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
OwnerArthur Blank
General managerThomas Dimitroff
Head coachDan Quinn
Home fieldMercedes-Benz Stadium
Results
Record7–9
Division place2nd NFC South
Playoff finishDid not qualify
Pro BowlersWR 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
CBBlidi Wreh-WilsonAtlanta FalconsMarch 5, 20181 year, $880,000
KMatt BryantAtlanta FalconsMarch 10, 20183 years, $10.1 million
WRTaylor GabrielChicago BearsMarch 13, 20184 years, $26 million
DTDontari PoeCarolina PanthersMarch 15, 20183 years, $28 million

Draft

2018 Atlanta Falcons Draft
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollegeNotes
126 Calvin RidleyWRAlabama
258 Isaiah OliverCBColorado
390 Deadrin SenatDTSouth Florida
4126 Ito SmithRBSouthern Miss
6194 Russell GageWRLSUfrom Los Angeles Rams
200 Foyesade OluokunLBYale

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

2018 Atlanta Falcons staff
Front office

Head coaches

  • Head coach – Dan Quinn
  • Assistant head coach/pass game coordinator – Raheem Morris
  • Assistant to the head coach – Steve Scarnecchia

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

  • Special teams coordinator – Keith Armstrong
  • Assistant special teams – Mayur Chaudhari

Strength and conditioning

  • Head strength and conditioning – Jesse Ackerman
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Jonas Beauchemin
  • Assistant strength – Brandon Ireland

Final roster

2018 Atlanta Falcons final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists
  • 37 Ricardo Allen FS (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 24 Devonta Freeman RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 65 Brandon Fusco G (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 47 Josh Harris LS (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 67 Andy Levitre G (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 22 Keanu Neal SS (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 90 Derrick Shelby DE (IRTooltip Injured reserve)
  • 25 Ito Smith RB (IRTooltip Injured reserve)


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
53 active, 8 inactive, 11 practice squad

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

NFL Kickoff Game

Week One: Atlanta Falcons at Philadelphia Eagles – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 3 0612
Eagles 0 3 7818

at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 2: vs. Carolina Panthers

Week Two: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Panthers 3 7 01424
Falcons 3 14 7731

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 3: vs. New Orleans Saints

Week Three: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Saints 7 9 714643
Falcons 7 7 716037

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 4: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Week Four: Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Bengals 14 14 0937
Falcons 7 17 3936

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 5: at Pittsburgh Steelers

Week Five: Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 10 0717
Steelers 13 0 141441

at Heinz Field, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Game information

Week 6: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week Six: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Buccaneers 6 7 31329
Falcons 7 17 01034

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 7: vs. New York Giants

Week Seven: New York Giants at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Giants 0 3 31420
Falcons 0 10 01323

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 9: at Washington Redskins

Week Nine: Atlanta Falcons at Washington Redskins – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 14 71038
Redskins 0 7 7014

at FedEx Field, Landover, Maryland

Game information

Week 10: at Cleveland Browns

Week Ten: Atlanta Falcons at Cleveland Browns – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 10 0616
Browns 7 7 14028

at FirstEnergy Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Game information

Week 11: vs. Dallas Cowboys

Week Eleven: Dallas Cowboys at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cowboys 3 0 31622
Falcons 0 6 31019

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

Week 12: at New Orleans Saints

NFL on Thanksgiving Day

Week Twelve: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 0 7717
Saints 7 10 7731

at Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Game information

Week 13: vs. Baltimore Ravens

Week Thirteen: Baltimore Ravens at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Ravens 7 3 61026
Falcons 3 7 0616

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

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

Week Fourteen: Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 0 01320
Packers 7 13 14034

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: December 9
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
  • Game weather: 25 °F (−4 °C), cloudy
  • Game attendance: 77,329
  • Referee: Walt Coleman
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Charles Davis and Pam Oliver
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

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

Week Fifteen: Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Cardinals 7 0 0714
Falcons 10 16 7740

at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: December 16
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: Played indoors (retractable roof closed)
  • Game attendance: 72,084
  • Referee: Shawn Smith
  • TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Ronde Barber and Sara Walsh
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

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

Week Sixteen: Atlanta Falcons at Carolina Panthers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 3 14024
Panthers 7 3 0010

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina

Game information

Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Week Seventeen: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 7 171034
Buccaneers 7 10 31232

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

  • Date: December 30
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
  • Game weather: 80 °F (27 °C), cloudy
  • Game attendance: 52,884
  • Referee: Brad Allen
  • TV announcers (Fox): Dick Stockton, Mark Schlereth and Jennifer Hale
  • Recap, Gamebook
Game information

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]
  1. New Orleans finished ahead of LA Rams based on head-to-head victory.
  2. Atlanta finished ahead of Washington based on head-to-head victory. Atlanta finished ahead of Carolina based on head-to-head sweep. Washington finished ahead of Carolina based on head-to-head victory.
  3. NY Giants finished ahead of Tampa Bay based on head-to-head victory.
  4. 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.

References

  1. Patra, Kevin (September 1, 2017). "Broncos trade Ty Sambrailo to Falcons for '18 draft pick". NFL. Retrieved September 1, 2017.
  2. "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.
  3. "Streaks - Eight Seasons - 4,000 Passing Yards". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved December 18, 2019.
  4. 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.
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