1984 Atlanta Falcons season

NFL team season

The 1984 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise’s 19th season in the National Football League (NFL). The season saw Atlanta attempting to improve on its previous record of 7–9 from 1983. The Falcons would split their first six games, but then suffer a franchise-record 9-game losing streak to knock the team down to 3–12. The Falcons would win their finale against the Philadelphia Eagles and finish the season 4–12, their worst record since 1976.

Offseason

NFL Draft

1984 Atlanta Falcons draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 9 Rick Bryan  Defensive end Oklahoma
2 32 Scott Case *  Defensive back Oklahoma
2 36 Thomas Benson  Linebacker Oklahoma
3 63 Rod McSwain  Defensive back Clemson
4 94 Rydell Melancon  Linebacker LSU
5 132 Cliff Benson  Tight end Purdue
6 148 Ben Bennett  Quarterback Duke
6 163 Dan Ralph  Defensive tackle Oregon
7 175 Kirk Dodge  Linebacker UNLV
8 206 Jeff Jackson  Linebacker Auburn
9 233 Glen Howe  Offensive tackle Southern Miss
10 260 Derrick Franklin  Defensive back Fresno State
11 287 Tommy Norman  Wide receiver Jackson State
12 318 Don Holmes  Wide receiver Colorado Mesa
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

[1]

NFL supplemental draft

The National Football League held a draft for college seniors who had already signed with either the United States Football League (USFL) or the Canadian Football League (CFL) on June 5, 1984, in New York City. The draft was for players who would have been eligible for the regular 1984 NFL draft, but who had already signed a contract with either a team from the USFL or CFL prior to it.

1984 Atlanta Falcons draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 9 Joey Jones  Wide receiver Alabama
2 36 Mike McInnis  Defensive tackle Arkansas–Pine Bluff
3 63 Dennis Woodberry  Defensive back Southern Arkansas
      Made roster  

[1]

Personnel

Staff

1984 Atlanta Falcons staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches
  • Assistant head coach/defensive line – Dan Sekanovich
  • Defensive coordinator – John Marshall
  • Linebackers – Bobby Jackson
  • Secondary – Jack Stanton

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – George Dostal

Roster

1984 Atlanta Falcons final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Rookies in italics

Regular season

Schedule

Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap
1 September 2 at New Orleans Saints W 36–28 1–0 Louisiana Superdome 66,652 Recap
2 September 9 Detroit Lions L 24–27 (OT) 1–1 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 49,878 Recap
3 September 16 at Minnesota Vikings L 20–27 1–2 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome 53,955 Recap
4 September 23 Houston Oilers W 42–10 2–2 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 45,248 Recap
5 September 30 at San Francisco 49ers L 5–14 2–3 Candlestick Park 57,990 Recap
6 October 7 at Los Angeles Rams W 30–28 3–3 Anaheim Stadium 47,832 Recap
7 October 14 New York Giants L 7–19 3–4 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 50,268 Recap
8 October 22 Los Angeles Rams L 10–24 3–5 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 52,681 Recap
9 October 28 at Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–35 3–6 Three Rivers Stadium 55,971 Recap
10 November 5 at Washington Redskins L 14–27 3–7 Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium 51,301 Recap
11 November 11 New Orleans Saints L 13–17 3–8 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 40,590 Recap
12 November 18 Cleveland Browns L 7–23 3–9 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 28,280 Recap
13 November 25 at Cincinnati Bengals L 14–35 3–10 Riverfront Stadium 44,678 Recap
14 December 2 San Francisco 49ers L 17–35 3–11 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 29,644 Recap
15 December 9 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 6–23 3–12 Tampa Stadium 33,808 Recap
16 December 16 Philadelphia Eagles W 26–10 4–12 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 15,582 Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

[2]

Game summaries

Week 1

1 234Total
• Falcons 5 14710 36
Saints 7 1407 28
Scoring summary
1ATLMick Luckhurst 38 yard field goalATL 3–0
1ATLSafety, Richard Todd tackled by Rick Bryan in end zoneATL 5–0
1NOGeorge Rogers 3 yard run (Morten Andersen kick)NO 7–5
2ATLAlfred Jackson 50 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick)ATL 12–7
2NOTyrone Young 18 yard pass from Richard Todd (Morten Andersen kick)NO 14–12
2ATLGerald Riggs 3 yard run (Mick Luckhurst kick)ATL 19–14
2NOGeorge Rogers 4 yard run (Morten Andersen kick)NO 21–19
3ATLStacey Bailey 5 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Lickhurst kick)ATL 26–21
4ATLGerald Riggs 1 yard run (Mick Luckhurst kick)ATL 33–21
4NOJohn Tice 3 yard pass from Richard Todd (Morten Andersen kick)ATL 33–28
4ATLMick Luckhurst 48 yard field goalATL 36–28

[3]

Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions

Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Lions 10 7 70327
Falcons 0 10 77024

at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: Sunday, September 9
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: 70 °F or 21.1 °C, wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
  • Referee: Fred Silva
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information

First quarter

  • Lions – Billy Sims 9 yard run (Eddie Murray kick) – Lions 7–0
  • Lions – Eddie Murray 46 yard field goal – Lions 10–0

Second quarter

  • Lions – David Lewis 11 yard pass from Gary Danielson (Eddie Murray kick) – Lions 17–0
  • Falcons – Gerald Riggs 1 yard run (Mick Luckhurst kick) – Lions 17–7
  • Falcons – Mick Luckhurst 51 yard field goal – Lions 17–10

Third quarter

  • Falcons – Billy Johnson 45 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick) – Tie 17–17
  • Lions – Leonard Thompson 11 yard pass from Gary Danielson (Eddie Murray kick) – Lions 24–17

Fourth quarter

  • Falcons – Stacey Bailey 29 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick) – Tie 24–24

Overtime

  • Lions – Eddie Murray 48 yard field goal – Lions 27–24

Lions

  • Gary Danielson
    21/32, 250 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
  • Billy Sims
    23 Rush, 140 Yds, TD
  • David Lewis
    4 Rec, 68 Yds, TD

Falcons

  • Steve Bartkowski
    24/28, 299 yds, 2 TD
  • Gerald Riggs
    19 Rush, 78 Yds, TD
  • Billy Johnson
    8 Rec, 116 Yds, TD

Week 3 at Vikings

Week Three: Atlanta Falcons (1–1) at Minnesota Vikings (0–2)
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 3 7720
Vikings 3 3 21027

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

  • Date: September 16
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Indoors (dome)
  • Game attendance: 53,955
  • Referee: Fred Wyant
  • Box Score, Box Score
Game information

First quarter

  • ATL – Mick Luckhurst 33-yard field goal, 7:32. Falcons 3–0. Drive:
  • MIN – Jan Stenerud 22-yard field goal, 3:39. Tie 3–3. Drive:

Second quarter

  • MIN – Jan Stenerud 54-yard field goal, 14:29. Vikings 6–3. Drive:
  • ATL – Mick Luckhurst 43-yard field goal, 6:04. Tie 6–6. Drive:

Third quarter

  • MIN – Leo Lewis 42-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Jan Stenerud kick), 12:10. Vikings 13–6. Drive:
  • ATL – Stacey Bailey 57-yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick), 9:58. Tie 13–13. Drive:
  • MIN – Steve Jordan 21-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:50. Vikings 20–13. Drive:
  • MIN – Dwight Collins 43-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:59. Vikings 27–13. Drive:

Fourth quarter

  • ATL – Billy Johnson 32-yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick), 5:43. Vikings 27–20. Drive:
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
  • ATL – Stacey Bailey – 4 receptions, 102 yards, TD
  • MIN – Leo Lewis – 3 receptions, 69 yards, TD

Week 5 (Sunday, September 30, 1984): at San Francisco 49ers

[4]

Week 5: Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons (2–3) 3 0 025
49ers (5–0) 0 14 0014

at Candlestick Park • San Francisco, California

  • Date: September 30, 1984
  • Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
  • Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C); wind 14
  • Game attendance: 57,990
  • Referee: Bob McElwee
  • TV announcers (CBS): Tom Brookshier (play-by-play) and Wayne Walker (color commentator)
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com
Team Category Player Statistics
ATL Passing Steve Bartkowski 22/41, 267 YDS, 2 INTs
Rushing Gerald Riggs 28 CAR, 136 YDS
Receiving Stacey Bailey 4 REC, 97 YDS
SF Passing Joe Montana 13/25, 149 YDS, 2 TDs
Rushing Wendell Tyler 12 CAR, 99 YDS
Receiving Mike Wilson 3 REC, 47 YDS, 1 TD
Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP ATL SF
1 1:29 Falcons 22-yard field goal by Luckhurst 3 0
2 4:07 49ers Francis 5-yard touchdown reception from Montana, Wersching kick good 3 7
2 0:27 49ers Wilson 21-yard touchdown reception from Montana, Wersching kick good 3 14
4 1:45 — — — Falcons Runager tackled in the end zone by Case for a safety 5 14
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 5 14
  • Point spread: 49ers by 6
  • Over/Under: 49.5 (under)
  • Time of Game:
Falcons Game Statistics 49ers
22 First downs 17
35–161 Rushes–yards 32–161
267 Passing yards 149
22–41–2 Passes 13–25–0
2–10 Sacked–yards 0–0
257 Net passing yards 149
418 Total yards 310
48 Return yards 62
4–38.8 Punts 5–43.8
3–1 Fumbles–lost 3–2
5–45 Penalties–yards 5–56
34:57 Time of Possession 25:03

Week 11

1 234Total
• Saints 10 007 17
Falcons 0 1030 13

[5]

Week 14 (Sunday, December 2, 1984): vs. San Francisco 49ers

[6]

Week 14: San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons
Period 1 2 34Total
49ers (13–1) 7 14 7735
Falcons (3–11) 3 7 7017

at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium • Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: December 2, 1984
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C); wind 9
  • Game attendance: 29,644
  • Referee: Jim Tunney
  • TV announcers (CBS): Tom Brookshier (play-by-play) and Wayne Walker (color commentator)
  • Pro-Football-Reference.com
Team Category Player Statistics
SF Passing Joe Montana 12/24, 165 YDS, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
Rushing Wendell Tyler 15 CAR, 69 YDS
Receiving Earl Cooper 4 REC, 51 YDS
ATL Passing Mike Moroski 22/43, 289 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INTs
Rushing Gerald Riggs 30 CAR, 133 YDS, 1 TD
Receiving Alfred Jackson 11 REC, 193 YDS, 1 TD
Scoring summary
Quarter Time Drive Team Scoring information Score
Plays Yards TOP SF ATL
1 11:38 Falcons 32-yard field goal by Luckhurst 0 3
1 9:49 49ers Solomon 64-yard touchdown reception from Montana, Wersching kick good 7 3
2 14:50 49ers Clark 6-yard touchdown reception from Montana, Wersching kick good 14 3
2 3:04 Falcons Riggs 2-yard touchdown run, Luckhurst kick good 14 10
2 1:21 — — — 49ers Fumble recovery returned 34 yards for touchdown by Johnson, Wersching kick good 21 10
3 7:41 Falcons Jackson 48-yard touchdown reception from Moroski, Luckhurst kick good 21 17
3 1:31 — — — 49ers Interception returned 54 yards for touchdown by McLemore, Wersching kick good 28 17
4 9:01 49ers Craig 5-yard touchdown run, Wersching kick good 35 17
"TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. 35 17
  • Point spread: 49ers by 13
  • Over/Under: 40.0 (over)
  • Time of Game:
49ers Game Statistics Falcons
15 First downs 23
31–143 Rushes–yards 36–153
165 Passing yards 289
12–24–2 Passes 22–43–3
2–18 Sacked–yards 3–28
147 Net passing yards 261
290 Total yards 414
224 Return yards 112
5–39.6 Punts 4–40.8
1–1 Fumbles–lost 3–3
9–73 Penalties–yards 8–50
24:33 Time of Possession 35:27

Standings

NFC West
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 W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
San Francisco 49ers(1) 15 1 0 .938 6–0 12–0 475 227 W9
Los Angeles Rams(4) 10 6 0 .625 3–3 7–5 346 316 L1
New Orleans Saints 7 9 0 .438 1–5 4–8 298 361 W1
Atlanta Falcons 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 281 382 W1

Awards and records

  • Gerald Riggs, Franchise Record, Most Rushing Yards in One Game, 202 Yards (September 2, 1984) [7]

References

  1. ^ a b "1984 Atlanta Falcons Draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 15, 2013.
  2. ^ "1984 Atlanta Falcons".
  3. ^ Pro-Football-Reference.com
  4. ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-23.
  5. ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2017-Nov-29.
  6. ^ The Football Database. Retrieved 2022-Jun-23.
  7. ^ NFL 2001 Record and Fact Book, Workman Publishing Co, New York, ISBN 0-7611-2480-2, p. 98

External links

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