The 2024 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 59th in the National Football League (NFL), their eighth playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, their fourth under general manager Terry Fontenot and their first under head coach Raheem Morris. They improved on their 7–10 record from the previous three years, but failed to make the playoffs, extending a six-year absence and their seven-year NFC South title drought. Despite this, their highlights included a sweeping the eventual NFC South champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers and a Week 2 road victory over the eventual Super Bowl LIX champion Philadelphia Eagles.
In a Week 5 Thursday night matchup against the Buccaneers, Kirk Cousins set a franchise record for most passing yards in a game, throwing for 509 yards, beating the record previously set by Matt Ryan in 2016. The Falcons' 6–3 start was also their best since 2016. They then went through a four-game losing streak plagued by turnovers and poor defensive play; the Falcons would subsequently bench Cousins after Week 15 for first-round draft pick Michael Penix Jr. Their Week 16 win over the New York Giants secured their eighth victory of the season, their most since 2017.
The Falcons were eliminated from playoff contention for a seventh consecutive season as regulation time was expiring in their Week 18 game against the Carolina Panthers, due to a Buccaneers win over the Saints. The Panthers subsequently defeated Atlanta in overtime, extending Atlanta's streak of losing seasons to seven years.
Draft
+ 2024 Atlanta Falcons draft selections Round Selection Player Position College Notes 1 8 Michael Penix Jr. QB Washington 2 35 Ruke Orhorhoro DT Clemson From Cardinals 43 Traded to the Arizona Cardinals 3 74 Bralen Trice LB Washington 79 Traded to Arizona Cardinals From Jaguars 4 109 Brandon Dorlus DT Oregon 5 143 JD Bertrand LB Notre Dame 6 186 Jase McClellan RB Alabama From Vikings via Cardinals 187 Casey Washington WR Illinois 197 Zion Logue DT Georgia From Browns 7 230 Traded to the Cleveland Browns
+ 2024 Atlanta Falcons undrafted free agents Name Position College Ref. Ryan Coll OT Richmond JaQuae Jackson WR Rutgers John Paddock QB Illinois Nolan Potter OT Northern Illinois Jayden Price CB North Dakota State Anthony Sao CB MidAmerica Nazarene Ryan Sanborn P Texas Austin Stogner TE Oklahoma Trey Vaval CB Minnesota State Isaiah Wooden WR Southern Utah OJ Hiliare WR Bowling Green
Draft trades
Staff
Final roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at Miami Dolphins L 13–20 0–1 Hard Rock Stadium Recap 2 at Baltimore Ravens L 12–13 0–2 M&T Bank Stadium Recap 3 Jacksonville Jaguars L 0–31 0–3 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 8 Pittsburgh Steelers L 10–18 0–1 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 2 at Philadelphia Eagles W 22–21 1–1 Lincoln Financial Field Recap 3 September 22 Kansas City Chiefs L 17–22 1–2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 4 September 29 New Orleans Saints W 26–24 2–2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 5 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 36–30 3–2 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 6 October 13 at Carolina Panthers W 38–20 4–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap 7 October 20 Seattle Seahawks L 14–34 4–3 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 8 October 27 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 31–26 5–3 Raymond James Stadium Recap 9 November 3 Dallas Cowboys W 27–21 6–3 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 10 November 10 at New Orleans Saints L 17–20 6–4 Caesars Superdome Recap 11 November 17 at Denver Broncos L 6–38 6–5 Empower Field at Mile High Recap 12 Bye 13 December 1 Los Angeles Chargers L 13–17 6–6 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 14 December 8 at Minnesota Vikings L 21–42 6–7 U.S. Bank Stadium Recap 15 at Las Vegas Raiders W 15–9 7–7 Allegiant Stadium Recap 16 December 22 New York Giants W 34–7 8–7 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap 17 December 29 at Washington Commanders L 24–30 8–8 Northwest Stadium Recap 18 January 5 Carolina Panthers L 38–44 8–9 Mercedes-Benz Stadium Recap Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries Week 1: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
Week 2: at Philadelphia Eagles
Despite being down 18–15 and not having the ball past the two minute warning, an incomplete pass by the Eagles on 3rd down gave the Falcons the ball back with over a minute and a half down by 6. Kirk Cousins drove down the field to give the Falcons a one-point lead on a late touchdown by Drake London. The Falcons defense then secured the upset when Jessie Bates III intercepted Jalen Hurts, allowing Atlanta to pick up its first win in Philadelphia since the 2012 season. This would be the Eagles only home loss of the season.
Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Week 4: vs. New Orleans Saints
Younghoe Koo went 4/4 on field goals including a 58-yard field goal, the longest in Mercedes-Benz Stadium history, in a 26–24 divisional win against the New Orleans Saints.
Week 5: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 6: at Carolina Panthers
Week 7: vs. Seattle Seahawks
Week 8: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Week 9: vs. Dallas Cowboys
Week 10: at New Orleans Saints
Week 11: at Denver Broncos
Week 13: vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 14: at Minnesota Vikings
In addition to suffering their fourth straight loss, the Falcons fell out of the NFC South lead for the first time since Week 4 after the Buccaneers defeated the Raiders the same day. Week 15: at Las Vegas Raiders
The next day, the Falcons benched Kirk Cousins for rookie Michael Penix Jr.
Week 16: vs. New York Giants
With the win, the Falcons improved to 8–7 and, with the Buccaneers' loss later that day to the Cowboys, regained first place in the NFC South.
Week 17: at Washington Commanders
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 8–8, and combined with the Buccaneers' win over the Panthers earlier in the day, caused Atlanta to fall behind once again in the NFC South race. In addition, the Falcons failed to sweep the NFC East following the loss. Week 18: vs. Carolina Panthers
Before the overtime period began, the Buccaneers defeated the Saints, clinching the NFC South and eliminating the Falcons from playoff contention for the seventh consecutive season. With the loss, they finished with an 8–9 record, also suffering their seventh consecutive losing season.
Standings Division
Conference
Team leaders Category Player(s) Value Passing yards Kirk Cousins 3,508 Passing touchdowns Kirk Cousins 18 Rushing yards Bijan Robinson 1,456 Rushing touchdowns Bijan Robinson 14 Receptions Drake London 100 Receiving yards Drake London 1,271 Receiving touchdowns Drake London 9 Points Younghoe Koo 101 Kickoff return yards Avery Williams 408 Punt return yards Avery Williams 185 Tackles Kaden Elliss149 Sacks Arnold Ebiketie 6.0 Forced fumbles Jessie Bates 4 Interceptions Jessie Bates 4 Pass deflections Dee Alford 11
Notes
References
External links