Atlanta Falcons 2024-25 NFL Season Recap

Atlanta Falcons 2024-25 NFL Season Recap

It was only fitting to see the Atlanta Falcons drop back-to-back must-win games in Weeks 17 and 18 as questionable an offseason upper management put together leading up to the 2024-25 NFL betting season. Because of it, the “Dirty Birds” missed the cutline to qualify for the playoffs regardless of sweeping the season rivalry from the eventual NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Of Atlanta’s nine overall defeats, six were of the one-possession variety letting it be known just how close the team was at snapping a six-year playoff drought. However, the bad juju of the head scratching offseason followed the team like a dark cloud right up till the bitter end. On top of hiring a head coach with absolutely zero experience calling the shots as the main guy, upper management decided to ink Kirk Cousins to an enormous multi-year contract weeks before shocking the entire NFL Draft betting world by selecting Michael Penix Jr. with their first round pick (No. 8). Even when it was widely known how badly the other side of the ball needed a pass rush specialist thrown into the mix, and Penix’s draft stock pushing him to the back end of the first round if not the early second. Absolutely nothing this team did make sense, and the poor judgement played out live on the field of play for 18 straight weeks.

Guess which defense of all 32 teams produced the fewest sacks? You get a gold star if you said the New England Patriots. However, the Falcons 31 overall QB sacks came in right behind the Pats! How many of those one possession losses do you think would‘ve gone the other way had Atlanta actually been able to get more pressure on opposing quarterbacks? Even with the lack of pressure, the Falcons defense still forced 18 takeaways to rank out in the middle of the pack. And let’s not get into how bad Kirk Cousins was until Raheem Morris finally elected—or was forced to bench him—following the ugly 15-9 win and non-NFL spread cover at the Raiders in Week 15? Take those two starts against the Bucs out of the equation, and the Cousins experiment proved to be nothing short of an abomination. Bijan Robinson deserved much better after combining for nearly 1,900 scrimmage yards and 15 touchdowns!

In the end, Atlanta finished 8-9 straight up (SU) and 6-10-1 against the spread (ATS) with the under cashing in 10 of their 17 played games. With the defense clueless on how to track down opposing quarterbacks, the unit ranked No. 22 against the pass and allowed 2.0 passing touchdowns per game (No. 31). It still proved to be stout against the run (No. 15). Had a pass rusher been drafted early in the first, Cousins not been signed to that ridiculous deal coming off a major injury, and GM Terry Fontenot actually did his job and selected Penix Jr. where he should’ve gone later on, I can’t help but think the season would’ve played out much differently. As it is, Atlanta grossly failed to live up to expectations falling short of its 9.5-game win total and placing second in a division it went into the year -140 favorites to win.

Atlanta Falcons Week 18 Recap

The Atlanta Falcons (8-9) closed their season with a 44-38 overtime loss to the Carolina Panthers, ending a campaign that once showed division title promise. Despite leading the NFC South at 6-3, Atlanta’s late-season collapse under first-year head coach Raheem Morris kept them out of the playoffs. Atlanta’s defense was overwhelmed, giving up 537 yards, including five total touchdowns from Carolina quarterback Bryce Young. Rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. provided a bright spot for the Falcons in his third start, throwing for 312 yards and two touchdowns, both to Drake London, who tallied 10 receptions for a career-high 187 yards. Penix added a rushing touchdown but was intercepted once. Bijan Robinson powered the ground game with 170 rushing yards and two scores, showcasing the offensive potential Atlanta hopes to build on. Despite a dynamic offense, Atlanta’s defense faltered. Young threw three touchdown passes and ran for two more, exploiting the Falcons' coverage. Carolina took a 31-24 lead late in the third quarter before Penix’s fourth-quarter touchdown pass to London tied it. The Falcons forced overtime after Robinson’s game-tying score but couldn’t stop Carolina’s game-winning drive. Atlanta needed a win and a Buccaneers loss to claim the division. However, Tampa Bay’s victory dashed their hopes as the Falcons fought into overtime.

2024 Atlanta Falcons Schedule, Results & Record

The Falcons were founded as an NFL expansion team in 1966 but did not reach the playoffs until 1978. They have won two NFC championships, in 1998 and 2016. Their infamous Super Bowl collapse to the Patriots remains one of the biggest debacles in NFL history.

The Falcons emerged during the peak of the AFL vs. NFL league war, with the AFL also eyeing Atlanta for a franchise. To preempt this, the NFL swiftly established the Falcons, also aligning with their Sunbelt expansion strategy. The New Orleans Saints were founded the following year, sparking an immediate rivalry between the Southern teams. Over the years, the Falcons have had many great players, including Deion Sanders, Claude Humphrey, Steve Bartkowski, Jeff Van Note, Tommy Nobis, and Roddy White. Sanders and Humphrey are in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, while Van Note had a remarkable career from 1969 through 1986.

Matt Ryan and Julio Jones dramatically transformed the Atlanta Falcons franchise, bringing a new era of success and excitement to the team. Ryan, drafted in 2008, quickly established himself as a franchise quarterback, known for his poise, leadership, and passing precision. The arrival of Julio Jones in 2011, a dynamic wide receiver with exceptional speed and catch radius, provided Ryan with an elite target. Together, they formed one of the NFL's most potent quarterback-receiver duos, leading the Falcons to consistent playoff appearances and an NFC Championship in 2016. Their synergy on the field not only revitalized the Falcons' offense but also set numerous franchise records, cementing their legacy as pivotal figures in the team's history.

Atlanta Falcons Past Seasons (2000)

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