1974 Atlanta Falcons season
| 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 stadium | Atlanta Stadium |
| Results | |
| Record | 3–11 |
| Division place | 4th NFC West |
| Playoffs | Did not qualify |
| All-Pros | 1
|
| Pro Bowlers | 3 |
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]
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. Overall, Bob Lee, statistically, had one of the poorest seasons by a quarterback in Atlanta Falcons history, throwing for 852 yards, just 3 touchdowns, 14 interceptions, and completed just 45.3% of his passes (going 78 for 172) to go with his 32.4 passer rating. He also got sacked 31 times for 269 yards.
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
[edit]NFL draft
[edit]| 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
[edit]Staff
[edit]|
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
|
Defensive coaches
|
Roster
[edit]Regular season
[edit]Schedule
[edit]| 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
[edit]Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cowboys | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 24 |
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 49ers | 13 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 16 |
| Falcons | 7 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
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
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 3: at New Orleans Saints
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
| Saints | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 14 |
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 4: at New York Giants
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 0 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 14 |
| Giants | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
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
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bears | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 10 |
| Falcons | 0 | 7 | 3 | 3 | 13 |
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
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saints | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |
| Falcons | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
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
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 7: at Pittsburgh Steelers
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 0 | 14 | 0 | 3 | 17 |
| Steelers | 14 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 24 |
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
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 8: at Miami Dolphins
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| Dolphins | 0 | 14 | 21 | 7 | 42 |
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
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 9: at Los Angeles Rams
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Rams | 7 | 0 | 7 | 7 | 21 |
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 10: vs. Baltimore Colts
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Colts | 0 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Falcons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
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
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 49ers | 7 | 7 | 0 | 13 | 27 |
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
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rams | 6 | 7 | 17 | 0 | 30 |
| Falcons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
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
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 13: at Minnesota Vikings
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Falcons | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 10 |
| Vikings | 7 | 3 | 6 | 7 | 23 |
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
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Week 14: vs. Green Bay Packers
[edit]| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Packers | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Falcons | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
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
| Game information |
|---|
First quarter
Second quarter
Third quarter
Fourth quarter
Top passers
Top rushers
Top receivers
|
Standings
[edit]| 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
[edit]- ↑ “Falcons deny trading Reaves Connected with Players’ Strike”; in Ellensburg Daily Record; July 20, 1974; p. 4
- ↑ “Falcons blast Eagles, 23–7”; in St. Petersburg Times; August 5, 1974; p. 9C
- ↑ “Harold Hart, Stabler Leader Raiders’ Win Over Falcons”; in The Tuscaloosa News; August 11, 1974; p. 2C
- ↑ “Falcon Tackle out for Season”; in Bangor Daily News; August 22, 1974; p. 18
- ↑ “Hampton out with Bum Knee”; in Rome News-Tribune; August 27, 1974; p. 6
- ↑ Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1961 to 1978, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points For and Requiring Points For less than 200
- ↑ “Falcons Dump the Dutchman”; in The Pittsburgh Press, November 5, 1974; p. 69
- ↑ “Steelers Take on Falcons”; in St. Petersburg Times; October 28, 1974; p. 3C
- ↑ "1974 Atlanta Falcons draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com. Retrieved October 24, 2014.