2018 Atlanta Falcons season
The 2018 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 53rd in the National Football League, their second playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium (the venue for Super Bowl LIII) and their fourth under head coach Dan Quinn. The Falcons attempted to be the first team to play the Super Bowl in their home stadium as an expected Super Bowl contender. However, the Falcons were riddled with injuries, losing 7 starters to IR with the Falcons stumbling to a 1–4 start.
2018 Atlanta Falcons season | |
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Owner | Arthur Blank |
General manager | Thomas Dimitroff |
Head coach | Dan Quinn |
Home field | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 7–9 |
Division place | 2nd NFC South |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | WR Julio Jones C Alex Mack TE Austin Hooper T Jake Matthews |
Uniform | |
Following a 31–17 loss to the Saints in Week 12, the Falcons fell to 4–7 and failed to match their 10–6 campaign from 2017. With a 34–20 loss to the Green Bay Packers, the Falcons fell to 4–9 and suffered their first losing season since the 2014 season. Despite beating the Arizona Cardinals 40–14 in Week 15, the Falcons were eliminated from playoff contention for the first time since 2015 with a win by the Minnesota Vikings. However, they were able to end their season with a 3 game win streak to finish 7–9.
Roster changes
Unrestricted
Position | Player | 2018 Team | Date signed | Contract |
---|---|---|---|---|
CB | Blidi Wreh-Wilson | Atlanta Falcons | March 5, 2018 | 1 year, $880,000 |
K | Matt Bryant | Atlanta Falcons | March 10, 2018 | 3 years, $10.1 million |
WR | Taylor Gabriel | Chicago Bears | March 13, 2018 | 4 years, $26 million |
DT | Dontari Poe | Carolina Panthers | March 15, 2018 | 3 years, $28 million |
Draft
Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 26 | Calvin Ridley | WR | Alabama | |
2 | 58 | Isaiah Oliver | CB | Colorado | |
3 | 90 | Deadrin Senat | DT | South Florida | |
4 | 126 | Ito Smith | RB | Southern Miss | |
6 | 194 | Russell Gage | WR | LSU | from Los Angeles Rams |
200 | Foyesade Oluokun | LB | Yale |
Draft trades
- The Falcons traded their fifth-round selection (163rd overall) to Denver in exchange for offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo.[1]
- The Falcons were awarded a seventh-round compensatory pick (256th overall).
- The Falcons traded both of their seventh-round selections (244th and 256th overall) to Los Angeles in exchange for the Rams' sixth-round selection (194th overall).[2]
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
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Final roster
Quarterbacks
Running backs
Wide receivers
Tight ends
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Offensive linemen
Defensive linemen
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Linebackers
Defensive backs
Special teams
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Reserve lists
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Preseason
The Falcons' preseason opponents and schedule was announced on April 11.
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 10 | at New York Jets | L 0–17 | 0–1 | MetLife Stadium | Recap |
2 | August 17 | Kansas City Chiefs | L 14–28 | 0–2 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
3 | August 25 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | L 6–17 | 0–3 | EverBank Field | Recap |
4 | August 30 | Miami Dolphins | L 7–34 | 0–4 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
Regular season
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 6 | at Philadelphia Eagles | L 12–18 | 0–1 | Lincoln Financial Field | Recap |
2 | September 16 | Carolina Panthers | W 31–24 | 1–1 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
3 | September 23 | New Orleans Saints | L 37–43 (OT) | 1–2 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
4 | September 30 | Cincinnati Bengals | L 36–37 | 1–3 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
5 | October 7 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 17–41 | 1–4 | Heinz Field | Recap |
6 | October 14 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 34–29 | 2–4 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
7 | October 22 | New York Giants | W 23–20 | 3–4 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
8 | Bye | |||||
9 | November 4 | at Washington Redskins | W 38–14 | 4–4 | FedExField | Recap |
10 | November 11 | at Cleveland Browns | L 16–28 | 4–5 | FirstEnergy Stadium | Recap |
11 | November 18 | Dallas Cowboys | L 19–22 | 4–6 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
12 | November 22 | at New Orleans Saints | L 17–31 | 4–7 | Mercedes-Benz Superdome | Recap |
13 | December 2 | Baltimore Ravens | L 16–26 | 4–8 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
14 | December 9 | at Green Bay Packers | L 20–34 | 4–9 | Lambeau Field | Recap |
15 | December 16 | Arizona Cardinals | W 40–14 | 5–9 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
16 | December 23 | at Carolina Panthers | W 24–10 | 6–9 | Bank of America Stadium | Recap |
17 | December 30 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | W 34–32 | 7–9 | Raymond James Stadium | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: at Philadelphia Eagles
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 12 |
Eagles | 0 | 3 | 7 | 8 | 18 |
at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Date: September 6
- Game time: 8:20 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 81 °F (27 °C), Cloudy
- Game attendance: 69,696
- Referee: John Hussey
- TV announcers (NBC): Al Michaels, Cris Collinsworth and Michele Tafoya and Terry McAulay
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 2: vs. Carolina Panthers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Panthers | 3 | 7 | 0 | 14 | 24 |
Falcons | 3 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: September 16
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 72,528
- Referee: Bill Vinovich
- TV announcers (Fox): Dan Hellie, Greg Jennings and Karyn Bryant
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 3: vs. New Orleans Saints
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saints | 7 | 9 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 43 |
Falcons | 7 | 7 | 7 | 16 | 0 | 37 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: September 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 74,457
- Referee: Walt Anderson
- TV announcers (Fox): Sam Rosen, Cris Carter and Sara Walsh
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bengals | 14 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 37 |
Falcons | 7 | 17 | 3 | 9 | 36 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: September 30
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 71,985
- Referee: Shawn Smith
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, Bruce Arians and Melanie Collins
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Steelers | 13 | 0 | 14 | 14 | 41 |
at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 7
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 83 °F (28 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 64,781
- Referee: John Parry
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Daryl Johnston and Laura Okmin
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 6: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers | 6 | 7 | 3 | 13 | 29 |
Falcons | 7 | 17 | 0 | 10 | 34 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: October 14
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), clear – retractable roof open
- Game attendance: 72,665
- Referee: Walt Coleman
- TV announcers (Fox): Thom Brennaman, Chris Spielman and Shannon Spake
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 7: vs. New York Giants
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Giants | 0 | 3 | 3 | 14 | 20 |
Falcons | 0 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 23 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: October 22
- Game time: 8:15 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: 60 °F (16 °C), clear – retractable roof open
- Game attendance: 72,756
- Referee: Tony Corrente
- TV announcers (ESPN): Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten, Booger McFarland and Lisa Salters
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 9: at Washington Redskins
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 7 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 38 |
Redskins | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
at FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland
- Date: November 4
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 55 °F (13 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 62,386
- Referee: Walt Anderson
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 10: at Cleveland Browns
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 10 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
Browns | 7 | 7 | 14 | 0 | 28 |
at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio
- Date: November 11
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 36 °F (2 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 62,144
- Referee: Pete Morelli
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber and Sara Walsh
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 3 | 0 | 3 | 16 | 22 |
Falcons | 0 | 6 | 3 | 10 | 19 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: November 18
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 59 °F (15 °C), sunny – retractable roof open
- Game attendance: 74,447
- Referee: Craig Wrolstad
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 12: at New Orleans Saints
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 3 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 17 |
Saints | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 31 |
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana
- Date: November 22
- Game time: 8:20 p.m. EST/7:20 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Played indoors (dome stadium)
- Game attendance: 73,017
- Referee: John Hussey
- TV announcers (NBC): Mike Tirico, Tony Dungy, Rodney Harrison and Michele Tafoya and Terry McAulay
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 13: vs. Baltimore Ravens
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Ravens | 7 | 3 | 6 | 10 | 26 |
Falcons | 3 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 16 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: December 2
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 67 °F (19 °C), mostly cloudy – retractable roof open
- Game attendance: 72,262
- Referee: Brad Allen
- TV announcers (CBS): Jim Nantz, Tony Romo and Tracy Wolfson
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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The Falcons were the only NFC South team to lose to all of their AFC North opponents in 2018.
Week 14: at Green Bay Packers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 7 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 20 |
Packers | 7 | 13 | 14 | 0 | 34 |
Game information | ||
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Matt Ryan eclipsed 4,000 yards, becoming the third quarterback in NFL history to reach 4,000 in at least eight consecutive seasons, joining Drew Brees (2006-2017) & Peyton Manning (2006-2014).[3] Julio Jones eclipsed 1,400 yards and became the first player in NFL history to register five consecutive seasons with at least 1,400 yards.[4]
Week 15: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cardinals | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Falcons | 10 | 16 | 7 | 7 | 40 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Game information | ||
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Despite this win, the loss by Miami to Minnesota eliminated the Falcons from post-season contention and once again assures that the Super Bowl host team will not play the championship game on their own field.
Week 16: at Carolina Panthers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 7 | 3 | 14 | 0 | 24 |
Panthers | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Date: December 23
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: 52 °F (11 °C), sunny
- Game attendance: 73,722
- Referee: Pete Morelli
- TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth and Jennifer Hale
- Recap, Gamebook
Game information | ||
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Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Period | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 7 | 17 | 10 | 34 |
Buccaneers | 7 | 10 | 3 | 12 | 32 |
Game information | ||
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Division
NFC South | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(1) New Orleans Saints | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 4–2 | 9–3 | 504 | 353 | L1 |
Atlanta Falcons | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 7–5 | 414 | 423 | W3 |
Carolina Panthers | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 5–7 | 376 | 382 | W1 |
Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2–4 | 4–8 | 396 | 464 | L4 |
Conference
# | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV | STK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division leaders | |||||||||||
1[lower-alpha 1] | New Orleans Saints | South | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .482 | .488 | L1 |
2[lower-alpha 1] | Los Angeles Rams | West | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 6–0 | 9–3 | .480 | .428 | W2 |
3 | Chicago Bears | North | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 5–1 | 10–2 | .430 | .419 | W4 |
4 | Dallas Cowboys | East | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 5–1 | 9–3 | .488 | .444 | W2 |
Wild Cards | |||||||||||
5 | Seattle Seahawks | West | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3–3 | 8–4 | .484 | .400 | W2 |
6 | Philadelphia Eagles | East | 9 | 7 | 0 | .563 | 4–2 | 6–6 | .518 | .486 | W3 |
Did not qualify for the postseason | |||||||||||
7 | Minnesota Vikings | North | 8 | 7 | 1 | .531 | 3–2–1 | 6–5–1 | .504 | .355 | L1 |
8[lower-alpha 2] | Atlanta Falcons | South | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 7–5 | .482 | .348 | W3 |
9[lower-alpha 2] | Washington Redskins | East | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 6–6 | .486 | .371 | L2 |
10[lower-alpha 2] | Carolina Panthers | South | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .508 | .518 | W1 |
11 | Green Bay Packers | North | 6 | 9 | 1 | .406 | 1–4–1 | 3–8–1 | .488 | .417 | L1 |
12 | Detroit Lions | North | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 4–8 | .504 | .427 | W1 |
13[lower-alpha 3] | New York Giants | East | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .527 | .487 | L3 |
14[lower-alpha 3] | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 2–4 | 4–8 | .523 | .506 | L4 |
15 | San Francisco 49ers | West | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–5 | 2–10 | .504 | .406 | L2 |
16 | Arizona Cardinals | West | 3 | 13 | 0 | .188 | 2–4 | 3–9 | .527 | .302 | L4 |
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 4] | |||||||||||
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References
- Patra, Kevin (September 1, 2017). "Broncos trade Ty Sambrailo to Falcons for '18 draft pick". NFL. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
- "2018 NFL Draft trade tracker: Details of all the moves". NFL. April 24, 2018. Archived from the original on March 16, 2019. Retrieved April 24, 2018.
- "Streaks - Eight Seasons - 4,000 Passing Yards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
- D. Orlando Ledbetter (December 10, 2018). "Falcons' Julio Jones sets NFL record with another 1,400-yard season". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved December 18, 2019.