 8–7–1 campaign from 2018 with a Week 14 win over the Detroit Lions, and returned to the playoffs following a one-year absence after the Los Angeles Rams lost to the San Francisco 49ers in Week 16. That week, the Vikings were eliminated from contention for the NFC North division title, losing 23–10 to the Green Bay Packers. They defeated the New Orleans Saints 26–20 in overtime in the Wild Card round but lost 27–10 to the eventual NFC champion San Francisco 49ers in the Divisional Round.
The 2019 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 54th in the National Football League (NFL), their third playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and their fifth under and final full season under head coach Dan Quinn, as he would be fired during their next season. They tried to improve on their 7–9 season from 2018, and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. However, the Falcons stumbled out of the gate and had their worst start for the first time in 16 years with a 1–7 record to begin the campaign.
The 2020 season was the Green Bay Packers' 100th season in the National Football League (NFL), their 102nd overall and their second under head coach Matt LaFleur.
The 2020 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 55th season in the National Football League (NFL), their fourth playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and their sixth and final season under head coach Dan Quinn.
The 2023 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 58th in the National Football League (NFL), their seventh playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, their third under general manager Terry Fontenot and third and final season under head coach Arthur Smith. The Falcons attempted to improve upon their 7–10 record from the previous two years and return to the playoffs for the first time since 2017. Despite starting 2–0, the first time since 2017 they won a season opener and had a winning record at some point, their struggles caught up to them, as after a 6–6 start and being 1st place in the NFC South, the team finished 1–4 in their final five games. Atlanta matched their previous two outputs of seven wins with a victory over the Indianapolis Colts in Week 16. However, they were eliminated from playoff contention when the division rival Tampa Bay Buccaneers defeated the Carolina Panthers in Week 18.
The 2023 season was the New Orleans Saints' 57th season in the National Football League (NFL), the 48th to host games at the Caesars Superdome and the second under head coach Dennis Allen. The team improved on their 7–10 record from 2022, but missed the playoffs for a third consecutive season. The Saints finished tied with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers for the NFC South division title, as well as in a three-way tie with the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks for the last Wild Card spot; however, the Saints lost both tiebreakers.