12 Falcons Team Records You Should Know
The 2015 season is approaching and it's time to get a little more familiar with these 12 Falcons team records every fan should know about
It's only fitting that the Falcons' biggest victory in terms of points came against their division rivals in New Orleans. On Sept. 16, 1973, the Falcons topped the Saints 62-7, a margin of 55 points for a record that hasn't come close to being broken, with 41 points being the closest effort.
NFL games these days average right around 3 hours, 12 minutes. The Falcons and Patriots must have had a hot date on Sept. 24, 1972 because their matchup lasted just 2 hours, 16 minutes — a Falcons record for shortest game played. QB Bob Berry threw for 223 yards in the one-point loss.
Today's pass-happy NFL should boast the team's record for points in a season, right? Wrong. That honor belongs to the 1998 Falcons, who put up 442 points in a season that saw them make the franchise's only Super Bowl appearance. The 2012 Falcons are the closest modern day team to the mark, with 419 points that year.
Matt Bryant has a mark to strive for (although we hope he doesn't reach it because we're too busy scoring touchdowns) if he wants to break yet another Falcons record. In 1994 against New Orleans, kicker Norm Johnson booted six field goals to set a record for most made in a Falcons game.
No list would be complete without mention of the 1977 Falcons Gritz Blitz defense that allowed just 129 points on the year, an NFL record for a 14-game season.
The 2011 Atlanta Falcons were given extra life with the addition of Julio Jones and it showed in the offensive output for the year. The team holds the franchise record for most yards gained in a season with 6,026.
Against Tampa Bay in 1977, Falcons running backs Haskel Stanback (above) and Woody Thompson, along with five other rushers, set the team record for most rushing attempts in a game with 58. Oddly enough, no single running back broke 100 yards in the game.
On Christmas Eve in 1989, quarterback Chris Miller was given the gift of a sore arm in a loss to the Detroit Lions. Miller attempted 66 passes, a Falcons record, on the night and finished with 334 yards and two touchdowns.
If Devin Hester wanted to etch his name in the Falcons record books, this is the easiest path. The Falcons record for most punt return touchdowns in a season stands at two, set in 1970 and tied in 1999.
The 2015 Falcons are focused on the pass rush and the 1997 team set the mark to strive for, racking up a team record 55 sacks that year. Defensive end Chuck Smith led the way with 12 and Travis Hall (pictured) added 10.5.
Another fitting record against another fitting foe. The Falcons ranked up a franchise-high 10 sacks against New Orleans on Oct. 12, 1997. Chuck Smith had an eye-popping five sacks that day.
The Falcons were straight-up stingy against the Oakland Raiders in 2008 with Matt Ryan's offense hanging onto the ball a team-record 45 minutes, 15 seconds. The Falcons blanked the Raiders, 24-0.
