2002_Atlanta_Falcons_season

2002 Atlanta Falcons season
2002 Atlanta Falcons season
Head coach	Dan Reeves
Home field	Georgia Dome
Results
Record	9–6–1
Division place	2nd NFC South
Playoff finish	Won Wild Card Playoffs; (at Packers) 27–7; Lost Divisional Playoffs; (at Eagles) 6–20
Pro Bowlers	QB Michael Vick; LB Keith Brooking
AP All-Pros	LB Keith Brooking (2nd team)
	← 2001; Falcons seasons; 2003 →;

2002 Atlanta Falcons season

NFL team season

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.

Quick Facts Atlanta Falcons season, Head coach ...

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.

Regular season

Game summaries

Week 1: at Green Bay Packers

More information Period, OT ...

More information Game information ...

Week 1: Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Date: September 8, 2002
Game time: 1:00 p.m.
Game weather: Sunny, 83 °F (28 °C)
Game attendance: 63,127
Referee: Ron Winter (14)
TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Tim Ryan, and Drew Smith
Recap, Game Book

Standings

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[2-1-2] Philadelphia finished ahead of Tampa Bay and Green Bay based on conference record (11–1 vs 9–3/9–3).

[2-2-3] Tampa Bay finished ahead of Green Bay based on head-to-head victory.

[2-3-4] St. Louis finished ahead of Seattle based on division record (4–2 to 2–4).

[2-4-5] Washington finished ahead of Carolina based on common games (2–3 to 1–4)

[2-5-6] Arizona finished ahead of Dallas based on head-to-head victory.

[7] 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.

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Atlanta Falcons 34 at Pittsburgh Steelers 34

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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)

Round	Pick	Player	Position	College	Notes
2002 Atlanta Falcons draft
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


	Quarterbacks 11 Doug Johnson 15 Kurt Kittner 7 Michael Vick Running backs 44 Bob Christian FB 45 T. J. Duckett 28 Warrick Dunn 38 George Layne FB Wide receivers 82 Darrin Chiaverini 86 Brian Finneran 81 Trevor Gaylor 84 Shawn Jefferson 88 Quentin McCord Tight ends 83 Alge Crumpler 89 Reggie Kelly 85 Brian Kozlowski		Offensive linemen 64 Martin Bibla G 71 Travis Claridge G 65 Kynan Forney G 63 Roberto Garza C/G 62 Todd McClure C 76 Kevin Shaffer T 66 Michael Thompson T 74 Todd Weiner T 70 Bob Whitfield T Defensive linemen 77 Ronald Flemons DE 98 Travis Hall DE 95 Ed Jasper NT 61 Ellis Johnson NT 97 Patrick Kerney DE 51 Karon Riley DE 91 Brady Smith DE		Linebackers 56 Keith Brooking ILB 54 Chris Draft ILB 59 John Holecek ILB 93 Sam Rogers OLB 53 Mark Simoneau ILB 52 Matt Stewart OLB 55 John Thierry OLB 50 Artie Ulmer OLB Defensive backs 33 Ashley Ambrose CB 21 Juran Bolden CB/S 34 Ray Buchanan CB 29 Keion Carpenter FS 35 Johndale Carty SS 30 Henry Jones FS 23 Kevin Mathis CB 47 Kevin McCadam SS 20 Allen Rossum CB/KR/PR 22 Gerald McBurrows SS 24 Fred Weary CB Special teams 4 Jay Feely K 13 Chris Mohr P 48 Derek Rackley LS		Reserve lists 75 Shane Dronett DE (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 16 R. J. English WR (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 36 Travis Jervey RB/KR (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 49 Dallas Neil TE (IRTooltip Injured reserve) 90 Will Overstreet LB (IRTooltip Injured reserve) -- Jerry Togiai DT (IRTooltip Injured reserve) Practice squad 27 Jeff Chaney RB 87 Jimmy Farris WR 69 Kris Farris T 80 Jason Waters WR 79 Ryan Watson DT Rookies in italics 53 active, 6 inactive, 5 practice squad

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.

Period	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	7	7	0	14
Falcons	0	10	3	0	13

2002_Atlanta_Falcons_season

2002 Atlanta Falcons season

Offseason

NFL Draft

Undrafted free agents

Personnel

Staff

Roster

Regular season

Schedule

Game summaries

Week 1: at Green Bay Packers

Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears

Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals

Week 13: at Minnesota Vikings

Week 16: vs. Detroit Lions

Playoffs

Schedule

Game summaries

NFC Wild Card: at Green Bay Packers

Standings

Division

Conference

References

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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

NFC South
view talk edit	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

NFC v t e
#	Team	Division	W	L	T	PCT	DIV	CONF	SOS	SOV
Division leaders
1^{[lower-alpha 1]}	Philadelphia Eagles	East	12	4	0	.750	5–1	11–1	.469	.432
2^{[lower-alpha 1]}^{[lower-alpha 2]}	Tampa Bay Buccaneers	South	12	4	0	.750	4–2	9–3	.482	.432
3^{[lower-alpha 1]}^{[lower-alpha 2]}	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^{[lower-alpha 3]}	St. Louis Rams	West	7	9	0	.438	4–2	5–7	.508	.446
9^{[lower-alpha 3]}	Seattle Seahawks	West	7	9	0	.438	2–4	5–7	.506	.433
10^{[lower-alpha 4]}	Washington Redskins	East	7	9	0	.438	1–5	4–8	.527	.438
11^{[lower-alpha 4]}	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^{[lower-alpha 5]}	Arizona Cardinals	West	5	11	0	.313	1–5	5–7	.500	.400
14^{[lower-alpha 5]}	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^{[lower-alpha 6]}
Philadelphia finished ahead of Tampa Bay and Green Bay based on conference record (11–1 vs 9–3/9–3). Tampa Bay finished ahead of Green Bay based on head-to-head victory. St. Louis finished ahead of Seattle based on division record (4–2 to 2–4). Washington finished ahead of Carolina based on common games (2–3 to 1–4) Arizona finished ahead of Dallas based on head-to-head victory. 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.