The 2014 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's 49th season in the National Football League and the seventh under head coach Mike Smith . The Falcons were defeated by the Carolina Panthers in week 17, officially eliminating them from postseason contention for the second straight year.[ 1] As a result, head coach Mike Smith was fired after his seventh year as coach, after two straight years with a losing record.[ 2]
The 2014 Atlanta Falcons were featured on the HBO documentary series Hard Knocks .[ 3]
2014 draft class
Note: The Falcons traded their sixth- (No. 182 overall) and original seventh- (No. 220 overall) round selections to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for the Vikings' fifth-round selection (No. 168 overall).
Staff
2014 Atlanta Falcons staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Defensive Coordinator – Mike Nolan
Defensive Line – Bryan Cox
Linebackers – Glenn Pires
Outside Linebackers – Mark Collins
Secondary – Tim Lewis
Defensive Backs – Joe Danna
Defensive Assistant – Andrew Thacker
Special teams coaches
Special Teams Coordinator – Keith Armstrong
Assistant Special Teams – Eric Sutulovich
Final roster
Schedule
Preseason
Regular season
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. New Orleans Saints
Week One: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 OT Total
Saints
6
14
0 14 0 34
Falcons
0
10
14 10 3 37
at Georgia Dome , Atlanta, Georgia
Game information
First quarter
NO – 10:33 Shayne Graham 31-yard FG. Drive: 9 plays, 67 yards, 4:27. (NO 3–0)
NO – 4:39 Shayne Graham 50-yard FG. Drive: 10 plays, 28 yards, 3:59. (NO 6–0)
Second quarter
NO – 11:46 Khiry Robinson 2-yard run, Shayne Graham kick. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 4:10. (NO 13–0)
ATL – 4:06 Roddy White 2-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan , Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 14 plays, 80, yards, 7:40. (NO 13–7)
NO – 0:20 Brandin Cooks 3-yard TD pass from Drew Brees , Shayne Graham kick. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:46. (NO 20–7)
ATL – 0:00 Matt Bryant 40-yard FG. Drive: 3 plays, 58 yards, 0:20. (NO 20–10)
Third quarter
ATL – 9:22 Levine Toilolo 1-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 5:38. (NO 20–17)
ATL – 0:21 Antone Smith 54-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 5 plays, 80 yards, 2:31. (ATL 24–20)
Fourth quarter
NO – 8:46 Mark Ingram 3-yard TD run, Shayne Graham kick. Drive: 12 plays, 80 yards, 6:35. (NO 27–24)
ATL – 2:50 Jacquizz Rodgers 17-yard TD run, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 8 plays, 94 yards, 3:26. (ATL 31–27)
NO – 1:20 Mark Ingram 3-yard TD run, Shayne Graham kick. Drive: 8 plays, 71 yards, 1:30. (NO 34–31)
ATL – 0:00 Matt Bryant 51-yard FG. Drive: 8 plays, 47 yards, 1:20. (TIE 34–34)
Overtime
ATL – 13:17 Matt Bryant 52-yard FG. Drive: 4 plays, 4 yards, 1:32. (ATL 37–34)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 2: at Cincinnati Bengals
Game information
First quarter
CIN – 5:19 Mike Nugent 31-yard FG. Drive: 13 plays, 69 yards, 5:57. (CIN 3–0)
ATL – 1:08 Matt Bryant 46-yard FG. Drive: 9 plays, 40 yards, 4:11. (TIE 3–3)
Second quarter
CIN – 5:19 Giovani Bernard 4-yard run, Mike Nugent kick. Drive: 10 plays, 91 yards, 5:20. (CIN 10–3)
Third quarter
CIN – 10:58 Mohamed Sanu 76-yard TD pass from Andy Dalton , Mike Nugent kick. Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 1:12. (CIN 17–3)
CIN – 6:28 Jeremy Hill 1-yard run, Mike Nugent kick. Drive: 8 plays, 43 yards, 4:14. (CIN 24–3)
Fourth quarter
ATL – 8:35 Julio Jones 14-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan , Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 10 plays, 77 yards, 3:59. (CIN 24–10)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 3: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Three: Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Buccaneers
0
0
0 14 14
Falcons
21
14
21 0 56
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Game information
First quarter
ATL – 12:03 Harry Douglas 3-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan , Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 6 plays, 70 yards, 2:57. (ATL 7–0)
ATL – 3:03 Julio Jones 8-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 8 plays, 37 yards, 4:14. (ATL 14–0)
ATL – 2:38 Kemal Ishmael 23-yard TD interception return, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 3 plays, 0 yards, 0:25. (ATL 21–0)
Second quarter
ATL – 14:53 Devin Hester 20-yard run, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 4 plays, 35 yards, 1:55. (ATL 28–0)
ATL – 7:06 Devin Hester 62-yard punt return, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 3 plays, 4 yards, 1:44. (ATL 35–0)
Third quarter
ATL – 8:23 Julio Jones 40-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 5 plays, 82 yards, 2:39. (ATL 42–0)
ATL – 8:11 Steven Jackson 2-yard run, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 1 play, 2 yards, 0:07. (ATL 49–0)
ATL – 1:47 Antone Smith 38-yard run, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 5 play, 80 yards, 3:12. (ATL 56–0)
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
In this game, Devin Hester would break Deion Sanders 's all-time record for punt/kick returns for touchdowns, with 20.[ 4]
Week 4: at Minnesota Vikings
Game information
First quarter
MIN – 9:27 Matt Asiata 3-yard run, Blair Walsh kick. Drive: 8 plays, 73 yards, 4:31. (MIN 7–0)
ATL – 3:56 Roddy White 24-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan , Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 5:31. (TIE 7–7)
MIN – 1:31 Matt Asiata 3-yard run, Blair Walsh kick. Drive: 5 plays, 53 yards, 2:25. (MIN 14–7)
Second quarter
ATL – 5:56 Patrick DiMarco 1-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 13 plays, 60 yards, 5:26. (TIE 14–14)
MIN – 9:27 Teddy Bridgewater 13-yard run, Blair Walsh kick. Drive: 9 plays, 80 yards, 3:57. (MIN 21–14)
MIN – 0:02 Blair Walsh 18-yard FG. Drive: 10 plays, 84 yards, 1:23. (MIN 24–14)
Third quarter
MIN – 10:40 Blair Walsh 41-yard FG. Drive: 8 plays, 43 yards, 4:20. (MIN 27–14)
ATL – 7:19 Devin Hester 36-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 7 plays, 80 yards, 3:21. (MIN 27–21)
ATL – 1:31 Antone Smith 48-yard run, Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 4 plays, 63 yards, 1:16. (ATL 28–27)
Fourth quarter
MIN – 10:50 Matt Asiata 1-yard run, Teddy Bridewater pass to Rhett Ellison for 2-point conversion. Drive: 9 plays, 78 yards, 3:51. (MIN 35–28)
MIN – 3:38 Blair Walsh 55-yard FG. Drive: 5 plays, 18 yards, 2:51. (MIN 38–28)
MIN – 1:14 Blair Walsh 33-yard FG. Drive: 7 plays, 15 yards, 2:11. (MIN 41–28)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 5: at New York Giants
Week Five: Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Falcons
7
6
7 0 20
Giants
7
3
7 13 30
at MetLife Stadium , East Rutherford, New Jersey
Date : October 5Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : 55 °F (13 °C), sunnyGame attendance : 80,307Referee : Ed Hochuli TV announcers (Fox) : Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and Pam OliverRecap , Gamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
ATL – 14:15 Matt Bryant 20-yard FG. Drive: 6 plays, 18 yards, 2:33. (ATL 10–7)
NYG – 3:40 Josh Brown 49-yard FG. Drive: 9 plays, 50 yards, 5:13. (TIE 10–10)
ATL – 0:03 Matt Bryant 20-yard FG. Drive: 11 plays, 73 yards, 3:37. (ATL 13–10)
Third quarter
ATL – 5:37 Antone Smith 74-yard TD pass from Matt Ryan , Matt Bryant kick. Drive: 3 plays, 80 yards, 1:20. (ATL 20–10)
NYG – 2:05 Andre Williams 3-yard run, Josh Brown kick. Drive: 9 plays, 81 yards, 3:32. (ATL 10–17)
Fourth quarter
NYG – 10:02 Odell Beckham Jr. 3-yard TD pass from Eli Manning, Josh Brown kick. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 5:22. (NYG 24–20)
NYG – 5:01 Josh Brown 50-yard FG. Drive: 7 plays, 24 yards, 3:22. (NYG 27–20)
NYG – 2:08 Josh Brown 26-yard FG. Drive: 7 plays, 10 yards, 2:26. (NYG 30–20)
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears
Week Six: Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Bears
0
13
6 8 27
Falcons
3
0
10 0 13
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 7: at Baltimore Ravens
Week Seven: Atlanta Falcons at Baltimore Ravens – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Falcons
0
0
0 7 7
Ravens
7
10
3 9 29
at M&T Bank Stadium , Baltimore, Maryland
Date : October 19Game time : 1:00 p.m. EDTGame weather : 54 °F (12 °C), sunnyGame attendance : 71,184Referee : Carl Cheffers TV announcers (Fox) : Justin Kutcher, David Diehl and Laura OkminRecap , Gamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 8: vs. Detroit Lions
NFL International Series
Week Eight: Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Lions
0
0
10 12 22
Falcons
14
7
0 0 21
at Wembley Stadium , London, England
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 10: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week Ten: Atlanta Falcons at Tampa Bay Buccaneers – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Falcons
7
6
3 11 27
Buccaneers
3
7
0 7 17
at Raymond James Stadium , Tampa, Florida
Date : November 9Game time : 1:00 p.m. ESTGame weather : 64 °F (18 °C), cloudyGame attendance : 57,751Referee : Clete Blakeman TV announcers (Fox) : Thom Brennaman, David Diehl and Laura OkminRecap , Gamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 11: at Carolina Panthers
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 12: vs. Cleveland Browns
Week Twelve: Cleveland Browns at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Browns
7
6
10 3 26
Falcons
7
7
0 10 24
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 13: vs. Arizona Cardinals
Week Thirteen: Arizona Cardinals at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Cardinals
0
10
0 8 18
Falcons
17
3
3 6 29
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Date : November 30Game time : 4:05 p.m. ESTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 69,557Referee : Terry McAulay TV announcers (Fox) : Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and Pam OliverRecap , Gamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 14: at Green Bay Packers
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Week 15: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week Fifteen: Pittsburgh Steelers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Steelers
6
14
0 7 27
Falcons
0
7
6 7 20
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
The Falcons were the only NFC South team to lose to all of their AFC North opponents
Week 16: at New Orleans Saints
Week Sixteen: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Falcons
3
10
7 10 30
Saints
7
0
0 7 14
at Mercedes-Benz Superdome , New Orleans, Louisiana
Date : December 21Game time : 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CSTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 73,164Referee : John Parry TV announcers (Fox) : Kevin Burkhardt, John Lynch and Pam OliverRecap , Gamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
With the win, the Falcons swept the Saints for the 1st time since 2005 and eliminated their opponent from postseason contention.
Week 17: vs. Carolina Panthers
Week Seventeen: Carolina Panthers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
Quarter
1
2
3 4 Total
Panthers
10
14
10 0 34
Falcons
0
3
0 0 3
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Date : December 28Game time : 4:25 p.m. ESTGame weather : Played indoors (dome stadium)Game attendance : 71,015Referee : Bill LeavyTV announcers (CBS) : Jim Nantz, Phil Simms and Tracy WolfsonRecap , Gamebook
Game information
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
Top tacklers
Standings
Division
Conference
Use of artificial crowd noise
Shortly after the end of the post-season the Falcons were investigated by the League for piping artificial crowd noise during opponent's offensive snaps at home games during the 2013 season and the 2014 season.[ 6] Team owner Arthur Blank Blank stated that he was "angry and embarrassed" about the allegations, and has allegedly acknowledged the validity of the accusations, stating "I think what we've done in 2013 and 2014 was wrong", and promising to cooperate fully with the investigation.[ 7] The NFL fined the Falcons $350,000 and took away a fifth round draft pick in the 2016 draft as punishment.[ 8]
References
External links
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Wild card / First round berths (8) Division championships (6) Conference championships (2) Ring of Honor Current league affiliations