2024 Atlanta Falcons Season

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 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

Draft trades

Staff

Final roster

Preseason

Regular season

Schedule

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

References

External links

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{{2024 NFL season by team

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