2020 Atlanta Falcons season
The 2020 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 55th season in the National Football League, their fourth playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, and their sixth and final season under head coach Dan Quinn.
2020 Atlanta Falcons season | |
---|---|
Owner | Arthur Blank |
Head coach | Dan Quinn (fired Oct. 11; 0–5 record) Raheem Morris (interim; 4–7 record) |
General manager | Thomas Dimitroff (fired Oct. 11; 0–5 record) |
Home field | Mercedes-Benz Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 4–12 |
Division place | 4th NFC South |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | DT Grady Jarrett K Younghoe Koo |
Uniform | |
For the first time since the 2003 season, the Falcons are wearing new uniforms, which were unveiled on April 8, 2020.[1]
The Falcons failed to improve on their 7–9 season from the previous year following a Week 14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and failed to make the playoffs for the third consecutive season the same week. They suffered their worst record since 2013, and finished last place in the NFC South for the first time since 2007. This was in part of the Falcons beginning the season 0–5, their first 0–5 start since 1997, which included two squandered fourth-quarter leads by more than 15 points in back-to-back weeks. Throughout the season, the Falcons squandered six total leads which led to losses and lost eight games with a deficit of 7 or less points.[2] On October 11, following a Week 5 loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Falcons fired head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff.[3] The following day, the Falcons named defensive coordinator Raheem Morris interim head coach.[4] The next day their special teams coordinator was fired.
Draft
Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 16 | A. J. Terrell | CB | Clemson | |
2 | 47 | Marlon Davidson | DT | Auburn | |
3 | 78 | Matt Hennessy | C | Temple | |
4 | 119 | Mykal Walker | LB | Fresno State | |
134 | Jaylinn Hawkins | S | California | from Baltimore | |
7 | 228 | Sterling Hofrichter | P | Syracuse | from Philadelphia |
Trades
- The Falcons traded wide receiver Mohamed Sanu to the New England Patriots in exchange for a second-round selection.
- The Falcons traded the second-round selection from New England and a fifth-round selection to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for tight end Hayden Hurst and a fourth-round selection.
- The Falcons traded a sixth-round selection and linebacker Duke Riley to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for safety Johnathan Cyprien and a seventh-round selection.
Undrafted free agents
Player | Position | College |
---|---|---|
Mikey Daniel | RB | South Dakota State |
Jalen McCleskey | WR | Tulane |
Juwan Green | WR | Albany |
Chris Rowland | WR | Tennessee State |
Jared Pinkney | TE | Vanderbilt |
Caleb Repp | TE | Utah State |
Evin Ksiezarczyk | OL | Buffalo |
Hunter Atkinson | T | Georgia State |
Austin Capps | OL | Arkansas |
Scottie Dill | T | Memphis |
Sailosi Latu | DT | San José State |
Hinwa Allieu | DE | Nebraska-Kearney |
Austin Edwards | DE | Ferris State |
Bryson Young | LB | Oregon |
Rayshawn Wilborn | LB | Ball State |
Jordan Williams | LB | Baylor |
Rojesterman Farris II | CB | Hawaii |
Tyler Hall | CB | Wyoming |
Delrick Abrams Jr. | CB | Colorado |
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
|
Final roster
Preseason
The Falcons' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[5]
Week | Date | Opponent | Venue | Result |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | August 14 | Miami Dolphins | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic |
2 | August 21 | at Buffalo Bills | New Era Field | |
3 | August 28 | Cincinnati Bengals | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | |
4 | September 3 | at Jacksonville Jaguars | TIAA Bank Field |
Regular season
Schedule
The Falcons' 2020 schedule was announced on May 7.[5]
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 13 | Seattle Seahawks | L 25–38 | 0–1 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
2 | September 20 | at Dallas Cowboys | L 39–40 | 0–2 | AT&T Stadium | Recap |
3 | September 27 | Chicago Bears | L 26–30 | 0–3 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
4 | October 5 | at Green Bay Packers | L 16–30 | 0–4 | Lambeau Field | Recap |
5 | October 11 | Carolina Panthers | L 16–23 | 0–5 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
6 | October 18 | at Minnesota Vikings | W 40–23 | 1–5 | U.S. Bank Stadium | Recap |
7 | October 25 | Detroit Lions | L 22–23 | 1–6 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
8 | October 29 | at Carolina Panthers | W 25–17 | 2–6 | Bank of America Stadium | Recap |
9 | November 8 | Denver Broncos | W 34–27 | 3–6 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
10 | Bye | |||||
11 | November 22 | at New Orleans Saints | L 9–24 | 3–7 | Mercedes-Benz Superdome | Recap |
12 | November 29 | Las Vegas Raiders | W 43–6 | 4–7 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
13 | December 6 | New Orleans Saints | L 16–21 | 4–8 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
14 | December 13 | at Los Angeles Chargers | L 17–20 | 4–9 | SoFi Stadium | Recap |
15 | December 20 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 27–31 | 4–10 | Mercedes-Benz Stadium | Recap |
16 | December 27 | at Kansas City Chiefs | L 14–17 | 4–11 | Arrowhead Stadium | Recap |
17 | January 3 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 27–44 | 4–12 | Raymond James Stadium | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Week 1: vs. Seattle Seahawks
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Seahawks | 14 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 38 |
Falcons | 3 | 9 | 0 | 13 | 25 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: September 13
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Mostly cloudy, 80 °F (27 °C) (retractable roof open)
- Game attendance: 0
- Referee: Shawn Hochuli
- TV announcers (Fox): Adam Amin, Mark Schlereth and Lindsay Czarniak
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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With the loss, the Falcons failed to win their opening game for the third straight season and lost their first home opener since 2016.
Week 2: at Dallas Cowboys
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 20 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 39 |
Cowboys | 0 | 10 | 14 | 16 | 40 |
at AT&T Stadium, Arlington, Texas
- Date: September 20
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 73 °F (23 °C) (retractable roof open)
- Game attendance: 21,708
- Referee: Brad Rogers
- TV announcers (Fox): Kevin Burkhardt, Daryl Johnston and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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The Falcons got off to a 29–10 lead in the first half, but the Cowboys outscored them 30–10 in the second to win 40–39. In the waning moments of the game, with the Falcons leading 39–37, the Cowboys managed to recover an onside kick despite three Falcons being there to recover it; the Falcons then allowed a game-winning field goal. With this loss, the Atlanta Falcons dropped to 0–2 of the season, their first such start to a season since 2007. The team also dropped to 11–18 all-time against the Cowboys.
The Falcons recorded three takeaways (all in the first half), but also gave up 572 yards to the Cowboys offense. Atlanta's loss marked the first time a team that scored 39+ points with no giveaways lost a game; teams were previously 440–0 in said situation.
Week 3: vs. Chicago Bears
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 3 | 7 | 0 | 20 | 30 |
Falcons | 6 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 26 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: September 27
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 79 °F (26 °C) (retractable roof open)
- Game attendance: 0
- Referee: Jerome Boger
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Shannon Spake
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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With yet another defeat, the Atlanta Falcons lost their first three games of the season for the first time since 2007.
Week 4: at Green Bay Packers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 16 |
Packers | 7 | 13 | 7 | 3 | 30 |
at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin
- Date: October 5
- Game time: 9:00 p.m. EDT/8:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: Clear, 53 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 0
- Referee: Carl Cheffers
- TV announcers (ESPN): Steve Levy, Brian Griese, Louis Riddick, Lisa Salters and John Parry
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 5: vs. Carolina Panthers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Panthers | 3 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
Falcons | 7 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 16 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: October 11
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 6,656
- Referee: Brad Allen
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Brock Huard and Jen Hale
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 6: at Minnesota Vikings
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 40 |
Vikings | 0 | 0 | 7 | 16 | 23 |
at U.S. Bank Stadium, Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Date: October 18
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 0
- Referee: Craig Wrolstad
- TV announcers (Fox): Brandon Gaudin, Daryl Johnston and Pam Oliver
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 7: vs. Detroit Lions
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Lions | 7 | 3 | 3 | 10 | 23 |
Falcons | 0 | 14 | 0 | 8 | 22 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: October 25
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 71 °F (22 °C) (retractable roof open)
- Game attendance: 7,796
- Referee: Land Clark
- TV announcers (Fox): Chris Myers, Greg Jennings, Brock Huard and Jen Hale
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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In the final seconds of the game, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford would throw a walk-off touchdown pass to tight end T. J. Hockenson to tie the game. The extra point was successfully converted, giving the Lions a 23–22 victory. Previously during the game, Falcons RB Todd Gurley had accidentally scored a touchdown on a play where the Falcons intended to down the ball at the Lions' 1, run out the clock and kick a field goal. With the loss, the Falcons fell to 1–6. The Falcons wore their red to black gradient uniforms for the first time ever in this game.
Week 8: at Carolina Panthers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 6 | 10 | 3 | 6 | 25 |
Panthers | 7 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Date: October 29
- Game time: 8:20 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 76 °F (24 °C)
- Game attendance: 5,240
- Referee: Shawn Hochuli
- TV announcers (Fox/NFLN/Prime Video): Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews and Kristina Pink
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 9: vs. Denver Broncos
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Broncos | 0 | 3 | 3 | 21 | 27 |
Falcons | 10 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 34 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: November 8
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 72 °F (22 °C) (retractable roof open)
- Game attendance: 7,665
- Referee: Jerome Boger
- TV announcers (CBS): Greg Gumbel, Rich Gannon and Jay Feely
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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The Falcons wore white at home for the first time since 2003 against the Broncos. The Falcons would jump out to a 20–3 at halftime, but the Broncos would attempt a comeback, and outscored Falcons 24–14 in the second half, but the Falcons held on to get the win. With the win, the Falcons advanced to 3–6.
Week 11: at New Orleans Saints
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 3 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 9 |
Saints | 3 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 24 |
Game information | ||
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Week 12: vs. Las Vegas Raiders
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Raiders | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 6 |
Falcons | 6 | 10 | 14 | 13 | 43 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Game information | ||
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Week 13: vs. New Orleans Saints
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saints | 7 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 21 |
Falcons | 3 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 16 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: December 6
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: None (retractable roof closed)
- Game attendance: 8,713
- Referee: Adrian Hill
- TV announcers (Fox): Kenny Albert, Jonathan Vilma and Shannon Spake
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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Week 14: at Los Angeles Chargers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
Chargers | 7 | 3 | 7 | 3 | 20 |
at SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, California
- Date: December 13
- Game time: 4:25 p.m. EST/1:25 p.m. PST
- Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
- Game attendance: 0
- Referee: Tony Corrente
- TV announcers (Fox): Joe Davis, Brock Huard, Jenny Taft
- Recap, Game Book
Game information | ||
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With the loss to a game-winning field goal, the Falcons were eliminated from playoff contention for the third straight season and failed to achieve a winning season.
Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Buccaneers | 0 | 0 | 21 | 10 | 31 |
Falcons | 7 | 10 | 7 | 3 | 27 |
at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
Game information | ||
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The Falcons jumped out to a 17–0 lead by halftime, but, in a turn of events similar to Super Bowl LI, Atlanta allowed Tom Brady and the Buccaneers to outscore the Falcons 31–10 in the second half en route to a Tampa Bay victory.
Week 16: at Kansas City Chiefs
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Chiefs | 0 | 7 | 0 | 10 | 17 |
Game information | ||
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Week 17: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 3 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 27 |
Buccaneers | 10 | 13 | 0 | 21 | 44 |
Game information | ||
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With the loss, the Falcons finished last place in the NFC South for the first time since 2007.
Division
NFC South | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
(2) New Orleans Saints | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 6–0 | 10–2 | 482 | 337 | W2 |
(5) Tampa Bay Buccaneers | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 4–2 | 8–4 | 492 | 355 | W4 |
Carolina Panthers | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | 350 | 402 | L1 |
Atlanta Falcons | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–5 | 2–10 | 396 | 414 | L5 |
Conference
# | Team | Division | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | SOS | SOV | STK |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Division leaders | |||||||||||
1 | Green Bay Packers | North | 13 | 3 | 0 | .813 | 5–1 | 10–2 | .428 | .387 | W6 |
2[lower-alpha 1] | New Orleans Saints | South | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 6–0 | 10–2 | .459 | .406 | W2 |
3[lower-alpha 1] | Seattle Seahawks | West | 12 | 4 | 0 | .750 | 4–2 | 9–3 | .447 | .404 | W4 |
4 | Washington Football Team | East | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .459 | .388 | W1 |
Wild cards | |||||||||||
5 | Tampa Bay Buccaneers | South | 11 | 5 | 0 | .688 | 4–2 | 8–4 | .488 | .392 | W4 |
6 | Los Angeles Rams | West | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3–3 | 9–3 | .494 | .484 | W1 |
7[lower-alpha 2] | Chicago Bears | North | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2–4 | 6–6 | .488 | .336 | L1 |
Did not qualify for the postseason | |||||||||||
8[lower-alpha 2] | Arizona Cardinals | West | 8 | 8 | 0 | .500 | 2–4 | 6–6 | .475 | .441 | L2 |
9 | Minnesota Vikings | North | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .504 | .366 | W1 |
10[lower-alpha 3] | San Francisco 49ers | West | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 3–3 | 4–8 | .549 | .448 | L1 |
11[lower-alpha 3][lower-alpha 4] | New York Giants | East | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 4–2 | 5–7 | .502 | .427 | W1 |
12[lower-alpha 4] | Dallas Cowboys | East | 6 | 10 | 0 | .375 | 2–4 | 5–7 | .471 | .333 | L1 |
13[lower-alpha 5] | Carolina Panthers | South | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .531 | .388 | L1 |
14[lower-alpha 5] | Detroit Lions | North | 5 | 11 | 0 | .313 | 1–5 | 4–8 | .508 | .350 | L4 |
15 | Philadelphia Eagles | East | 4 | 11 | 1 | .281 | 2–4 | 4–8 | .537 | .469 | L3 |
16 | Atlanta Falcons | South | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 1–5 | 2–10 | .551 | .391 | L5 |
Tiebreakers[lower-alpha 6] | |||||||||||
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References
- "Official Website of the Atlanta Falcons Football Club". atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved 2020-04-09.
- "Falcons fans fume after team blows big lead in loss for second straight game". Associated Press. Associated Press. 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2020-10-11.
- "Atlanta Falcons GM Thomas Dimitroff, coach Dan Quinn relieved of their duties". atlantafalcons.com. Retrieved October 11, 2020.
- "Atlanta Falcons name Raheem Morris interim head coach". AtlantaFalcons.com. Atlanta Falcons. October 12, 2020.
- Shook, Nick (July 27, 2020). "Roger Goodell writes letter to NFL fans as training camps start across U.S." NFL. Retrieved July 27, 2020.