1974 Atlanta Falcons season
NFL team season From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The 1974 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's ninth year in the National Football League (NFL). After coming close to their maiden postseason appearance the previous season and finishing with a best-to-date 9–5 record despite an upset loss to the Cardinals, the Falcons traded star cornerback Ken Reaves to the archrival New Orleans Saints to obtain in-demand guard Royce Smith, a former Georgia Bulldogs All-American,[1] in a widely criticized move (Reaves played only five games for New Orleans before he was cut; he signed with St. Louis, where he remained through his retirement in 1978). During the strike-affected pre-season, they beat the Eagles 23–7 in a rain-soaked match,[2] before losing to the Raiders, 28–16.[3] Soon afterwards the Falcons lost key offensive tackle Bill Sandeman for the entire season with a slipped disc in his back.[4]
1974 Atlanta Falcons season | |
---|---|
Owner | Rankin M. Smith Sr. |
General manager | Norm Van Brocklin (fired Nov. 6) |
Head coach | Norm Van Brocklin (fired Nov. 6; 2–6 record) Marion Campbell (interim; 1–5 record) |
Home field | Atlanta Stadium |
Results | |
Record | 3–11 |
Division place | 4th NFC West |
Playoff finish | Did not qualify |
Pro Bowlers | 3 |
All-Pros | 1
|
Along with a form lapse from quarterback Bob Lee and an injury to running back Dave Hampton,[5] this destroyed the Falcons’ offense. The 1974 Falcons scored 111 points with a mere twelve touchdowns, the lowest total in franchise history, and the second lowest by any team in a fourteen-game NFL season[6] after the infamous “Zero Gang” offense of the 1977 Buccaneers who were shut out six times in fourteen games. Their failure to score more than seventeen points in any game has been equalled since only by the infamous offense of the 1992 Seahawks.
The Falcons sacked long-serving head coach Norman van Brocklin after being thrashed by the Miami Dolphins and having heard demands from fans to make that move. Three of his successors have suffered the same humiliation in the middle of a season: Marion Campbell (1976 and 1989), Dan Reeves (2003) and Dan Quinn (2020), and Bobby Petrino quit with three games remaining in 2007.[7][8]
The 1974 Falcons suffered through the humiliation of being the first Falcons team to be swept by the Saints since the teams became division rivals with the AFL-NFL merger. The Saints entered the season 1–9 all-time vs. the Falcons, with that win coming in the teams' first meeting in 1967. New Orleans did not sweep Atlanta again until 1983.
Offseason
Summarize
Perspective
NFL Draft
1974 Atlanta Falcons draft | |||||
Round | Pick | Player | Position | College | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2 | 44 | Gerald Tinker | Wide receiver | Kent State | Selected two spots ahead of Kent State teammate Jack Lambert. |
3 | 69 | Kim McQuilken | Quarterback | Lehigh | |
4 | 96 | Vince Kendrick | Running back | Florida | |
5 | 128 | Monroe Eley | Running back | Arizona State | Would join the Falcons in 1975 after having played in the CFL for the British Columbia Lions between 1972 and 1974. |
6 | 147 | Doyle Orange | Running back | Southern Mississippi | |
7 | 173 | Jim Coode | Offensive tackle | Michigan | Played in the CFL for the Ottawa Rough Riders up to 1980. |
9 | 225 | Larry Bailey | Defensive tackle | Pacific | |
10 | 252 | Paul Ryczek | Center | Virginia | |
11 | 277 | Eddie Wilson | Wide receiver | Albany State | |
12 | 304 | Vic Kögel | Linebacker | Ohio State | |
13 | 329 | Ralph Powell | Running back | Nebraska | |
14 | 356 | John Givens | Guard | Villanova | |
15 | 381 | Willie Jones | Wide receiver | Iowa State | |
16 | 408 | Sylvester McGee | Running back | Rhode Island | |
17 | 433 | Al Davis | Guard | Boise State | |
Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career |
Personnel
Summarize
Perspective
Staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
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Defensive coaches
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Roster
Quarterbacks (QB)
Running backs (RB)
Wide receivers (WR)
Tight ends (TE)
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Offensive linemen (OL)
Defensive linemen (DL)
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Linebackers (LB)
Defensive backs (DB)
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Reserve
Rookies in italics |
Regular season
Summarize
Perspective
Schedule
Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | September 15 | Dallas Cowboys | L 0–24 | 0–1 | Atlanta Stadium | 52,322 | Recap |
2 | September 22 | San Francisco 49ers | L 10–16 | 0–2 | Atlanta Stadium | 47,686 | Recap |
3 | September 29 | at New Orleans Saints | L 13–14 | 0–3 | Tulane Stadium | 62,273 | Recap |
4 | October 6 | at New York Giants | W 14–7 | 1–3 | Yale Bowl | 42,379 | Recap |
5 | October 13 | Chicago Bears | W 13–10 | 2–3 | Atlanta Stadium | 47,835 | Recap |
6 | October 20 | New Orleans Saints | L 3–13 | 2–4 | Atlanta Stadium | 47,217 | Recap |
7 | October 28 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 17–24 | 2–5 | Three Rivers Stadium | 48,094 | Recap |
8 | November 3 | at Miami Dolphins | L 7–42 | 2–6 | Miami Orange Bowl | 64,399 | Recap |
9 | November 10 | at Los Angeles Rams | L 0–21 | 2–7 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 70,056 | Recap |
10 | November 17 | Baltimore Colts | L 7–17 | 2–8 | Atlanta Stadium | 41,278 | Recap |
11 | November 24 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 0–27 | 2–9 | Candlestick Park | 45,435 | Recap |
12 | December 1 | Los Angeles Rams | L 7–30 | 2–10 | Atlanta Stadium | 18,648 | Recap |
13 | December 7 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 10–23 | 2–11 | Metropolitan Stadium | 47,105 | Recap |
14 | December 15 | Green Bay Packers | W 10–3 | 3–11 | Atlanta Stadium | 10,020 | Recap |
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. |
Game summaries
Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cowboys | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Game information | ||
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Week 1: Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary
Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
49ers | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
Falcons | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
Game information | ||
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Week 2: San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: September 22
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Cloudy, 68 °F (20 °C)
- Game attendance: 47,686
- Box score
Week 3: at New Orleans Saints
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
Saints | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
Game information | ||
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Week 3: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary
Week 4: at New York Giants
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
Giants | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Game information | ||
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Week 4: Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants – Game summary
at Yale Bowl, New Haven, Connecticut
- Date: October 6
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 63 °F (17 °C)
- Game attendance: 42,379
- Box score
Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
Falcons | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
Game information | ||
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Week 5: Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: October 13
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 68 °F (20 °C)
- Game attendance: 47,835
- Box score
Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Saints | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
Falcons | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
Game information | ||
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Week 6: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: October 20
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EDT
- Game weather: Sunny, 52 °F (11 °C)
- Game attendance: 47,217
- Box score
Week 7: at Pittsburgh Steelers
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
Steelers | 14 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
Game information | ||
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Week 7: Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary
at Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Date: October 28
- Game time: 9:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Clear, 51 °F (11 °C)
- Game attendance: 48,094
- TV announcers (ABC): Frank Gifford and Howard Cosell
- Box score
Week 8: at Miami Dolphins
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Dolphins | 0 | 14 | 21 | 7 | 42 |
Game information | ||
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Week 8: Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins – Game summary
at Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida
- Date: November 3
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 77 °F (25 °C)
- Game attendance: 64,399
- Box score
Week 9: at Los Angeles Rams
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Rams | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
Game information | ||
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Week 9: Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary
Week 10: vs. Baltimore Colts
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Colts | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
Falcons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Game information | ||
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Week 10: Baltimore Colts at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: November 17
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Partly cloudy, 54 °F (12 °C)
- Game attendance: 41,278
- Box score
Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
49ers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 27 |
Game information | ||
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Week 11: Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary
at Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California
- Date: November 24
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 50 °F (10 °C)
- Game attendance: 45,435
- Box score
Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Rams | 6 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 30 |
Falcons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
Game information | ||
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Week 12: Los Angeles Rams at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: December 1
- Game time: 4:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Rain, 36 °F (2 °C)
- Game attendance: 18,648
- Box score
Week 13: at Minnesota Vikings
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Falcons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
Vikings | 7 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 23 |
Game information | ||
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Week 13: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary
at Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota
- Date: December 7
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST
- Game weather: Cloudy with flurries, 28 °F (−2 °C)
- Game attendance: 47,105
- Box score
Week 14: vs. Green Bay Packers
Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Packers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
Falcons | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
Game information | ||
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Week 14: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary
at Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
- Date: December 15
- Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
- Game weather: Cloudy, 42 °F (6 °C)
- Game attendance: 10,020
- Box score
Standings
NFC West | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK | |
Los Angeles Rams | 10 | 4 | 0 | .714 | 5–1 | 7–3 | 263 | 181 | W1 |
San Francisco 49ers | 6 | 8 | 0 | .429 | 4–2 | 6–5 | 226 | 236 | W2 |
New Orleans Saints | 5 | 9 | 0 | .357 | 3–3 | 5–6 | 166 | 263 | L1 |
Atlanta Falcons | 3 | 11 | 0 | .214 | 0–6 | 3–8 | 111 | 271 | W1 |
References
External links
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