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. 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 2006 and 2007 seasons.
Offseason
NFL Draft
Undrafted free agents
Personnel
Staff
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
Offensive coaches
|
|
|
Defensive coaches
Special teams coaches
Strength and conditioning
- Strength and conditioning – Al Miller
- Assistant strength and conditioning – Rocky Colburn
|
Roster
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
Schedule
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
Week 1: at Green Bay Packers
Game information
|
First quarter
- GB – Ryan Longwell 28-yard field goal, 4:08. Packers 3–0. Drive: 15 plays, 77 yards, 8:45.
Second quarter
- ATL – Michael Vick 2-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 11:26. Falcons 7–3. Drive: 12 plays, 79 yards, 7:42.
- ATL – Warrick Dunn 3-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 8:43. Falcons 14–3. Drive: 4 plays, 28 yards, 2:31.
- GB – David Martin 3-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 5:54. Falcons 14–10. Drive: 6 plays, 80 yards, 2:49.
- ATL – Alge Crumpler 2-yard pass from Michael Vick (Jay Feely kick), 1:15. Falcons 21–10. Drive: 5 plays, 68 yards, 3:01.
- GB – Ryan Longwell 42-yard field goal, 0:00. Falcons 21–13. Drive: 9 plays, 56 yards, 1:15.
Third quarter
- GB – Rondell Mealey 2-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick), 12:48. Falcons 21–20. Drive: 4 plays, 59 yards, 2:12.
- ATL – Jay Feely 21-yard field goal, 5:24. Falcons 24–20. Drive: 15 plays, 76 yards, 7:24.
- GB – Javon Walker 13-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 0:30. Packers 27–24. Drive: 7 plays, 67 yards, 4:54.
Fourth quarter
- ATL – Warrick Dunn 2-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 8:07. Falcons 31–27. Drive: 6 plays, 45 yards, 3:36.
- GB – William Henderson 1-yard run (Ryan Longwell kick), 1:10. Packers 34–31. Drive: 14 plays, 80 yards, 6:57.
- ATL – Jay Feely 52-yard field goal, 0:05. Tied 34–34. Drive: 6 plays, 35 yards, 1:05.
Overtime
- GB – Ryan Longwell 34-yard field goal, 5:15. Packers 37–34. Drive: 7 plays, 44 yards, 4:15.
|
Top passers
- ATL – Michael Vick – 15/23, 209 yards, TD
- GB – Brett Favre – 25/36, 284 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
- ATL – Michael Vick – 9 rushes, 72 yards, TD
- GB – Ahman Green – 27 rushes, 155 yards
Top receivers
- ATL – Willie Jackson – 4 receptions, 73 yards
- GB – Donald Driver – 7 receptions, 78 yards
|
|
Week 2: vs. Chicago Bears
Game information
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- ATL – Warrick Dunn 10-yard pass from Michael Vick (Jay Feely kick), 11:33. Falcons 7–0. Drive: 8 plays, 38 yards, 4:00.
- CHI – Anthony Thomas 3-yard run (Paul Edinger kick), 1:10. Tied 7–7. Drive: 10 plays, 86 yards, 5:04.
- ATL – Jay Feely 37-yard field goal, 0:00. Falcons 10–7. Drive: 6 plays, 55 yards, 1:10.
Third quarter
- CHI – David Terrell 14-yard pass from Jim Miller (Paul Edinger kick), 9:27. Bears 14–10. Drive: 3 plays, 16 yards, 0:55.
- ATL – Jay Feely 27-yard field goal, 6:08. Bears 14–13. Drive: 7 plays, 14 yards, 3:19.
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
- CHI – Jim Miller – 12/24, 143 yards, TD, INT
- ATL – Michael Vick – 17/28, 166 yards, TD
Top rushers
- CHI – Anthony Thomas – 26 rushes, 84 yards, TD
- ATL – Michael Vick – 10 rushes, 56 yards
Top receivers
- CHI – Marty Booker – 5 receptions, 48 yards
- ATL – Brian Finneran – 6 receptions, 76 yards
|
|
Week 3: vs. Cincinnati Bengals
Week 3: Cincinnati Bengals at Atlanta Falcons
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Bengals |
0 |
3 |
0 | 0 | 3 |
Falcons |
13 |
7 |
7 | 3 | 30 |
at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia
Game information
|
First quarter
- ATL – Jay Feely 44-yard field goal, 10:01. Falcons 3–0. Drive: 7 plays, 46 yards, 4:69.
- ATL – Jay Feely 26-yard field goal, 7:19. Falcons 6–0. Drive: 4 plays, 7 yards, 1:48.
- ATL – Brian Finneran 20-yard pass from Michael Vick (Jay Feely kick), 1:57. Falcons 13–0. Drive: 7 plays, 55 yards, 3:28.
Second quarter
- ATL – Brian Finneran 13-yard pass from Michael Vick (Jay Feely kick), 4:56. Falcons 20–0. Drive: 4 plays, 24 yards, 1:42.
- CIN – Neil Rackers 24-yard field goal, 0:03. Falcons 20–3. Drive: 14 plays, 53 yards, 4:53.
Third quarter
- ATL – Warrick Dunn 4-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 5:07. Falcons 27–3. Drive: 11 plays, 74 yards, 7:00.
Fourth quarter
- ATL – Jay Feely 34-yard field goal, 7:30. Falcons 30–3. Drive: 10 plays, 46 yards, 5:39.
|
Top passers
- CIN – Jon Kitna – 18/35, 136 yards, INT
- ATL – Michael Vick – 16/26, 174 yards, 2 TD
Top rushers
- CIN – Corey Dillon – 18 rushes, 66 yards
- ATL – TJ Duckett – 18 rushes, 67 yards
Top receivers
- CIN – Peter Warrick – 4 receptions, 34 yards
- ATL – Brian Finneran – 6 receptions, 77 yards, 2 TD
|
|
Week 13: at Minnesota Vikings
Game information
|
First quarter
Second quarter
- ATL – Bob Christian 1-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 12:48. Tied 7–7. Drive: 2 plays, 40 yards, 0:21.
- MIN – Hunter Goodwin 2-yard pass from Daunte Culpepper (Gary Anderson kick), 2:40. Vikings 14–7. Drive: 7 plays, 36 yards, 3:25.
- ATL – Brian Finneran 39-yard pass from Michael Vick (Jay Feely kick), 0:37. Tied 14–14. Drive: 6 plays, 77 yards, 2:03.
Third quarter
- MIN – Michael Bennett 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 3:19. Vikings 21–14. Drive: 5 plays, 41 yards, 2:40.
- ATL – Michael Vick 28-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 1:00. Tied 21–21. Drive: 5 plays, 76 yards, 2:19.
Fourth quarter
- ATL – Jay Feely 44-yard field goal, 3:33. Falcons 24–21. Drive: 8 plays, 29 yards, 3:53.
- MIN – Gary Anderson 29-yard field goal, 0:11. Tied 24–24. Drive: 10 plays, 55 yards, 3:22.
Overtime
- ATL – Michael Vick 46-yard run, 12:35. Falcons 30–24. Drive: 2 plays, 48 yards, 0:51.
|
Top passers
- ATL – Michael Vick – 11/28, 173 yards, TD, INT
- MIN – Daunte Culpepper – 23/43, 266 yards, 1 TD, 3 INT
Top rushers
- ATL – Michael Vick – 10 rushes, 173 yards, 2 TD
- MIN – Michael Bennett – 18 rushes, 86 yards, TD
Top receivers
- ATL – Brian Finneran – 5 receptions, 114 yards, TD
- MIN – Randy Moss – 9 receptions, 134 yards
|
|
Week 16: vs. Detroit Lions
Week 16: Detroit Lions at Atlanta Falcons
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Lions |
0 |
0 |
0 | 15 | 15 |
Falcons |
3 |
10 |
6 | 17 | 36 |
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
|
First quarter
- ATL – Jay Feely 23-yard field goal, 7:50. Falcons 3–0. Drive: 12 plays, 85 yards, 5:35.
Second quarter
- ATL – Jay Feely 23-yard field goal, 6:06. Falcons 6–0. Drive: 11 plays, 80 yards, 5:08.
- ATL – Quentin McCord 20-yard pass from Michael Vick (Jay Feely kick), 0:17. Falcons 13–0. Drive: 7 plays, 63 yards, 0:59.
Third quarter
- ATL – Jay Feely 36-yard field goal, 10:56. Falcons 16–0. Drive: 8 plays, 63 yards, 4:04.
- ATL – Jay Feely 20-yard field goal, 7:20. Falcons 19–0. Drive: 5 plays, 20 yards, 2:38.
Fourth quarter
- ATL – Jay Feely 39-yard field goal, 13:31. Falcons 22–0. Drive: 11 plays, 64 yards, 5:25.
- DET – James Stewart 1-yard pass from Mike McMahon (Mike McMahon-Bill Schroeder pass), 9:53. Falcons 22–8. Drive: 6 plays, 15 yards, 3:38.
- DET – Aveion Cason 15-yard pass from Mike McMahon (Jason Hanson kick), 9:31. Falcons 22–15. Drive: 2 plays, 15 yards, 0:10.
- ATL – Warrick Dunn 3-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 3:49. Falcons 29–15. Drive: 10 plays, 88 yards, 5:42.
- ATL – Brian Finneran 34-yard pass from Michael Vick (Jay Feely kick), 1:51. Falcons 36–15. Drive: 4 plays, 37 yards, 1:36.
|
Top passers
- DET – Mike McMahon – 11/33, 149 yards, 2 TD, 3 INT
- ATL – Michael Vick – 20/38, 337 yards, 2 TD, INT
Top rushers
- DET – James Stewart – 12 rushes, 34 yards
- ATL – Warrick Dunn – 30 rushes, 132 yards, TD
Top receivers
- DET – Bill Schroeder – 2 receptions, 60 yards
- ATL – Quentin McCord – 7 receptions, 182 yards, TD
|
|
Playoffs
Schedule
Game summaries
NFC Wild Card: at Green Bay Packers
NFC Wild Card Game: (6) Atlanta Falcons at (3) Green Bay Packers
Period |
1 |
2 |
3 | 4 | Total |
Falcons |
14 |
10 |
3 | 0 | 27 |
Packers |
0 |
0 |
7 | 0 | 7 |
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
|
First quarter
- ATL – Shawn Jefferson 10-yard pass from Michael Vick (Jay Feely kick), 9:17. Falcons 7–0. Drive: 10 plays, 76 yards, 5:43.
- ATL – Artie Ulmer 1-yard return of blocked punt (Jay Feely kick), 6:38. Falcons 14–0.
Second quarter
- ATL – TJ Duckett 6-yard run (Jay Feely kick), 12:06. Falcons 21–0. Drive: 4 plays, 21 yards, 2:30.
- ATL – Jay Feely 22-yard field goal, 0:00. Falcons 24–0. Drive: 16 plays, 90 yards, 6:34.
Third quarter
- GB – Donald Driver 14-yard pass from Brett Favre (Ryan Longwell kick), 10:26. Falcons 24–7. Drive: 10 plays, 73 yards, 4:34.
- ATL – Jay Feely 23-yard field goal, 3:43. Falcons 27–7. Drive: 12 plays, 73 yards, 6:43.
Fourth quarter
|
Top passers
- ATL – Michael Vick – 13/25, 117 yards, TD
- GB – Brett Favre – 20/42, 247 yards, TD, 2 INT
Top rushers
- ATL – Michael Vick – 10 rushes, 64 yards
- GB – Ahman Green – 11 rushes, 34 yards
Top receivers
- ATL – Warrick Dunn – 4 receptions, 40 yards
- GB – Javon Walker – 5 receptions, 104 yards
|
|
Standings
|
---|
|
Franchise | |
---|
Stadiums | |
---|
Culture | |
---|
Lore | |
---|
Rivalries | |
---|
Wild card / First round berths (8) | |
---|
Division championships (6) | |
---|
Conference championships (2) | |
---|
Ring of Honor | |
---|
Current league affiliations | |
---|
|