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2002 Atlanta Falcons season

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2002 Atlanta Falcons season
Head coachDan Reeves
Home fieldGeorgia Dome
Results
Record9–6–1
Division place2nd NFC South
Playoff finishWon Wild Card Playoffs
(at Packers) 27–7
Lost Divisional Playoffs
(at Eagles) 6–20
Pro BowlersQB Michael Vick
LB Keith Brooking
AP All-ProsLB Keith Brooking (2nd team)

The 2002 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 37th in the National Football League (NFL) and their first in the newly formed NFC South. It was also the team's first season under new owner Arthur Blank, who acquired the team during the 2002 offseason. The team improved upon their previous season's output of 7–9 and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 1998. The team was also involved in a rare tie, matching the Pittsburgh Steelers 34–34 at the end of overtime.[1] This was the last time the Atlanta Falcons ended a season with a tie.

Before the season, the Falcons acquired running back Warrick Dunn to help with the team’s running game. Their running game had suffered the past three years. Dunn finished the season with 927 rushing yards and 9 total touchdowns. With the boost of Dunn, the Falcons rushed for 2,368 yards (148 yards per game) and 23 touchdowns, both the fourth-best in the NFL.

After seeing limited action as a rookie, this was Michael Vick's first full season as starting quarterback.

In the Wild Card Game, Vick and the Falcons defeated the Brett Favre-led Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field, 27–7, giving the Packers their first ever playoff loss in Lambeau. However, a 20–6 loss to Donovan McNabb and the Philadelphia Eagles in the next round kept the Falcons from advancing in the playoffs.

This was Dan Reeves' last full season as head coach as he was replaced by interim Wade Phillips during the following season.

Vick and linebacker Keith Brooking were voted to play in the Pro Bowl after the season. However, neither Vick not Brooking actually participated in the game. The Pro Bowl was Vick's first and Brooking's second. It was the final season the Falcons used their traditional black falcon helmet logo.

The last remaining active member of the 2002 Atlanta Falcons was quarterback Michael Vick, who played his final NFL game in the 2015 season, although he missed the 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Offseason

[edit]
Signings Departures
RB Warrick Dunn (Buccaneers) QB Chris Chandler (Bears)
DE John Thierry (Packers) G Bob Hallen (Chargers)
DT Ellis Johnson (Colts) LB Henri Crockett (Vikings)
LB John Holecek (Chargers) FS Ronnie Bradford (Vikings)
T Todd Weiner (Seahawks) WR Terance Mathis (Steelers)
CB Allen Rossum (Packers) DE Chuck Wiley (Vikings)
CB Kevin Mathis (Saints)
CB Fred Weary (Saints)

NFL Draft

[edit]
Main article: 2002 NFL Draft
2002 Atlanta Falcons draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 16 T. J. Duckett  Running back Michigan State from Washington via Oakland
3 80 Will Overstreet  Linebacker Tennessee
4 116 Martin Bibla  Guard Miami from Houston
5 148 Kevin McCadam  Safety Virginia Tech
5 158 Kurt Kittner  Quarterback Illinois from Oakland
6 184 Kahlil Hill  Wide receiver Iowa
7 217 Michael Coleman  Wide receiver Widener from Dallas
7 244 Kevin Shaffer  Offensive tackle Tulsa
      Made roster    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Undrafted free agents

[edit]
2002 Undrafted Free Agents of note
Player Position College
Matt Allen Punter Troy State

Personnel

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Staff

[edit]
2002 Atlanta Falcons staff

Front office

  • Chairman/president/chief executive officer – Arthur Blank
  • Senior advisor to the president – Bobby Beathard
  • Vice president of football operations – Ron Hill
  • College scouting coordinator – Reed Johnson
  • Director of pro personnel – Les Snead
  • Assistant to head coach/pro personnel – Marvin Bass

Head coaches

  • Executive vice president/head coach – Dan Reeves

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

  • Strength and conditioning – Al Miller
  • Assistant strength and conditioning – Rocky Colburn

Roster

[edit]
2002 Atlanta Falcons final roster
Quarterbacks

Running backs

Wide receivers

Tight ends

Offensive linemen

Defensive linemen

Linebackers

Defensive backs

Special teams

Reserve lists


Practice squad


Rookies in italics
 53 active, 6 inactive, 5 practice squad

Regular season

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Schedule

[edit]

In addition to their NFC South rivals, the Falcons played all teams from the NFC North and AFC North. In addition, the Falcons played the New York Giants from the NFC East, and the Seattle Seahawks from the NFC West, based on 2001 standings.

Week Date Opponent Result Record Attendance
1 September 8 at Green Bay Packers L 37–34 (OT) 0–1 63,127
2 September 15 Chicago Bears L 14–13 0–2 68,081
3 September 22 Cincinnati Bengals W 30–3 1–2 68,129
4 Bye
5 October 6 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 20–6 1–3 68,936
6 October 13 at New York Giants W 17–10 2–3 78,728
7 October 20 Carolina Panthers W 30–0 3–3 68,056
8 October 27 at New Orleans Saints W 37–35 4–3 67,883
9 November 3 Baltimore Ravens W 20–17 5–3 68,532
10 November 10 at Pittsburgh Steelers T 34–34 (OT) 5–3–1 62,779
11 November 17 New Orleans Saints W 24–17 6–3–1 70,382
12 November 24 at Carolina Panthers W 41–0 7–3–1 72,533
13 December 1 at Minnesota Vikings W 30–24 (OT) 8–3–1 63,947
14 December 8 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 34–10 8–4–1 65,648
15 December 15 Seattle Seahawks L 30–24 (OT) 8–5–1 69,551
16 December 22 Detroit Lions W 36–15 9–5–1 69,307
17 December 29 at Cleveland Browns L 24–16 9–6–1 73,528
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

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Week 1: at Green Bay Packers

[edit]
Week 1: Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Falcons 0 21 310034
Packers 3 10 147337

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Game information

Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears

[edit]
Week 2: Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons
Period 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 7 7014
Falcons 0 10 3013

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

[edit]
Week 3: Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons
Period 1 2 34Total
Bengals 0 3 003
Falcons 13 7 7330

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

Game information

Week 13: at Minnesota Vikings

[edit]
Week 13: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings
Period 1 2 34OTTotal
Falcons 0 14 73630
Vikings 7 7 73024

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Game information

Week 16: vs. Detroit Lions

[edit]
Week 16: Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons
Period 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 0 01515
Falcons 3 10 61736

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

  • Date: December 22, 2002
  • Game time: 1:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: none (indoor stadium)
  • Game attendance: 69,307
  • Referee: Walt Coleman (65)
  • TV: FOX
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Playoffs

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Attendance
Wild Card January 4 at Green Bay Packers W 27–7 65,358
Divisional January 11 at Philadelphia Eagles L 6–20 66,452

Game summaries

[edit]

NFC Wild Card: at Green Bay Packers

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NFC Wild Card Game: (6) Atlanta Falcons at (3) Green Bay Packers
Period 1 2 34Total
Falcons 14 10 3027
Packers 0 0 707

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

  • Date: January 4, 2003
  • Game time: 8:00 p.m.
  • Game weather: Clear, 31 °F (−1 °C)
  • Game attendance: 65,358
  • Referee: Bernie Kukar (86)
  • TV: ABC
  • Recap, Game Book
Game information

Standings

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Division

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NFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(2) Tampa Bay Buccaneers 12 4 0 .750 4–2 9–3 346 196 W1
(6) Atlanta Falcons 9 6 1 .594 4–2 7–5 402 314 L1
New Orleans Saints 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 432 388 L3
Carolina Panthers 7 9 0 .438 1–5 4–8 258 302 W2

Conference

[edit]
NFC
# Team Division W L T PCT DIV CONF SOS SOV
Division leaders
1[a] Philadelphia Eagles East 12 4 0 .750 5–1 11–1 .469 .432
2[a][b] Tampa Bay Buccaneers South 12 4 0 .750 4–2 9–3 .482 .432
3[a][b] Green Bay Packers North 12 4 0 .750 5–1 9–3 .451 .414
4 San Francisco 49ers West 10 6 0 .625 5–1 8–4 .504 .450
Wild Cards
5 New York Giants East 10 6 0 .625 5–1 8–4 .482 .450
6 Atlanta Falcons South 9 6 1 .594 4–2 7–5 .494 .429
Did not qualify for the postseason
7 New Orleans Saints South 9 7 0 .563 3–3 7–5 .498 .566
8[c] St. Louis Rams West 7 9 0 .438 4–2 5–7 .508 .446
9[c] Seattle Seahawks West 7 9 0 .438 2–4 5–7 .506 .433
10[d] Washington Redskins East 7 9 0 .438 1–5 4–8 .527 .438
11[d] Carolina Panthers South 7 9 0 .438 1–5 4–8 .486 .357
12 Minnesota Vikings North 6 10 0 .375 4–2 5–7 .498 .417
13[e] Arizona Cardinals West 5 11 0 .313 1–5 5–7 .500 .400
14[e] Dallas Cowboys East 5 11 0 .313 1–5 3–9 .500 .475
15 Chicago Bears North 4 12 0 .250 2–4 3–9 .521 .430
16 Detroit Lions North 3 13 0 .188 1–5 3–9 .494 .375
Tiebreakers[f]
  1. ^ a b c Philadelphia finished ahead of Tampa Bay and Green Bay based on conference record (11–1 vs 9–3/9–3).
  2. ^ a b Tampa Bay finished ahead of Green Bay based on head-to-head victory.
  3. ^ a b St. Louis finished ahead of Seattle based on division record (4–2 to 2–4).
  4. ^ a b Washington finished ahead of Carolina based on common games (2–3 to 1–4)
  5. ^ a b Arizona finished ahead of Dallas based on head-to-head victory.
  6. ^ When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Atlanta Falcons 34 at Pittsburgh Steelers 34
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