2018 Atlanta Falcons season

Last updated

2018 Atlanta Falcons season
Owner Arthur Blank
General manager Thomas Dimitroff
Head coach Dan Quinn
Home stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Results
Record7–9
Division place2nd NFC South
PlayoffsDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers WR Julio Jones
C Alex Mack
TE Austin Hooper
T Jake Matthews
Uniform
Atlanta falcons unif 16.png

The 2018 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 53rd in the National Football League (NFL), 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 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.

Contents

Following a 31–17 loss to the Saints in Week 12, the Falcons fell to 4–7 and failed to match their 10–6 campaign from 2017. With a 34–20 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Falcons fell to 4–9 and suffered their first losing season since the 2014 season. Despite beating the Arizona Cardinals 40–14 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 a losing season. [1] However, they were able to end their season with a 3 game win streak to finish 7–9.

Roster changes

Free agents

Unrestricted

PositionPlayer2018 TeamDate signedContract
CB Blidi Wreh-Wilson Atlanta Falcons March 5, 20181 year, $880,000
K Matt Bryant Atlanta Falcons March 10, 20183 years, $10.1 million
WR Taylor Gabriel Chicago Bears March 13, 20184 years, $26 million
DT Dontari Poe Carolina Panthers March 15, 20183 years, $28 million

Draft

2018 Atlanta Falcons Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
1 26 Calvin Ridley WR Alabama
258 Isaiah Oliver CB Colorado
390 Deadrin Senat DT South Florida
4126 Ito Smith RB Southern Miss
6194 Russell Gage WR LSU from Los Angeles Rams
200 Foyesade Oluokun LB Yale

Draft trades

Staff

2018 Atlanta Falcons staff

Front office

Head coaches

  • Head coach – Dan Quinn
  • Assistant head coach/pass game coordinator – Raheem Morris
  • Assistant to the head coach – Steve Scarnecchia

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams coordinator – Keith Armstrong
  • Assistant special teams – Mayur Chaudhari

Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – Jesse Ackerman
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Jonas Beauchemin
  • Assistant strength – Brandon Ireland

Final roster

2018 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, 8 reserve, 11 practice squad

Preseason

The Falcons' preseason opponents and schedule was announced on April 11.

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueTVRecap
1August 10at New York Jets L 0–170–1 MetLife Stadium Justin Kutcher, Coy WireD.J. Shockley/Ian Eagle, Anthony Becht, Otis Livingston Recap
2August 17 Kansas City Chiefs L 14–280–2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Carter Blackburn, Trent GreenB.J. Kissel/Justin Kutcher, Coy Wire, D.J. Shockley Recap
3August 25at Jacksonville Jaguars L 6–170–3 EverBank Field Justin Kutcher, Coy Wire, D.J. Shockley/Brian Sexton, Fred TaylorBrent Martineau, Ashlyn Sullivan Recap
4August 30 Miami Dolphins L 7–340–4Mercedes-Benz Stadium Dick Stockton, Bob Griese, Nat Moore, Kim Bokamper/Justin Kutcher, Coy Wire, D.J. Shockley Recap

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1 September 6 at Philadelphia Eagles L 12–180–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap
2 September 16 Carolina Panthers W 31–241–1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
3 September 23 New Orleans Saints L 37–43 (OT)1–2Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
4 September 30 Cincinnati Bengals L 36–371–3Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
5 October 7at Pittsburgh Steelers L 17–411–4 Heinz Field Recap
6 October 14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 34–292–4Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
7 October 22 New York Giants W 23–203–4Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
8 Bye
9 November 4at Washington Redskins W 38–144–4 FedExField Recap
10 November 11at Cleveland Browns L 16–284–5 FirstEnergy Stadium Recap
11 November 18 Dallas Cowboys L 19–224–6Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
12 November 22 at New Orleans Saints L 17–314–7 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
13 December 2 Baltimore Ravens L 16–264–8Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
14 December 9at Green Bay Packers L 20–344–9 Lambeau Field Recap
15 December 16 Arizona Cardinals W 40–145–9Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
16 December 23at Carolina Panthers W 24–106–9 Bank of America Stadium Recap
17 December 30at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 34–327–9 Raymond James Stadium Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Philadelphia Eagles

NFL Kickoff Game

Week One: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons330612
Eagles037818

at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 2: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week Two: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers3701424
Falcons3147731

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 3: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week Three: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234OTTotal
Saints79714643
Falcons77716037

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Week Four: Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Bengals14140937
Falcons7173936

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Five: Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons0100717
Steelers130141441

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 6: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week Six: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Buccaneers6731329
Falcons71701034

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 7: vs. New York Giants

Week Seven: New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Giants0331420
Falcons01001323

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 9: at Washington Redskins

Week Nine: Atlanta Falcons at Washington Redskins – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons71471038
Redskins077014

at FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland

Game information

Week 10: at Cleveland Browns

Week Ten: Atlanta Falcons at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons0100616
Browns7714028

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week Eleven: Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cowboys3031622
Falcons0631019

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: November 18
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), sunny – retractable roof open
  • Game attendance: 74,447
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis, and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Week 12: at New Orleans Saints

NFL on Thanksgiving Day

Week Twelve: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons307717
Saints7107731

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

Week 13: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Week Thirteen: Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Ravens7361026
Falcons370616

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

The Falcons were the only NFC South team to lose to all of their AFC North opponents in 2018.

Week 14: at Green Bay Packers

Week Fourteen: Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons7001320
Packers71314034

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: December 9
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 25 °F (−4 °C), cloudy
  • Game attendance: 77,329
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis, and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

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). [4] 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. [5]

Week 15: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Week Fifteen: Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Cardinals700714
Falcons10167740

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
Game information

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 Panthers

Week Sixteen: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons7314024
Panthers730010

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week Seventeen: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons07171034
Buccaneers71031232

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

  • Date: December 30
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C), cloudy
  • Game attendance: 52,884
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth, and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

Standings

Division

NFC South
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(1) New Orleans Saints 1330.8134–29–3504353L1
Atlanta Falcons 790.4384–27–5414423W3
Carolina Panthers 790.4382–45–7376382W1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 5110.3132–44–8396464L4

Conference

#TeamDivisionWLTPCTDIVCONFSOSSOVSTK
Division leaders
1 [a] New Orleans Saints South1330.8134–29–3.482.488L1
2 [a] Los Angeles Rams West1330.8136–09–3.480.428W2
3 Chicago Bears North1240.7505–110–2.430.419W4
4 Dallas Cowboys East1060.6255–19–3.488.444W2
Wild Cards
5 Seattle Seahawks West1060.6253–38–4.484.400W2
6 Philadelphia Eagles East970.5634–26–6.518.486W3
Did not qualify for the postseason
7 Minnesota Vikings North871.5313–2–16–5–1.504.355L1
8 [b] Atlanta Falcons South790.4384–27–5.482.348W3
9 [b] Washington Redskins East790.4382–46–6.486.371L2
10 [b] Carolina Panthers South790.4382–45–7.508.518W1
11 Green Bay Packers North691.4061–4–13–8–1.488.417L1
12 Detroit Lions North6100.3752–44–8.504.427W1
13 [c] New York Giants East5110.3131–54–8.527.487L3
14 [c] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South5110.3132–44–8.523.506L4
15 San Francisco 49ers West4120.2501–52–10.504.406L2
16 Arizona Cardinals West3130.1882–43–9.527.302L4
Tiebreakers [d]
  1. 1 2 New Orleans finished ahead of LA Rams based on head-to-head victory, claiming the No. 1 seed.
  2. 1 2 3 Atlanta finished ahead of Washington based on head-to-head victory. Atlanta finished ahead of Carolina based on head-to-head sweep. Washington finished ahead of Carolina based on head-to-head victory.
  3. 1 2 NY Giants finished ahead of Tampa Bay based on head-to-head victory.
  4. When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.

References

  1. As of 2023
  2. Patra, Kevin (September 1, 2017). "Broncos trade Ty Sambrailo to Falcons for '18 draft pick". NFL. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  3. "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.
  4. "Streaks - Eight Seasons - 4,000 Passing Yards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  5. 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.