2014 Atlanta Falcons season

2014 Atlanta Falcons season
Head coach Mike Smith
General manager Thomas Dimitroff
Owner Arthur Blank
Home field Georgia Dome
Results
Record 6–10
Division place 3rd NFC South
Playoff finish did not qualify
Pro Bowlers WR/RS Devin Hester
WR Julio Jones
QB Matt Ryan

The 2014 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's 49th season in the National Football League and the seventh 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.[1] As a result, head coach Mike Smith was fired after his seventh year as coach, after two straight years with a losing record.[2]

The 2014 Atlanta Falcons were featured on the HBO documentary series Hard Knocks.[3]

2014 draft class

Main article: 2014 NFL draft
2014 Atlanta Falcons Draft
Round Selection Player Position College
1 6 Jake Matthews Offensive tackle Texas A&M
2 37 Ra'Shede Hageman Defensive tackle Minnesota
3 68 Dezmen Southward Free safety Wisconsin
4 103 Devonta Freeman Running Back Florida State
139 Prince Shembo Linebacker Notre Dame
5 147 Ricardo Allen Cornerback Purdue
168 Marquis Spruill Linebacker Syracuse
6 None — see below
7 253 Yawin Smallwood Linebacker Connecticut
255 Tyler Starr Linebacker South Dakota
Compensatory selection

Staff

2014 Atlanta Falcons staff
Front office
  • Owner/Chairman – Arthur Blank
  • President/CEO – Rich McKay
  • General Manager – Thomas Dimitroff
  • Assistant General Manager – Scott Pioli
  • Director of Player Personnel – Lionel Vital
  • Director of Football Administration – Nick Polk
  • Director of Pro Scouting – DeJuan Polk
  • Director of College Scouting – Steve Sabo

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

 Defensive coaches
  • Defensive Coordinator – Mike Nolan
  • Defensive Line – Bryan Cox
  • Linebackers – Glenn Pires
  • Outside Linebackers – Mark Collins
  • Secondary – Tim Lewis
  • Defensive Backs – Joe Danna
  • Defensive Assistant – Andrew Thacker

Special teams coaches

  • Special Teams Coordinator – Keith Armstrong
  • Assistant Special Teams – Eric Sutulovich

Final roster

2014 Atlanta Falcons final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

 Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

 Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

 Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 Active, 11 Inactive, 10 Practice squad

Schedule

Preseason

Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.com
recap
1 August 8 Miami Dolphins W 16–10 1–0 Georgia Dome Recap
2 August 16 at Houston Texans L 7–32 1–1 NRG Stadium Recap
3 August 23 Tennessee Titans L 17–24 1–2 Georgia Dome Recap
4 August 28 at Jacksonville Jaguars W 24–14 2–2 EverBank Field Recap

Regular season

Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.com
recap
1 September 7 New Orleans Saints W 37–34 (OT) 1–0 Georgia Dome Recap
2 September 14 at Cincinnati Bengals L 10–24 1–1 Paul Brown Stadium Recap
3 September 18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 56–14 2–1 Georgia Dome Recap
4 September 28 at Minnesota Vikings L 28–41 2–2 TCF Bank Stadium Recap
5 October 5 at New York Giants L 20–30 2–3 MetLife Stadium Recap
6 October 12 Chicago Bears L 13–27 2–4 Georgia Dome Recap
7 October 19 at Baltimore Ravens L 7–29 2–5 M&T Bank Stadium Recap
8 October 26 Detroit Lions L 21–22 2–6 Wembley Stadium (London, England) Recap
9 Bye
10 November 9 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 27–17 3–6 Raymond James Stadium Recap
11 November 16 at Carolina Panthers W 19–17 4–6 Bank of America Stadium Recap
12 November 23 Cleveland Browns L 24–26 4–7 Georgia Dome Recap
13 November 30 Arizona Cardinals W 29–18 5–7 Georgia Dome Recap
14 December 8 at Green Bay Packers L 37–43 5–8 Lambeau Field Recap
15 December 14 Pittsburgh Steelers L 20–27 5–9 Georgia Dome Recap
16 December 21 at New Orleans Saints W 30–14 6–9 Mercedes-Benz Superdome Recap
17 December 28 Carolina Panthers L 3–34 6–10 Georgia Dome Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week One: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34OTTotal
Saints 6 14 014034
Falcons 0 10 1410337

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

First quarter
  • NO – 10:33 Shayne Graham 31-yard FG.
    Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards, 4:27. (NO 3–0)
  • NO – 4:39 Shayne Graham 50-yard FG.
    Drive: 10 plays, 28 yards, 3:59. (NO 6–0)
Second quarter
  • NO – 11:46 Khiry Robinson 2-yard run, Shayne Graham kick.
    Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:10. (NO 13–0)
  • ATL – 4:06 Roddy White 2-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 14 plays, 80, yards, 7:40. (NO 13–7)
  • NO – 0:20 Brandin Cooks 3-yard TD pass from Drew Brees, Shayne Graham kick.
    Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:46. (NO 20–7)
  • ATL – 0:00 Matt Bryant 40-yard FG.
    Drive: 3 plays, 58 yards, 0:20. (NO 20–10)
Third quarter
  • ATL – 9:22 Levine Toilolo 1-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 5:38. (NO 20–17)
  • ATL – 0:21 Antone Smith 54-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:31. (ATL 24–20)
Fourth quarter
  • NO – 8:46 Mark Ingram 3-yard TD run, Shayne Graham kick.
    Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 6:35. (NO 27–24)
  • ATL – 2:50 Jacquizz Rodgers 17-yard TD run, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 8 plays, 94 yards, 3:26. (ATL 31–27)
  • NO – 1:20 Mark Ingram 3-yard TD run, Shayne Graham kick.
    Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 1:30. (NO 34–31)
  • ATL – 0:00 Matt Bryant 51-yard FG.
    Drive: 8 plays, 47 yards, 1:20. (TIE 34–34)
Overtime
  • ATL – 13:17 Matt Bryant 52-yard FG.
    Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 1:32. (ATL 37–34)
Top passers
  • NO – Drew Brees – 29/42, 333 YDS, 1 TD, 1 INT
  • ATL – Matt Ryan – 31/43, 448 YDS, 3 TD, 0 INT
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers

Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals

Week Two: Atlanta Falcons at Cincinnati Bengals – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 0 0710
Bengals 3 7 14024

at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, Ohio

Game information

First quarter
  • CIN – 5:19 Mike Nugent 31-yard FG.
    Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards, 5:57. (CIN 3–0)
  • ATL – 1:08 Matt Bryant 46-yard FG.
    Drive: 9 plays, 40 yards, 4:11. (TIE 3–3)
Second quarter
  • CIN – 5:19 Giovani Bernard 4-yard run, Mike Nugent kick.
    Drive: 10 plays, 91 yards, 5:20. (CIN 10–3)
Third quarter
  • CIN – 10:58 Mohamed Sanu 76-yard TD pass from Andy Dalton, Mike Nugent kick.
    Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 1:12. (CIN 17–3)
  • CIN – 6:28 Jeremy Hill 1-yard run, Mike Nugent kick.
    Drive: 8 plays, 43 yards, 4:14. (CIN 24–3)
Fourth quarter
  • ATL – 8:35 Julio Jones 14-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 10 plays, 77 yards, 3:59. (CIN 24–10)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers

Week 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week Three: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 0 0 01414
Falcons 21 14 21056

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

First quarter
  • ATL – 12:03 Harry Douglas 3-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 2:57. (ATL 7–0)
  • ATL – 3:03 Julio Jones 8-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 8 plays, 37 yards, 4:14. (ATL 14–0)
  • ATL – 2:38 Kemal Ishmael 23-yard TD interception return, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 3 plays, 0 yards, 0:25. (ATL 21–0)
Second quarter
  • ATL – 14:53 Devin Hester 20-yard run, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 4 plays, 35 yards, 1:55. (ATL 28–0)
  • ATL – 7:06 Devin Hester 62-yard punt return, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 3 plays, 4 yards, 1:44. (ATL 35–0)
Third quarter
  • ATL – 8:23 Julio Jones 40-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 5 plays, 82 yards, 2:39. (ATL 42–0)
  • ATL – 8:11 Steven Jackson 2-yard run, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 1 play, 2 yards, 0:07. (ATL 49–0)
  • ATL – 1:47 Antone Smith 38-yard run, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 5 play, 80 yards, 3:12. (ATL 56–0)
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers

In this game, Devin Hester would break Deion Sanders's all-time record for punt/kick returns for touchdowns, with 20.[4]

Week 4: at Minnesota Vikings

Week Four: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 7 14028
Vikings 14 10 31441

at TCF Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

First quarter
  • MIN – 9:27 Matt Asiata 3-yard run, Blair Walsh kick.
    Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 4:31. (MIN 7–0)
  • ATL – 3:56 Roddy White 24-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 5:31. (TIE 7–7)
  • MIN – 1:31 Matt Asiata 3-yard run, Blair Walsh kick.
    Drive: 5 plays, 53 yards, 2:25. (MIN 14–7)
Second quarter
  • ATL – 5:56 Patrick DiMarco 1-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 13 plays, 60 yards, 5:26. (TIE 14–14)
  • MIN – 9:27 Teddy Bridgewater 13-yard run, Blair Walsh kick.
    Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:57. (MIN 21–14)
  • MIN – 0:02 Blair Walsh 18-yard FG.
    Drive: 10 plays, 84 yards, 1:23. (MIN 24–14)
Third quarter
  • MIN – 10:40 Blair Walsh 41-yard FG.
    Drive: 8 plays, 43 yards, 4:20. (MIN 27–14)
  • ATL – 7:19 Devin Hester 36-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 3:21. (MIN 27–21)
  • ATL – 1:31 Antone Smith 48-yard run, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 4 plays, 63 yards, 1:16. (ATL 28–27)
Fourth quarter
  • MIN – 10:50 Matt Asiata 1-yard run, Teddy Bridewater pass to Rhett Ellison for 2-point conversion.
    Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards, 3:51. (MIN 35–28)
  • MIN – 3:38 Blair Walsh 55-yard FG.
    Drive: 5 plays, 18 yards, 2:51. (MIN 38–28)
  • MIN – 1:14 Blair Walsh 33-yard FG.
    Drive: 7 plays, 15 yards, 2:11. (MIN 41–28)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers

Week 5: at New York Giants

Week Five: Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 6 7020
Giants 7 3 71330

at MetLife Stadium, East Rutherford, New Jersey

  • Date: October 5
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 80,307
  • Referee: Ed Hochuli
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
  • ATL – 14:15 Matt Bryant 20-yard FG.
    Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 2:33. (ATL 10–7)
  • NYG – 3:40 Josh Brown 49-yard FG.
    Drive: 9 plays, 50 yards, 5:13. (TIE 10–10)
  • ATL – 0:03 Matt Bryant 20-yard FG.
    Drive: 11 plays, 73 yards, 3:37. (ATL 13–10)
Third quarter
  • ATL – 5:37 Antone Smith 74-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick.
    Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 1:20. (ATL 20–10)
  • NYG – 2:05 Andre Williams 3-yard run, Josh Brown kick.
    Drive: 9 plays, 81 yards, 3:32. (ATL 10–17)
Fourth quarter
  • NYG – 10:02 Odell Beckham Jr. 3-yard TD pass from Eli Manning, Josh Brown kick.
    Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 5:22. (NYG 24–20)
  • NYG – 5:01 Josh Brown 50-yard FG.
    Drive: 7 plays, 24 yards, 3:22. (NYG 27–20)
  • NYG – 2:08 Josh Brown 26-yard FG.
    Drive: 7 plays, 10 yards, 2:26. (NYG 30–20)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers

Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears

Week Six: Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Bears 0 13 6827
Falcons 3 0 10013

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • CHI –
  • ATL –
Top rushers
  • CHI –
  • ATL –
Top receivers
  • CHI –
  • ATL –
Top tacklers
  • CHI –
  • ATL –

Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens

Week Seven: Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 0 077
Ravens 7 10 3929

at M&T Bank Stadium, Baltimore, Maryland

  • Date: October 19
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 54 °F (12 °C), sunny
  • Game attendance: 71,184
  • Referee: Carl Cheffers
  • TV announcers (Fox): Justin Kutcher, David Diehl and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • ATL –
  • BAL –
Top rushers
  • ATL –
  • BAL –
Top receivers
  • ATL –
  • BAL –
Top tacklers
  • ATL –
  • BAL –

Week 8: vs. Detroit Lions

NFL International Series
Week Eight: Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Lions 0 0 101222
Falcons 14 7 0021

at Wembley Stadium, London, England

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • DET –
  • ATL –
Top rushers
  • DET –
  • ATL –
Top receivers
  • DET –
  • ATL –
Top tacklers
  • DET –
  • ATL –

Week 10: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week Ten: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 6 31127
Buccaneers 3 7 0717

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

  • Date: November 9
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 64 °F (18 °C), cloudy
  • Game attendance: 57,751
  • Referee: Clete Blakeman
  • TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, David Diehl and Laura Okmin
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • ATL –
  • TB –
Top rushers
  • ATL –
  • TB –
Top receivers
  • ATL –
  • TB –
Top tacklers
  • ATL –
  • TB –

Week 11: at Carolina Panthers

Week Eleven: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 6 10319
Panthers 0 3 01417

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • ATL –
  • CAR –
Top rushers
  • ATL –
  • CAR –
Top receivers
  • ATL –
  • CAR –
Top tacklers
  • ATL –
  • CAR –

Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns

Week Twelve: Cleveland Browns at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Browns 7 6 10326
Falcons 7 7 01024

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • CLE –
  • ATL –
Top rushers
  • CLE –
  • ATL –
Top receivers
  • CLE –
  • ATL –
Top tacklers
  • CLE –
  • ATL –

Week 13: vs. Arizona Cardinals

Week Thirteen: Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Cardinals 0 10 0818
Falcons 17 3 3629

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: November 30
  • Game time: 4:05 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 69,557
  • Referee: Terry McAulay
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • ARI –
  • ATL –
Top rushers
  • ARI –
  • ATL –
Top receivers
  • ARI –
  • ATL –
Top tacklers
  • ARI –
  • ATL –

Week 14: at Green Bay Packers

Week Fourteen: Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 0 102037
Packers 7 24 3943

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • ATL –
  • GB –
Top rushers
  • ATL –
  • GB –
Top receivers
  • ATL –
  • GB –
Top tacklers
  • ATL –
  • GB –

Week 15: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Fifteen: Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Steelers 6 14 0727
Falcons 0 7 6720

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • PIT –
  • ATL –
Top rushers
  • PIT –
  • ATL –
Top receivers
  • PIT –
  • ATL –
Top tacklers
  • PIT –
  • ATL –

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

Week 16: at New Orleans Saints

Week Sixteen: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 10 71030
Saints 7 0 0714

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

  • Date: December 21
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 73,164
  • Referee: John Parry
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • ATL –
  • NO –
Top rushers
  • ATL –
  • NO –
Top receivers
  • ATL –
  • NO –
Top tacklers
  • ATL –
  • NO –

With the win, the Falcons swept the Saints for the 1st time since 2005 and eliminated their opponent from postseason contention.

Week 17: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week Seventeen: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
1 2 34Total
Panthers 10 14 10034
Falcons 0 3 003

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: December 28
  • Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
  • Game attendance: 71,015
  • Referee: Bill Leavy
  • TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Phil Simms and Tracy Wolfson
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
  • CAR –
  • ATL –
Top rushers
  • CAR –
  • ATL –
Top receivers
  • CAR –
  • ATL –
Top tacklers
  • CAR –
  • ATL –

Standings

Division

NFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(4) Carolina Panthers 7 8 1 .469 4–2 6–6 339 374 W4
New Orleans Saints 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 401 424 W1
Atlanta Falcons 6 10 0 .375 5–1 6–6 381 417 L1
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 2 14 0 .125 0–6 1–11 277 410 L6

Conference

# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA PD STK
Division leaders
1[lower-alpha 1] Seattle Seahawks West 12 4 0 .750 5–1 10–2 394 254 140 W6
2[lower-alpha 1] Green Bay Packers North 12 4 0 .750 5–1 9–3 486 348 138 W2
3[lower-alpha 1] Dallas Cowboys East 12 4 0 .750 4–2 8–4 467 352 115 W4
4 Carolina Panthers South 7 8 1 .469 4–2 6–6 339 374 –25 W4
Wild Cards
5[lower-alpha 2] Arizona Cardinals West 11 5 0 .688 3–3 8–4 310 299 11 L2
6[lower-alpha 2] Detroit Lions North 11 5 0 .688 5–1 9–3 321 282 33 L1
Did not qualify for the playoffs
7 Philadelphia Eagles East 10 6 0 .625 4–2 6–6 474 400 74 W1
8 San Francisco 49ers West 8 8 0 .500 2–4 7–5 306 340 –34 W1
9[lower-alpha 3] New Orleans Saints South 7 9 0 .438 3–3 6–6 401 424 –23 W1
10[lower-alpha 3] Minnesota Vikings North 7 9 0 .438 1–5 6–6 325 343 –18 W1
11[lower-alpha 4] New York Giants East 6 10 0 .375 2–4 4–8 380 400 –20 L1
12[lower-alpha 4] Atlanta Falcons South 6 10 0 .375 5–1 6–6 381 417 –36 L1
13[lower-alpha 4] St. Louis Rams West 6 10 0 .375 2–4 4–8 324 354 –30 L3
14 Chicago Bears North 5 11 0 .313 1–5 4–8 319 442 –123 L5
15 Washington Redskins East 4 12 0 .250 2–4 2–10 301 438 –137 L1
16 Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 2 14 0 .125 0–6 1–11 277 410 –133 L6
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 5]
  1. 1 2 3 Seattle, Green Bay and Dallas were ranked in seeds 1–3 based on conference record.
  2. 1 2 Arizona defeated Detroit head-to-head (Week 11, 14–6).
  3. 1 2 New Orleans defeated Minnesota head-to-head (Week 3, 20–9).
  4. 1 2 3 The New York Giants defeated both Atlanta and St. Louis head-to-head (Atlanta: Week 5, 30–20; St. Louis: Week 16, 37–27).
    Atlanta finished ahead of St. Louis based on conference record.
  5. ↑ 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.

Use of artificial crowd noise

Shortly after the end of the post-season the Falcons were investigated by the League for piping artificial crowd noise during opponent's offensive snaps at home games during the 2013 season and the 2014 season.[7] Team owner Arthur Blank Blank stated that he was "angry and embarrassed" about the allegations, and has allegedly acknowledged the validity of the accusations, stating "I think what we've done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong", and promising to cooperate fully with the investigation.[8] The NFL fined the Falcons $350,000 and took away a fifth round draft pick in the 2016 draft as punishment.[9]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2014/12/28/5411641/carolina-panthers-obliterate-atlanta.html
  2. ↑ http://espn.go.com/nfl/story/_/id/12091459/atlanta-falcons-fire-mike-smith
  3. ↑ http://www.atlantafalcons.com/news/article-1/Falcons-to-be-2014-HBO-Hard-Knocks-Team/7ab3a3c2-6813-4e47-a5de-5a9932712a06
  4. ↑ http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000399881/article/devin-hesters-recordbreaking-return-td-is-best-of-week-3
  5. ↑ "2014 Conference Standings". NFL.com. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  6. ↑ "2014 NFL playoff picture". CBS Sports. Retrieved September 30, 2014.
  7. ↑ "Atlanta Falcons under NFL investigation for fake crowd noise at Georgia Dome: report". New York Daily News. 1 February 2015.
  8. ↑ Jay Busbee (3 February 2015). "Falcons' Arthur Blank on crowd noise: 'What we've done ... is wrong'". Yahoo! Sports.
  9. ↑ "Atlanta Falcons lose 2016 draft pick, fined $350,000 by NFL for Noisegate". Alabama Living. 30 March 2015.

External links

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