NFL: Atlanta Falcons Season Review 01/21/2009
In just one season, the Atlanta Falcons rebounded from four wins in 2007 to an 11-5 regular season record and the team’s first playoff berth since 2004.
The ‘08 campaign was a year of firsts as first year Head Coach Mike Smith and first year
quarterback Matt Ryan became the first rookie head coach and quarterback duo
to compete in a playoff contest since 1945 when the Cleveland Rams accomplished the feat.
In Smith’s stellar first season, he also became only the fourth
Head Coach in franchise history to record 11 or more victories in a
single year en route to Associated Press Coach of the Year honors.
The distinction marked only the second occasion a Falcons coach
earned the award in franchise history.
The Falcons witnessed an entire team effort in the turnaround
as an organization with a fresh look that took the NFL by storm,
winning five of their last six games on the way to a second place
finish in the NFC South Division. Atlanta garnerned two Pro Bowl
selections in running back Michael Turner and wide receiver
Roddy White who will both be making their first visits to the
league’s all-star game. Quarterback Matt Ryan earned Associated
Press Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and was named NFC
Rookie of the Month (October), a first in both categories in team
history. The Falcons also finished the regular season with five NFC Player of the Week accolades. Turner earned the honor on three occasions, while Ryan was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week after his performance against the Oakland Raiders in Week 9 and wide receiver Harry Douglas was named NFC Special
Teams Player of the Week after returning a punt 61 yards against
Carolina in Week 12. In his first season with the Atlanta Falcons, Turner was voted tied for second in the final NFL MVP voting as he finished second in the league in rushing (1,699 yards) while topping the 1,000-yard plateau for the first time in his career. Turner also posted 17 rushing touchdowns, which set a new franchise record. White also logged a career year as he set a new franchise record with 1,382 receiving yards in a single-season while becoming the first wide receiver in team history to post back-to-back 1,200-yard campaigns. Defensively, John Abraham set a new team record and a personal best with 16.5 sacks, topping the old record of 16.0 held by Joel Williams, which was set in 1980.
2008 Final Regular Season Statistics
Falcons (NFL rank)
Points Per Game 24.4 (10)
Total Offense Per Game 361.2 (6)
Net Rushing Yards Per Game 152.7 (2)
Net Passing Yards Per Game 208.5 (14)
Possession Average 30:49
Opponent Points Per Game 20.3 (11)
Opponent Total Offense Per Game 347.9 (24)
Opponent Net Rushing Yards Per Game 127.5 (25)
Opponent Net Passing Yards Per Game 220.4 (21)
Turnover Differential -3 (21)
MATT RYAN
Since the NFL merger took place in
1970, only three rookie quarterbacks
have started all 16 games of a season.
Those players include Rick Mirer
(Seattle) in 1993, Peyton Manning
(Indianapolis) in 1998 and David Carr
(Houston) in 2002. Falcons quarterback
Matt Ryan and Baltimore QB Joe Flacco
joined the trio following the regular season
finale last Sunday. Ryan and Flacco
both became the only rookies to lead
their respective teams to the playoffs
after starting every game in the regular
season.
Below is a look at the success of the five rookie QBs who
have started all 16 games in their first seasons.
Player.. Year.. Reg. Season.. Rec. Postseason
Matt Ryan, Atl 2008 11-5 NFC Wild Card
Joe Flacco, Bal 2008 11-5 AFC Wild Card
David Carr, Hou 2002 4-12 -XXX
Peyton Manning, Ind 1998 3-13 -XXX
Rick Mirer, Sea 1993 6-10 -XXX
improvements from the previous season, which included points per game average, rushing yards per game average, passing touchdown to interception ratio and sacks allowed. Smith had the Falcons ready to play in every game this season as Atlanta ranked first in the NFL in first quarter points scored and sixth in first quarter points allowed. The team also recorded a streak of 12 of 15 games holding opponents to under 20 rushing yards in the opening 15 minutes of play. Under Smith’s guidence, rookie quarterback Matt Ryan quickly developed into an offensive leader as he became the first Falcons quarterback to win 10 games in his first season. Ryan also threw for over 3,000 passing yards, becoming Atlanta’s first rookie quarterback to accomplish the feat. Free agent running back Michael Turner revived the Falcons rushing attack and he finished the regular season ranked second in the league in rushing yards. Turner also topped the 1,000-yard plateau for the first time in his career. Finally, Smith witnessed Roddy White become the first wide receiver in franchise history
to post back to back 1,200-yard seasons while setting a single season mark with 1,382 yards.
MOST FALCONS
HEAD COACHING
WINS IN A SEASON
Coach… Record… Year
Dan Reeves.. 14-2.. 1998
Leeman Bennett.. 12-4.. 1980
Jim Mora.. 11-5.. 2004
Mike Smith.. 11-5.. 2008
Jerry Glanville.. 10-6.. 1991
Rookie Head Coaches Who Won 11+ Games
Coach.. Team… Year.. Wins
Mike Smith.. Atlanta.. 2008.. 11
John Harbaugh.. Baltimore.. 2008.. 11
Tony Sparano.. Miami.. 2008.. 11
Jim Mora.. Atlanta.. 2004.. 11
Bill Callahan.. Oakland.. 1997.. 11
Steve Mariucci.. San Francisco.. 1994.. 12
Barry Switzer.. Dallas.. 1994.. 12
Bill Cowher.. Pittsburgh.. 1992.. 11
Dennis Green.. Minnesota.. 1992.. 11
Bobby Ross.. San Diego.. 1992.. 11
George Seifert.. San Francisco.. 1989.. 14
[
Player.. Yards
1. Roddy White, 2008 1,382
2. Alfred Jenkins, 1981 1,358
3. Terance Mathis, 1994 1,342
FALCONS MOST RECEPTIONS IN A SEASON
Player.. Receptions
1. Terance Mathis, 1994 111
2. Eric Metcalf, 1995 104
3. Andre Rison, 1992 93
4. Roddy White, 2008 88
5. Andre Rison, 1993 86
FALCONS MOST SACKS IN A SEASON
Player.. Sacks
1. John Abraham, 2008 16.5
2. Joel Williams, 1980 16.0
3. Claude Humphrey, 1976 15.0
FALCONS MOST NET YARDS GAINED (Season)
Season.. Yards
1. 2008 5,779
2. 1981 5,661
3. 1980 5,650
FALCONS MOST RUSHING YARDS IN A SEASON
Team Yards
1. 2006 2,939*
2. 2004 2,672*
3. 2005 2,546*
4. 1985 2,466
5. 2008 2,443
*Led NFL
FALCONS BEST COMPLETION % IN A SEASON
Team Percentage
1. 1982 64.0
2. 1983 63.3
3. 1984 61.5
4. 1992 61.3
5. 2008 61.1
FALCONS MOST POINTS IN A SEASON
Team Points
1. 1998 442
2. 1981 426
3. 1980 405
4. 2002 402
5. 2008 391
FALCONS SACKS ALLOWED PER PLAY (Season)
Season Sacks/Per Play
1. 2008 25.5
2. 1997 17.1
3. 1994 17.1
NFL TEAM RUSHING LEADERS
Team… Rushing Avg.
1. New York Giants 157.3
2. Atlanta Falcons 152.7
3. Carolina Panthers 152.3
4. Baltimore Ravens 148.5
5. Minnesota Vikings 145.8
NFC TEAM LEADERS IN TOTAL OFFENSE
Team… Yardage Avg.
1. New Orleans Saints 410.7
2. Arizona Cardinals 365.8
3. Atlanta Falcons 361.2
4. New York Giants 355.9
5. Green Bay Packers 351.1
NFL FIRST QUARTER POINTS SCORED
Team Points
1. Atlanta Falcons 114
2. Chicago Bears 109
3. Denver Broncos 106
NFC FIRST QUARTER POINTS ALLOWED
Team… Points
1. New York Giants 39
2. Chicago Bears 47
3. Atlanta Falcons 52
NFL FIRST QUARTER RUSHING YARDS ALLOWED
Team… Rushing Yards
1. Pittsburgh Steelers 255
2. New York Giants 288
3t. Atlanta Falcons 310
3t. Dallas Cowboys 310
NFL LEADERS IN RUSHING PLAYS OF 10+ YARDS
Team… Plays
1. New York Giants 73
2. Atlanta Falcons 69
3. Carolina Panthers 63
NFL PUNT RETURN YARDS ALLOWED (Season)
Team… Return Yards
1. Atlanta Falcons 49 (NFL Record)
2. New York Giants 140
3. San Diego Chargers 146
4. New England Patriots 158
5. Buffalo Bills 187
SHOW NO EMOTION