# 1984 Atlanta Falcons season

The 1984 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise’s 19th season in the National Football League (NFL). The season saw Atlanta attempting to improve on its previous record of 7–9 from 1983. The Falcons would split their first six games, but then suffer a franchise-record 9-game losing streak to knock the team down to 3–12. The Falcons would win their finale against the Philadelphia Eagles and finish the season 4–12, their worst record since 1976.

## Offseason
### NFL Draft

1984 Atlanta Falcons draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 9 | Rick Bryan | Defensive end | Oklahoma |
| 2 | 32 | Scott Case * | Defensive back | Oklahoma |
| 2 | 36 | Thomas Benson | Linebacker | Oklahoma |
| 3 | 63 | Rod McSwain | Defensive back | Clemson |
| 4 | 94 | Rydell Melancon | Linebacker | LSU |
| 5 | 132 | Cliff Benson | Tight end | Purdue |
| 6 | 148 | Ben Bennett | Quarterback | Duke |
| 6 | 163 | Dan Ralph | Defensive tackle | Oregon |
| 7 | 175 | Kirk Dodge | Linebacker | UNLV |
| 8 | 206 | Jeff Jackson | Linebacker | Auburn |
| 9 | 233 | Glen Howe | Offensive tackle | Southern Miss |
| 10 | 260 | Derrick Franklin | Defensive back | Fresno State |
| 11 | 287 | Tommy Norman | Wide receiver | Jackson State |
| 12 | 318 | Don Holmes | Wide receiver | Colorado Mesa |
| Made roster * Made at least one Pro Bowl during career ||||||

### NFL supplemental draft

The National Football League held a draft for college seniors who had already signed with either the United States Football League (USFL) or the Canadian Football League (CFL) on June 5, 1984, in New York City. The draft was for players who would have been eligible for the regular 1984 NFL draft, but who had already signed a contract with either a team from the USFL or CFL prior to it.
1984 Atlanta Falcons draft :
| Round | Pick | Player | Position | College |
| 1 | 9 | Joey Jones | Wide receiver | Alabama |
| 2 | 36 | Mike McInnis | Defensive tackle | Arkansas–Pine Bluff |
| 3 | 63 | Dennis Woodberry | Defensive back | Southern Arkansas |
| Made roster ||||||

## Regular season
### Schedule

| Week | Date | Opponent | Result | Record | Venue | Attendance | Recap |
| 1 | September 2 | at New Orleans Saints | W 36–28 | 1–0 | Louisiana Superdome | 66,652 | Recap |
| 2 | September 9 | Detroit Lions | L 24–27 (OT) | 1–1 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 49,878 | Recap |
| 3 | September 16 | at Minnesota Vikings | L 20–27 | 1–2 | Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome | 53,955 | Recap |
| 4 | September 23 | Houston Oilers | W 42–10 | 2–2 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 45,248 | Recap |
| 5 | September 30 | at San Francisco 49ers | L 5–14 | 2–3 | Candlestick Park | 57,990 | Recap |
| 6 | October 7 | at Los Angeles Rams | W 30–28 | 3–3 | Anaheim Stadium | 47,832 | Recap |
| 7 | October 14 | New York Giants | L 7–19 | 3–4 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 50,268 | Recap |
| 8 | October 22 | Los Angeles Rams | L 10–24 | 3–5 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 52,681 | Recap |
| 9 | October 28 | at Pittsburgh Steelers | L 10–35 | 3–6 | Three Rivers Stadium | 55,971 | Recap |
| 10 | November 5 | at Washington Redskins | L 14–27 | 3–7 | Robert F. Kennedy Memorial Stadium | 51,301 | Recap |
| 11 | November 11 | New Orleans Saints | L 13–17 | 3–8 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 40,590 | Recap |
| 12 | November 18 | Cleveland Browns | L 7–23 | 3–9 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 28,280 | Recap |
| 13 | November 25 | at Cincinnati Bengals | L 14–35 | 3–10 | Riverfront Stadium | 44,678 | Recap |
| 14 | December 2 | San Francisco 49ers | L 17–35 | 3–11 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 29,644 | Recap |
| 15 | December 9 | at Tampa Bay Buccaneers | L 6–23 | 3–12 | Tampa Stadium | 33,808 | Recap |
| 16 | December 16 | Philadelphia Eagles | W 26–10 | 4–12 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 15,582 | Recap |
| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text. ||||||||

### Game summaries
#### Week 1

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Falcons | 5 | 14 | 7 | 10 | 36 |
| Saints | 7 | 14 | 0 | 7 | 28 |

### Week 2: vs. Detroit Lions

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | OT | Total |
| Lions | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 27 |
| Falcons | 0 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia
* Date: Sunday, September 9
* Game time: 1:00 p.m.
* Game weather: 70 °F or 21.1 °C, wind 10 miles per hour (16 km/h; 8.7 kn)
* Referee: Fred Silva
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
Game information :
First quarter
Lions – Billy Sims 9 yard run (Eddie Murray kick) – Lions 7–0
Lions – Eddie Murray 46 yard field goal – Lions 10–0
Second quarter
Lions – David Lewis 11 yard pass from Gary Danielson (Eddie Murray kick) – Lions 17–0
Falcons – Gerald Riggs 1 yard run (Mick Luckhurst kick) – Lions 17–7
Falcons – Mick Luckhurst 51 yard field goal – Lions 17–10
Third quarter
Falcons – Billy Johnson 45 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick) – Tie 17–17
Lions – Leonard Thompson 11 yard pass from Gary Danielson (Eddie Murray kick) – Lions 24–17
Fourth quarter
Falcons – Stacey Bailey 29 yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick) – Tie 24–24
Overtime
Lions – Eddie Murray 48 yard field goal – Lions 27–24
Lions
Gary Danielson 21/32, 250 Yds, 2 TD, 2 INT
Billy Sims 23 Rush, 140 Yds, TD
David Lewis 4 Rec, 68 Yds, TD
Falcons
Steve Bartkowski 24/28, 299 yds, 2 TD
Gerald Riggs 19 Rush, 78 Yds, TD
Billy Johnson 8 Rec, 116 Yds, TD :

#### Week 3 at Vikings

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons | 3 | 3 | 7 | 7 | 20 |
| Vikings | 3 | 3 | 21 | 0 | 27 |
at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota
* Date: September 16
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: Indoors (dome)
* Game attendance: 53,955
* Referee: Fred Wyant
* Box Score, Box Score
Game information :
First quarter
ATL – Mick Luckhurst 33-yard field goal, 7:32. Falcons 3–0. Drive:
MIN – Jan Stenerud 22-yard field goal, 3:39. Tie 3–3. Drive:
Second quarter
MIN – Jan Stenerud 54-yard field goal, 14:29. Vikings 6–3. Drive:
ATL – Mick Luckhurst 43-yard field goal, 6:04. Tie 6–6. Drive:
Third quarter
MIN – Leo Lewis 42-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Jan Stenerud kick), 12:10. Vikings 13–6. Drive:
ATL – Stacey Bailey 57-yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick), 9:58. Tie 13–13. Drive:
MIN – Steve Jordan 21-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Jan Stenerud kick), 5:50. Vikings 20–13. Drive:
MIN – Dwight Collins 43-yard pass from Tommy Kramer (Jan Stenerud kick), 1:59. Vikings 27–13. Drive:
Fourth quarter
ATL – Billy Johnson 32-yard pass from Steve Bartkowski (Mick Luckhurst kick), 5:43. Vikings 27–20. Drive:
Top passers
ATL – Steve Bartkowski – 14/24, 195 yards, 2 TD, INT
MIN – Tommy Kramer – 15/30, 203 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
ATL – Gerald Riggs – 17 rushes, 83 yards
MIN – Darrin Nelson – 15 rushes, 96 yards
Top receivers
ATL – Stacey Bailey – 4 receptions, 102 yards, TD
MIN – Leo Lewis – 3 receptions, 69 yards, TD :

#### Week 5 (Sunday, September 30, 1984): at San Francisco 49ers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Falcons (2–3) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 |
| 49ers (5–0) | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
at Candlestick Park • San Francisco, California
* Date: September 30, 1984
* Game time: 4:00 p.m. EDT
* Game weather: 56 °F (13 °C); wind 14
* Game attendance: 57,990
* Referee: Bob McElwee
* TV announcers (CBS): Tom Brookshier (play-by-play) and Wayne Walker (color commentator)
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| ATL | Passing | Steve Bartkowski | 22/41, 267 YDS, 2 INTs |
| ATL | Rushing | Gerald Riggs | 28 CAR, 136 YDS |
| ATL | Receiving | Stacey Bailey | 4 REC, 97 YDS |
| SF | Passing | Joe Montana | 13/25, 149 YDS, 2 TDs |
| SF | Rushing | Wendell Tyler | 12 CAR, 99 YDS |
| SF | Receiving | Mike Wilson | 3 REC, 47 YDS, 1 TD |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | ATL | SF |
| 1 | 1:29 | | | | Falcons | 22-yard field goal by Luckhurst | 3 | 0 |
| 2 | 4:07 | | | | 49ers | Francis 5-yard touchdown reception from Montana, Wersching kick good | 3 | 7 |
| 2 | 0:27 | | | | 49ers | Wilson 21-yard touchdown reception from Montana, Wersching kick good | 3 | 14 |
| 4 | 1:45 | — | — | — | Falcons | Runager tackled in the end zone by Case for a safety | 5 | 14 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 5 | 14 |
* Point spread: 49ers by 6
* Over/Under: 49.5 (under)
* Time of Game:
| Falcons | Game Statistics | 49ers |
| 22 | First downs | 17 |
| 35–161 | Rushes–yards | 32–161 |
| 267 | Passing yards | 149 |
| 22–41–2 | Passes | 13–25–0 |
| 2–10 | Sacked–yards | 0–0 |
| 257 | Net passing yards | 149 |
| 418 | Total yards | 310 |
| 48 | Return yards | 62 |
| 4–38.8 | Punts | 5–43.8 |
| 3–1 | Fumbles–lost | 3–2 |
| 5–45 | Penalties–yards | 5–56 |
| 34:57 | Time of Possession | 25:03 |

### Week 11

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Saints | 10 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 17 |
| Falcons | 0 | 10 | 3 | 0 | 13 |

#### Week 14 (Sunday, December 2, 1984): vs. San Francisco 49ers

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| 49ers (13–1) | 7 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 35 |
| Falcons (3–11) | 3 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 17 |
at Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium • Atlanta, Georgia
* Date: December 2, 1984
* Game time: 1:00 p.m. EST
* Game weather: 46 °F (8 °C); wind 9
* Game attendance: 29,644
* Referee: Jim Tunney
* TV announcers (CBS): Tom Brookshier (play-by-play) and Wayne Walker (color commentator)
* Pro-Football-Reference.com
| Team | Category | Player | Statistics |
| SF | Passing | Joe Montana | 12/24, 165 YDS, 2 TDs, 2 INTs |
| SF | Rushing | Wendell Tyler | 15 CAR, 69 YDS |
| SF | Receiving | Earl Cooper | 4 REC, 51 YDS |
| ATL | Passing | Mike Moroski | 22/43, 289 YDS, 1 TD, 3 INTs |
| ATL | Rushing | Gerald Riggs | 30 CAR, 133 YDS, 1 TD |
| ATL | Receiving | Alfred Jackson | 11 REC, 193 YDS, 1 TD |
Scoring summary :
| Quarter | Time | Drive | Drive | Drive | Team | Scoring information | Score | Score |
| Quarter | Time | Plays | Yards | TOP | Team | Scoring information | SF | ATL |
| 1 | 11:38 | | | | Falcons | 32-yard field goal by Luckhurst | 0 | 3 |
| 1 | 9:49 | | | | 49ers | Solomon 64-yard touchdown reception from Montana, Wersching kick good | 7 | 3 |
| 2 | 14:50 | | | | 49ers | Clark 6-yard touchdown reception from Montana, Wersching kick good | 14 | 3 |
| 2 | 3:04 | | | | Falcons | Riggs 2-yard touchdown run, Luckhurst kick good | 14 | 10 |
| 2 | 1:21 | — | — | — | 49ers | Fumble recovery returned 34 yards for touchdown by Johnson, Wersching kick good | 21 | 10 |
| 3 | 7:41 | | | | Falcons | Jackson 48-yard touchdown reception from Moroski, Luckhurst kick good | 21 | 17 |
| 3 | 1:31 | — | — | — | 49ers | Interception returned 54 yards for touchdown by McLemore, Wersching kick good | 28 | 17 |
| 4 | 9:01 | | | | 49ers | Craig 5-yard touchdown run, Wersching kick good | 35 | 17 |
| "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | "TOP" = time of possession. For other American football terms, see Glossary of American football. | 35 | 17 |
* Point spread: 49ers by 13
* Over/Under: 40.0 (over)
* Time of Game:
| 49ers | Game Statistics | Falcons |
| 15 | First downs | 23 |
| 31–143 | Rushes–yards | 36–153 |
| 165 | Passing yards | 289 |
| 12–24–2 | Passes | 22–43–3 |
| 2–18 | Sacked–yards | 3–28 |
| 147 | Net passing yards | 261 |
| 290 | Total yards | 414 |
| 224 | Return yards | 112 |
| 5–39.6 | Punts | 4–40.8 |
| 1–1 | Fumbles–lost | 3–3 |
| 9–73 | Penalties–yards | 8–50 |
| 24:33 | Time of Possession | 35:27 |

### Standings

NFC West :
| viewtalkedit | W | L | T | PCT | DIV | CONF | PF | PA | STK |
| San Francisco 49ers$^{(1)}$ | 15 | 1 | 0 | .938 | 6–0 | 12–0 | 475 | 227 | W9 |
| Los Angeles Rams$^{(4)}$ | 10 | 6 | 0 | .625 | 3–3 | 7–5 | 346 | 316 | L1 |
| New Orleans Saints | 7 | 9 | 0 | .438 | 1–5 | 4–8 | 298 | 361 | W1 |
| Atlanta Falcons | 4 | 12 | 0 | .250 | 2–4 | 3–9 | 281 | 382 | W1 |

## Awards and records

* Gerald Riggs, Franchise Record, Most Rushing Yards in One Game, 202 Yards (September 2, 1984)