1984 Atlanta Falcons 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.

1984 Atlanta Falcons season
General managerTom Braatz
Head coachDan Henning
Home fieldFulton County Stadium
Results
Record4–12
Division place4th NFC West
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersT Mike Kenn

Offseason

NFL Draft

1984 Atlanta Falcons draft
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
19Rick Bryan Defensive endOklahoma
232Scott Case * Defensive backOklahoma
236Thomas Benson LinebackerOklahoma
363Rod McSwain Defensive backClemson
494Rydell Melancon LinebackerLSU
5132Cliff Benson Tight endPurdue
6148Ben Bennett QuarterbackDuke
6163Dan Ralph Defensive tackleOregon
7175Kirk Dodge LinebackerUNLV
8206Jeff Jackson LinebackerAuburn
9233Glen Howe Offensive tackleSouthern Miss
10260Derrick Franklin Defensive backFresno State
11287Tommy Norman Wide receiverJackson State
12318Don Holmes Wide receiverColorado 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
RoundPickPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
19Joey Jones Wide receiverAlabama
236Mike McInnis Defensive tackleArkansas–Pine Bluff
363Dennis Woodberry Defensive backSouthern 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

WeekDateOpponentResultRecordVenueAttendanceRecap
1September 2at New Orleans SaintsW 36–281–0Louisiana Superdome66,652Recap
2September 9Detroit LionsL 24–27 (OT)1–1Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium49,878Recap
3September 16at Minnesota VikingsL 20–271–2Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome53,955Recap
4September 23Houston OilersW 42–102–2Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium45,248Recap
5September 30at San Francisco 49ersL 5–142–3Candlestick Park57,990Recap
6October 7at Los Angeles RamsW 30–283–3Anaheim Stadium47,832Recap
7October 14New York GiantsL 7–193–4Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium50,268Recap
8October 22Los Angeles RamsL 10–243–5Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium52,681Recap
9October 28at Pittsburgh SteelersL 10–353–6Three Rivers Stadium55,971Recap
10November 5at Washington RedskinsL 14–273–7Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium51,301Recap
11November 11New Orleans SaintsL 13–173–8Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium40,590Recap
12November 18Cleveland BrownsL 7–233–9Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium28,280Recap
13November 25at Cincinnati BengalsL 14–353–10Riverfront Stadium44,678Recap
14December 2San Francisco 49ersL 17–353–11Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium29,644Recap
15December 9at Tampa Bay BuccaneersL 6–233–12Tampa Stadium33,808Recap
16December 16Philadelphia EaglesW 26–104–12Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium15,582Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

[2]

Game summaries

Week 1

1234Total
• Falcons51471036
Saints7140728

[3]

Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions

Period1234OTTotal
Lions10770327
Falcons01077024

at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 3 at Vikings

Week Three: Atlanta Falcons (1–1) at Minnesota Vikings (0–2)
Period1234Total
Falcons337720
Vikings3321027

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

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

[4]

Week 5: Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers
Period1234Total
Falcons (2–3)30025
49ers (5–0)0140014

at Candlestick ParkSan Francisco, California

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
ATLPassingSteve Bartkowski22/41, 267 YDS, 2 INTs
RushingGerald Riggs28 CAR, 136 YDS
ReceivingStacey Bailey4 REC, 97 YDS
SFPassingJoe Montana13/25, 149 YDS, 2 TDs
RushingWendell Tyler12 CAR, 99 YDS
ReceivingMike Wilson3 REC, 47 YDS, 1 TD
  • Point spread: 49ers by 6
  • Over/Under: 49.5 (under)
  • Time of Game:
FalconsGame Statistics49ers
22First downs17
35–161Rushes–yards32–161
267Passing yards149
22–41–2Passes13–25–0
2–10Sacked–yards0–0
257Net passing yards149
418Total yards310
48Return yards62
4–38.8Punts5–43.8
3–1Fumbles–lost3–2
5–45Penalties–yards5–56
34:57Time of Possession25:03

Week 11

1234Total
• Saints1000717
Falcons0103013

[5]

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

[6]

Week 14: San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons
Period1234Total
49ers (13–1)7147735
Falcons (3–11)377017

at Atlanta–Fulton County StadiumAtlanta, Georgia

TeamCategoryPlayerStatistics
SFPassingJoe Montana12/24, 165 YDS, 2 TDs, 2 INTs
RushingWendell Tyler15 CAR, 69 YDS
ReceivingEarl Cooper4 REC, 51 YDS
ATLPassingMike Moroski22/43, 289 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INTs
RushingGerald Riggs30 CAR, 133 YDS, 1 TD
ReceivingAlfred Jackson11 REC, 193 YDS, 1 TD
  • Point spread: 49ers by 13
  • Over/Under: 40.0 (over)
  • Time of Game:
49ersGame StatisticsFalcons
15First downs23
31–143Rushes–yards36–153
165Passing yards289
12–24–2Passes22–43–3
2–18Sacked–yards3–28
147Net passing yards261
290Total yards414
224Return yards112
5–39.6Punts4–40.8
1–1Fumbles–lost3–3
9–73Penalties–yards8–50
24:33Time of Possession35:27

Standings

NFC West
WLTPCTDIVCONFPFPASTK
San Francisco 49ers(1)1510.9386–012–0475227W9
Los Angeles Rams(4)1060.6253–37–5346316L1
New Orleans Saints790.4381–54–8298361W1
Atlanta Falcons4120.2502–43–9281382W1

Awards and records

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

References