2023 Atlanta Falcons season

Last updated

2023 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
All-Pros G Chris Lindstrom (2nd team)
S Jessie Bates (2nd team)
Pro Bowlers G Chris Lindstrom
S Jessie Bates
Uniform
Atlanta Falcons Uniforms 2023-Present.png

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 being 1st place in the NFC South, [1] 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.

Contents

On January 8, 2024, the Falcons fired head coach Arthur Smith, who finished his tenure in Atlanta with a 21–30 (.412) record.

Draft

Draft trades

  1. 1 2 3 The Falcons traded their second round selection (44th overall) and their fourth round selection (110th overall) to the Indianapolis Colts in exchange for the (38th overall) pick. [2]
  2. 1 2 The Falcons traded a sixth-round selection (186th overall) and WR Julio Jones to the Tennessee Titans in exchange for a fourth-round selection (110th overall) and a 2022 second-round selection. [3]
  3. 1 2 The Falcons traded a fifth-round selection (144th overall) to the Las Vegas Raiders in exchange for a seventh-round selection (224th overall) and WR Bryan Edwards. [4]
  4. The Falcons traded a fifth-round selection (159th overall) to the Detroit Lions in exchange for CB Jeff Okudah. [5]
  5. The Falcons traded WR Calvin Ridley to the Jacksonville Jaguars in exchange for a fifth-round selection (159th overall) and a conditional 2024 fourth-round selection. [6]
  6. The Falcons traded a seventh-round selection (245th overall) to the New England Patriots in exchange for TE Jonnu Smith. [7]
  7. The Falcons traded S Dean Marlowe to the Buffalo Bills in exchange for a seventh-round selection (245th overall). [8]

Staff

2023 Atlanta Falcons staff

Front office

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

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Defensive coordinator – Ryan Nielsen
  • Linebackers – Frank Bush
  • Secondary – Steve Jackson
  • Senior defensive assistant – Dave Huxtable
  • Defensive assistant – Matt Pees
  • Defensive front specialist – Lanier Goethie
  • Special projects/defense – Mario Jeberaeel

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

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

Final roster

2023 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, 11 reserve, 16 practice squad (1 exempt)

Preseason

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1August 11at Miami Dolphins W 19–31–0 Hard Rock Stadium Recap
2August 18 Cincinnati Bengals T 13–131–0–1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
3August 24 Pittsburgh Steelers L 0–241–1–1Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap

Regular season

Schedule

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueRecap
1 September 10 Carolina Panthers W 24–101–0 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
2 September 17 Green Bay Packers W 25–242–0Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
3 September 24at Detroit Lions L 6–202–1 Ford Field Recap
4 October 1 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 7–232–2 Flag of the United Kingdom.svg Wembley Stadium (London) Recap
5 October 8 Houston Texans W 21–193–2Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
6 October 15 Washington Commanders L 16–243–3Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
7 October 22at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 16–134–3 Raymond James Stadium Recap
8 October 29at Tennessee Titans L 23–284–4 Nissan Stadium Recap
9 November 5 Minnesota Vikings L 28–314–5Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
10 November 12at Arizona Cardinals L 23–254–6 State Farm Stadium Recap
11 Bye
12 November 26 New Orleans Saints W 24–155–6Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
13 December 3at New York Jets W 13–86–6 MetLife Stadium Recap
14 December 10 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 25–296–7Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
15 December 17at Carolina Panthers L 7–96–8 Bank of America Stadium Recap
16 December 24 Indianapolis Colts W 29–107–8Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
17 December 31at Chicago Bears L 17–377–9 Soldier Field Recap
18 January 7at New Orleans Saints L 17–487–10 Caesars Superdome Recap

Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week 1: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Panthers073010
Falcons0731424

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 2: vs. Green Bay Packers

Week 2: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Packers01014024
Falcons3631325

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 3: at Detroit Lions

Week 3: Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons03036
Lions3100720

at Ford Field, Detroit, Michigan

Game information

Week 4: at Jacksonville Jaguars

NFL London games

Week 4: Atlanta Falcons at Jacksonville Jaguars – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons00707
Jaguars7100623

at Wembley Stadium, London, England

Game information

Week 5: vs. Houston Texans

Week 5: Houston Texans at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Texans363719
Falcons7001421

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: October 8
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Sunny, 63 °F (17 °C) (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 69,461
  • Referee: Shawn Hochuli
  • TV announcers (Fox): Brandon Gaudin, Mark Schlereth and Kristina Pink
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 6: vs. Washington Commanders

Week 6: Washington Commanders at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Commanders3147024
Falcons730616

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 7: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 7: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons733316
Buccaneers730313

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

  • Date: October 22
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 79 °F (26 °C)
  • Game attendance: 62,620
  • Referee: Ronald Torbert
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Mark Schlereth and Kristina Pink
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 8: at Tennessee Titans

Week 8: Atlanta Falcons at Tennessee Titans – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons3061423
Titans777728

at Nissan Stadium, Nashville, Tennessee

Game information

Week 9: vs. Minnesota Vikings

Week 9: Minnesota Vikings at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Vikings37111031
Falcons3810728

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: November 5
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Clear, 70 °F (21 °C) (retractable roof open)
  • Game attendance: 69,715
  • Referee: Shawn Smith
  • TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Mark Schlereth and Kristina Pink
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

The Falcons weren't able to hold off the Vikings, losing to them 31–28, allowing their rival Saints to defeat the Bears and take the number 1 spot in the NFC South.

Week 10: at Arizona Cardinals

Week 10: Atlanta Falcons at Arizona Cardinals – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons0143623
Cardinals3910325

at State Farm Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Game information

Week 12: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week 12: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Saints363315
Falcons7701024

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 13: at New York Jets

Week 13: Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons0103013
Jets23308

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: December 3
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Cloudy, 50 °F (10 °C)
  • Game attendance: 74,455
  • Referee: Ronald Torbert
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Shannon Spake
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 14: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week 14: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Buccaneers3971029
Falcons3701525

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: December 10
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 69,496
  • Referee: Alex Kemp
  • TV announcers (CBS): Spero Dedes, Adam Archuleta and Aditi Kinkhabwala
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 15: at Carolina Panthers

Week 15: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons07007
Panthers03069

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

  • Date: December 17
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Rain, 46 °F (8 °C)
  • Game attendance: 70,301
  • Referee: Land Clark
  • TV announcers (Fox): Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth and Kristina Pink
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 16: vs. Indianapolis Colts

Week 16: Indianapolis Colts at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Colts703010
Falcons767929

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: December 24
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 69,221
  • Referee: Alan Eck
  • TV announcers (Fox): Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth and Kristina Pink
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Week 17: at Chicago Bears

Week 17: Atlanta Falcons at Chicago Bears – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons073717
Bears71461037

at Soldier Field, Chicago, Illinois

Game information

Week 18: at New Orleans Saints

Week 18: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter1234Total
Falcons1430017
Saints710141748

at Caesars Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: January 7 [11]
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 70,072
  • Referee: John Hussey
  • TV announcers (CBS): Andrew Catalon, Tiki Barber, Matt Ryan and AJ Ross
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

Division

NFC South
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
(4) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 980.5294–27–5348325W1
New Orleans Saints 980.5294–26–6402327W2
Atlanta Falcons 7100.4123–34–8321373L2
Carolina Panthers 2150.1181–51–11236416L3

Conference

#TeamDivisionWLTPCTDIVCONFSOSSOVSTK
Division leaders
1 [a] San Francisco 49ers West1250.7065–110–2.509.475L1
2 [a] [b] Dallas Cowboys East1250.7065–19–3.446.392W2
3 [a] [b] Detroit Lions North1250.7064–28–4.481.436W1
4 [c] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South980.5294–27–5.481.379W1
Wild cards
5 Philadelphia Eagles East1160.6474–27–5.481.476L2
6 Los Angeles Rams West1070.5885–18–4.529.453W4
7 [d] [e] Green Bay Packers North980.5294–27–5.474.458W3
Did not qualify for the postseason
8 [d] [e] Seattle Seahawks West980.5292–47–5.512.392W1
9 [c] [d] New Orleans Saints South980.5294–26–6.433.340W2
10 [f] [g] Minnesota Vikings North7100.4122–46–6.509.454L4
11 [g] [h] Chicago Bears North7100.4122–46–6.464.370L1
12 [f] [h] Atlanta Falcons South7100.4123–34–8.429.462L2
13 New York Giants East6110.3533–35–7.512.353W1
14 [i] Washington Commanders East4130.2350–62–10.512.338L8
15 [i] Arizona Cardinals West4130.2350–63–9.561.588L1
16 Carolina Panthers South2150.1181–51–11.522.500L3
Tiebreakers [j]
  1. 1 2 3 San Francisco finished ahead of Dallas and Detroit based on conference record, claiming the No. 1 seed.
  2. 1 2 Dallas claimed the No. 2 seed over Detroit based on head-to-head victory.
  3. 1 2 Tampa Bay finished ahead of New Orleans in the NFC South based on common record. (Tampa Bay is 8–4 against Minnesota, Chicago, Detroit, Green Bay, Atlanta, Carolina, Houston, Tennessee, Jacksonville, and Indianapolis, while New Orleans is 6–6 against the same teams.)
  4. 1 2 3 Green Bay and Seattle finished ahead of New Orleans based on conference record.
  5. 1 2 Green Bay finished ahead of Seattle based on strength of victory, claiming the 7th and final playoff spot.
  6. 1 2 Minnesota finished ahead of Atlanta based on head-to-head victory. Division tie break was initially used to eliminate Chicago (see below).
  7. 1 2 Minnesota finished ahead of Chicago based on common record. (Minnesota is 5–7 against Tampa Bay, Los Angeles Chargers, Carolina, Kansas City, Green Bay, Atlanta, New Orleans, Denver, Las Vegas, and Detroit, while Chicago is 4–8 against the same teams.)
  8. 1 2 Chicago finished ahead of Atlanta based on head-to-head victory.
  9. 1 2 Washington finished ahead of Arizona based on head-to-head victory.
  10. 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.

Team leaders

CategoryPlayer(s)Value
Passing yards Desmond Ridder 2,836
Passing touchdownsDesmond Ridder12
Rushing yards Bijan Robinson 976
Rushing touchdownsDesmond Ridder5
Receptions Drake London 69
Receiving yardsDrake London905
Receiving touchdownsBijan Robinson4
Points Younghoe Koo 123
Kickoff return yards Cordarrelle Patterson 153
Punt return yards Mike Hughes 67
Tackles Jessie Bates 132
Sacks Calais Campbell
Bud Dupree
6.5
Forced fumblesJessie Bates3
InterceptionsJessie Bates6
Pass deflections A. J. Terrell
Jessie Bates
10

NFL rankings

CategoryTotal pointsPoints per gameNFL rank
(out of 32)
Offensive points scored32118.926th
Defensive points allowed37321.917th

References

  1. Iyer, Vinnie (December 5, 2023). "NFL standings: Updated AFC, NFC playoff picture after Week 13 of 2023 season". Sporting News. Retrieved December 4, 2024.
  2. "The Falcons trade up, select Matthew Bergeron with the (38th overall) 2023 NFL Draft pick". atlantafalcons.com. September 1, 2021. Retrieved September 4, 2021.
  3. "Atlanta Falcons trade Julio Jones to Tennessee Titans". ESPN. June 6, 2021. Retrieved June 6, 2021.
  4. Bair, Scott (May 13, 2022). "Falcons trade for Raiders receiver Bryan Edwards". Atlanta Falcons. Archived from the original on May 18, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2022.
  5. Yates, Field (April 11, 2023). "Lions trade former No. 3 overall pick Jeff Okudah to Falcons". ESPN.com. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  6. Greenawalt, Tyler (November 1, 2022). "NFL trade deadline: Jaguars reportedly trade for suspended WR Calvin Ridley". Yahoo!Sports.com. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  7. "Patriots Trade Tight End Jonnu Smith to Atlanta". Patriots.com. March 16, 2023. Retrieved April 23, 2023.
  8. Edmunds, Ashton (November 1, 2022). "Falcons trade safety Dean Marlowe to Buffalo Bills". AtlantaFalcons.com. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  9. Bair, Scott (May 15, 2023). "Falcons sign four, cut several in series of moves following rookie minicamp". AtlantaFalcons.com.
  10. Bair, Scott (May 1, 2023). "Falcons agree to terms with six undrafted free agents". Atlanta Falcons. Retrieved November 24, 2024.
  11. Martel, Brett (January 7, 2024). "Saints players defy their own coaches and score from kneel-down formation, angering the Falcons". AP News. Retrieved December 2, 2024.