2021 Atlanta Falcons season

Last updated

2021 Atlanta Falcons season
Owner Arthur Blank
General manager Terry Fontenot
Head coach Arthur Smith
Home stadium Mercedes-Benz Stadium
Results
Record7–10
Division place3rd NFC South
PlayoffsDid not qualify
Pro Bowlers TE Kyle Pitts
LS Josh Harris
All-Pros CB A. J. Terrell (2nd team)
LS Josh Harris (2nd team)
Uniform
Atlanta Falcons Uniforms 2020-2021.png

The 2021 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 56th season in the National Football League (NFL), their fifth playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium and their first under general manager Terry Fontenot and head coach Arthur Smith.

Contents

For the first time since 2010, wide receiver Julio Jones was not on the roster as he was traded to the Tennessee Titans on June 6, 2021. [1] Jones departed Atlanta holding the most career receiving yards and receptions in Falcons franchise history.

Following their Week 12 win over the Jacksonville Jaguars, the Falcons improved their 4–12 season from the previous year. However, the Falcons were eliminated from playoff contention for the fourth consecutive year following a Week 17 loss to the Buffalo Bills.

It was also their final season with quarterback Matt Ryan, as he was traded to the Indianapolis Colts for the following season. [2]

Draft

2021 Atlanta Falcons Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
1 4 Kyle Pitts TE Florida Highest selected tight end in NFL history
240 Richie Grant S UCF from Denver Broncos
368 Jalen Mayfield OG Michigan
4108 Darren Hall CB San Diego State
114 Drew Dalman C Stanford from Denver Broncos
5148 Ta'Quon Graham DE Texas
182 Adetokunbo Ogundeji DE Notre Dame
183 Avery Williams CB Boise State
6187 Frank Darby WR Arizona State

Notes

Staff

2021 Atlanta Falcons staff

Front office

  • Owner/chairman – Arthur Blank
  • President/CEO – Rich McKay
  • General manager – Terry Fontenot
  • Vice president of player personnel – Kyle Smith
  • Director of pro personnel – Shepley Heard
  • Director of coaching operations – Brian Griffin
  • Director of college scouting – Anthony Robinson
  • Director of player personnel – Steve Sabo
  • Senior director of football administration – Chris Olsen
  • National scouts – Ruston Webster, Phil Emery, and Joel Collier

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – Thomas Stallworth
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Bobby Thomas
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Roderick Moore Jr

Final roster

2021 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
54 active, 8 reserve, 16 practice squad

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1August 13 Tennessee Titans L 3–230–1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
2August 21at Miami Dolphins L 17–370–2 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
3August 29 Cleveland Browns L 10–190–3Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap

Regular season

Schedule

The Falcons 2021 schedule was announced on May 12. They opened the season at home against the Philadelphia Eagles.

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1 September 12 Philadelphia Eagles L 6–320–1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
2 September 19at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 25–480–2 Raymond James Stadium Recap
3 September 26at New York Giants W 17–141–2 MetLife Stadium Recap
4 October 3 Washington Football Team L 30–341–3Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
5 October 10 New York Jets W 27–202–3 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London) Recap
6 Bye
7 October 24at Miami Dolphins W 30–283–3 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
8 October 31 Carolina Panthers L 13–193–4Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
9 November 7at New Orleans Saints W 27–254–4 Caesars Superdome Recap
10 November 14at Dallas Cowboys L 3–434–5 AT&T Stadium Recap
11 November 18 New England Patriots L 0–254–6Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
12 November 28at Jacksonville Jaguars W 21–145–6 TIAA Bank Field Recap
13 December 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 17–305–7Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
14 December 12at Carolina Panthers W 29–216–7 Bank of America Stadium Recap
15 December 19at San Francisco 49ers L 13–316–8 Levi's Stadium Recap
16 December 26 Detroit Lions W 20–167–8Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
17 January 2at Buffalo Bills L 15–297–9 Highmark Stadium Recap
18 January 9 New Orleans Saints L 20–307–10Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Philadelphia Eagles

Week 1: Philadelphia Eagles at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Eagles7871032
Falcons33006

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

The Falcons start their season off with a 26-point loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Week 2: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 2: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons01015025
Buccaneers71472048

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

  • Date: September 19
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 83 °F (28 °C)
  • Game attendance: 63,694
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 3: at New York Giants

Week 3: Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons0701017
Giants330814

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

Game information

Week 4: vs. Washington Football Team

Week 4: Washington Football Team at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Washington01391234
Falcons3146730

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 5: vs. New York Jets

NFL London games

Week 5: New York Jets at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Jets0361120
Falcons10100727

at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England

Game information

Week 7: at Miami Dolphins

Week 7: Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons01371030
Dolphins7071428

at Hard Rock Stadium, Miami Gardens, Florida

Game information

Week 8: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week 8: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers363719
Falcons370313

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: October 31
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 58 °F (14 °C) (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 68,583
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 9: at New Orleans Saints

Week 9: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons3771027
Saints0032225

at Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: November 7
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 69,170
  • Referee: Alex Kemp
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Sara Walsh
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Younghoe Koo kicked a game-winning field goal as time ran out, improving Atlanta to 4–4.

Week 10: at Dallas Cowboys

Week 10: Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons30003
Cowboys7297043

at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas

  • Date: November 14
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 66 °F (19 °C) (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 93,436
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Greg Olsen and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 11: vs. New England Patriots

Week 11: New England Patriots at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Patriots31001225
Falcons00000

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 12: at Jacksonville Jaguars

Week 12: Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons777021
Jaguars038314

at TIAA Bank Field, Jacksonville, Florida

  • Date: November 28
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 62 °F (17 °C)
  • Game attendance: 60,031
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 13: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 13: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Buccaneers1377330
Falcons7100017

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: December 5
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 69,366
  • Referee: Tony Corrente
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Sara Walsh
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: at Carolina Panthers

Week 14: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons7103929
Panthers707721

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: December 12
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Sunny, 51 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 72,243
  • Referee: Shawn Smith
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Lindsay Czarniak
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: at San Francisco 49ers

Week 15: Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons373013
49ers31414031

at Levi's Stadium, Santa Clara, California

  • Date: December 19
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m. EST/1:05 p.m. PST
  • Game weather: Clear, 52 °F (11 °C)
  • Game attendance: 71,650
  • Referee: Clay Martin
  • TV announcers (CBS): Kevin Harlan, Trent Green and Melanie Collins
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: vs. Detroit Lions

Week 16: Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Lions373316
Falcons0103720

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: December 26
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Partly cloudy, 70 °F (21 °C) (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 68,638
  • Referee: Ronald Torbert
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Robert Smith and Jen Hale
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: at Buffalo Bills

Week 17: Atlanta Falcons at Buffalo Bills – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons2130015
Bills1408729

at Highmark Stadium, Orchard Park, New York

  • Date: January 2
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Snow showers, 25 °F (−4 °C)
  • Game attendance: 64,948
  • Referee: Land Clark
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 18: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 18: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Saints7170630
Falcons337720

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: January 9
  • Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 68,336
  • Referee: Craig Wrolstad
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Kugler, Mark Sanchez and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Coming off with a 2-point win in Week 9, they host the Saints. They were defeated by 10 points and finish their season with a 7-10 record.

Standings

Division

NFC South
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 1340.7654–28–4511353W3
New Orleans Saints 980.5294–27–5364335W2
Atlanta Falcons 7100.4122–44–8313459L2
Carolina Panthers 5120.2942–43–9304404L7

Conference

#TeamDivisionWLTPCTDIVCONFSOSSOVSTK
Division winners
1 [a] Green Bay Packers North1340.7654–29–3.479.480L1
2 [a] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South1340.7654–28–4.467.443W3
3 [b] Dallas Cowboys East1250.7066–010–2.488.431W1
4 [b] Los Angeles Rams West1250.7063–38–4.483.409L1
Wild cards
5 Arizona Cardinals West1160.6474–27–5.490.492L1
6 San Francisco 49ers West1070.5882–47–5.500.438W2
7 [c] Philadelphia Eagles East980.5293–37–5.469.350L1
Did not qualify for the postseason
8 [c] New Orleans Saints South980.5294–27–5.512.516W2
9 Minnesota Vikings North890.4714–26–6.507.434W1
10 [d] Washington Football Team East7100.4122–46–6.529.420W1
11 [d] [e] Seattle Seahawks West7100.4123–34–8.519.424W2
12 [d] [e] Atlanta Falcons South7100.4122–44–8.472.315L2
13 Chicago Bears North6110.3532–44–8.524.373L1
14 Carolina Panthers South5120.2942–43–9.509.412L7
15 New York Giants East4130.2351–53–9.536.485L6
16 Detroit Lions North3131.2062–43–9.528.627W1
Tiebreakers [f]
  1. 1 2 Green Bay finished ahead of Tampa Bay based on conference record (9–3 vs. 8–4), claiming the No. 1 seed.
  2. 1 2 Dallas claimed the No. 3 seed over LA Rams based on conference record (10–2 vs. 8–4).
  3. 1 2 Philadelphia finished ahead of New Orleans based on head-to-head victory, claiming the 7th and final playoff spot.
  4. 1 2 3 Washington finished ahead of Atlanta and Seattle based on head-to-head victories.
  5. 1 2 Seattle finished ahead of Atlanta based on win percentage in common games (4–2 vs. 3–3 against: San Francisco, New Orleans, Jacksonville, Washington, and Detroit).
  6. 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. Maya, Adam (June 6, 2021). "Falcons trade WR Julio Jones, future sixth-rounder to Titans for second- and fourth-round picks". NFL.com. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  2. "Falcons trade Matt Ryan to Indianapolis Colts". www.atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved March 21, 2022.
  3. "Falcons awarded three compensatory picks ahead of the 2021 NFL Draft".
  4. "Falcons trade back in second round of 2021 NFL Draft".