The 1980 Atlanta Falcons season was the Falcons' 15th season and culminated in their first division title in franchise history. After a 3–3 start, the Falcons went on a nine-game winning streak as quarterback Steve Bartkowski passed for a career-best 3,544 yards while connecting on 31 touchdown passes. As the NFC's top seed, the Falcons gained home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Falcons' season ended with a 30–27 divisional playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys before 60,022 fans at Fulton County Stadium.
This would be the last time the Falcons capture a winning record in a non strike season until 1991, as well as their last division title until 1998.
Offseason
Draft
Undrafted free agents
+ 1980 undrafted free agents of notePlayerPositionCollegeKeith EdwardsSafetyMinnesotaAl FutrellCornerbackTCUReggie SmithWide receiverNorth Carolina Central
Personnel Staff
Roster
Regular season
Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Attendance Recap 1 September 7 at Minnesota Vikings L 23–24 0–1 Metropolitan Stadium 44,773 Recap 2 September 14 at New England Patriots W 37–21 1–1 Schaefer Stadium 48,321 Recap 3 September 21 Miami Dolphins L 17–20 1–2 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 55,470 Recap 4 September 28 at San Francisco 49ers W 20–17 2–2 Candlestick Park 56,518 Recap 5 October 5 Detroit Lions W 43–28 3–2 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 57,652 Recap 6 October 12 New York Jets L 7–14 3–3 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 57,458 Recap 7 October 19 at New Orleans Saints W 41–14 4–3 Louisiana Superdome 62,651 Recap 8 October 26 Los Angeles Rams W 13–10 5–3 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 57,401 Recap 9 November 2 at Buffalo Bills W 30–14 6–3 Rich Stadium 57,959 Recap 10 November 9 at St. Louis Cardinals W 33–27 (OT) 7–3 Busch Memorial Stadium 48,662 Recap 11 November 16 New Orleans Saints W 31–13 8–3 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 53,871 Recap 12 November 23 Chicago Bears W 28–17 9–3 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 49,156 Recap 13 November 30 Washington Redskins W 10–6 10–3 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 55,665 Recap 14 December 7 at Philadelphia Eagles W 20–17 11–3 Veterans Stadium 70,205 Recap 15 December 14 San Francisco 49ers W 35–10 12–3 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 55,767 Recap 16 December 21 at Los Angeles Rams L 17–20 (OT) 12–4 Anaheim Stadium 62,469 Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7
Pro-Football-Reference.com
Week 8
Week 9
Week 10
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Playoffs Round Date Opponent (seed) Result Venue Attendance Recap Divisional January 4 Dallas Cowboys (4) L 27–30 Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium 60,022 Recap
Divisional
Standings
References
External links 1980 Atlanta Falcons at Pro-Football-Reference.com