From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base
1978 Atlanta Falcons season
First playoff appearance for the Falcons
First playoff appearance for the Falcons
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| team | Atlanta Falcons |
| year | 1978 |
| record | 9–7 |
| division_place | 2nd NFC West |
| coach | Leeman Bennett |
| general manager | Eddie LeBaron |
| owner | Rankin M. Smith Sr. |
| stadium | Fulton County Stadium |
| playoffs | **Won [Wild Card Playoffs](1978-79-nfl-playoffs)** |
| (vs. [Eagles](1978-philadelphia-eagles-season)) 14–13 | |
| Lost [Divisional Playoffs](1978-79-nfl-playoffs) | |
| (at [Cowboys](1978-dallas-cowboys-season)) 20–27 | |
| shortnavlink | Falcons seasons |
(vs. Eagles) 14–13 Lost Divisional Playoffs (at Cowboys) 20–27
The 1978 Atlanta Falcons season was the Falcons' 13th season. After losing four of their first six games, Atlanta rebounded to win seven of their last ten, and their 9–7 record was the third best in a weak NFC. The NFC West runners-up thus not only secured their first-ever postseason berth in franchise history, but earned a home playoff game under the expanded ten team format.
Hosting the Philadelphia Eagles in their first ever playoff game, the Falcons scored two touchdowns in their final fourteen minutes to pull out a 14–13 win. In the divisional round, the Falcons were 14-point underdogs facing the Dallas Cowboys. Atlanta took a seven point lead into halftime, but the Cowboys came back to take a 27–20 lead. In their final drive, the Falcons fell inches short of a first down on the Cowboys' 32-yard line, as Dallas got the ball and ran down the clock.
NFL draft
Main article: 1978 NFL draft
Personnel
Staff
-
Chairman of the board – Rankin M. Smith Sr.
-
President – Rankin M. Smith, Jr.
-
General manager – Eddie LeBaron
-
Director of player personnel – Tom Braatz
-
Head coach – Leeman Bennett
-
Quarterbacks – Dick Wood
-
Offensive backs – John North
-
Receivers – Ted Plumb
-
Offensive line – Bill Walsh
-
Defensive line – Jim Champion
-
Linebackers – Doug Shively
-
Defensive backs – Jerry Glanville
Roster
- Claude Humphrey DE (Ret.) [[File:Injury icon 2.svg|10px]]
Regular season
Schedule
| Atlanta Falcons | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Week | Atlanta Falcons | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Date | Atlanta Falcons | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Opponent | Atlanta Falcons | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Result | Atlanta Falcons | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Record | Atlanta Falcons | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Venue | Atlanta Falcons | year=1978 | border=2}}" | Attendance | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| September 3 | [Houston Oilers](1978-houston-oilers-season) | **W** 20–14 | 1–0 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 57,328 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 10 | at **[Los Angeles Rams](1978-los-angeles-rams-season)** | **L** 0–10 | 1–1 | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 46,201 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 17 | [Cleveland Browns](1978-cleveland-browns-season) | **L** 16–24 | 1–2 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 56,648 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| September 24 | at [Tampa Bay Buccaneers](1978-tampa-bay-buccaneers-season) | **L** 9–14 | 1–3 | Tampa Stadium | 58,073 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 1 | [New York Giants](1978-new-york-giants-season) | **W** 23–20 | 2–3 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 47,765 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 8 | at [Pittsburgh Steelers](1978-pittsburgh-steelers-season) | **L** 7–31 | 2–4 | Three Rivers Stadium | 48,202 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 15 | [Detroit Lions](1978-detroit-lions-season) | **W** 14–0 | 3–4 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 51,172 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 22 | at **[San Francisco 49ers](1978-san-francisco-49ers-season)** | **W** 20–17 | 4–4 | Candlestick Park | 44,235 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| October 30 | **[Los Angeles Rams](1978-los-angeles-rams-season)** | **W** 15–7 | 5–4 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 57,250 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 5 | **[San Francisco 49ers](1978-san-francisco-49ers-season)** | **W** 21–10 | 6–4 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 55,468 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 12 | at **[New Orleans Saints](1978-new-orleans-saints-season)** | **W** 20–17 | 7–4 | Louisiana Superdome | 70,323 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 19 | at [Chicago Bears](1978-chicago-bears-season) | **L** 7–13 | 7–5 | Soldier Field | 46,022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| November 26 | **[New Orleans Saints](1978-new-orleans-saints-season)** | **W** 20–17 | 8–5 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 55,121 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 3 | at [Cincinnati Bengals](1978-cincinnati-bengals-season) | **L** 7–37 | 8–6 | Riverfront Stadium | 25,336 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 10 | [Washington Redskins](1978-washington-redskins-season) | **W** 20–17 | 9–6 | Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium | 54,176 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| December 17 | at [St. Louis Cardinals](1978-st-louis-cardinals-nfl-season) | **L** 21–42 | 9–7 | Busch Memorial Stadium | 40,022 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| **Note:** Intra-division opponents are in **bold** text. |
Standings
Game summaries
Week 1
;Oilers
;Falcons
- June Jones 10/23, 104 Yds, TD
- Bubba Bean 14 Rush, 55 Yds
- Bubba Bean 3 Rec, 37 Yds, TD
Week 2
;Falcons
- June Jones 5/15, 38 Yds, INT
- Ricky Patton 13 Rush, 24 Yds
- Ricky Patton 3 Rec, 19 Yds ;Rams
Week 3
First quarter
- ATL – Steinfort 24 yard field goal Falcons 3, Browns 0 Second quarter
- CLE – Cockroft 43 yard field goal Browns 3, Falcons 3
- CLE – Newsome 2 yard pass from Sipe (Cockroft kick) Browns 10, Falcons 3
- ATL – Stanback 15 yard rush (Steinfort kick) Browns 10, Falcons 10
- CLE – Rucker 27 yard pass from Sipe (Cockroft kick) Browns 17, Falcons 10 Third quarter
- No scoring plays Fourth quarter
- ATL – Strong 2 yard rush (kick failed) Browns 17, Falcons 16
- CLE – Sipe 2 yard rush (Cockroft kick) Browns 24, Falcons 16 Top passers
- CLE – Brian Sipe 20/35, 219 yds, 2 TD
- ATL – Steve Bartkowski 7/15, 126 yds, 2 INT Top rushers
- CLE – Mike Pruitt 15 carr, 65 yds
- ATL – Haskel Stanback 7 carr, 31 yds, 1 TD Top receivers
- CLE – Dave Logan 5 rec, 63 yds
- ATL – Billy Ryckman 3 rec, 48 yds Turnovers
- CLE – 3
- ATL – 4
Week 4
Week 5
Week 6
Week 7 vs. Detroit Lions
- Referee: Ben Dreith
- Network: CBS
- Announcers: Vin Scully, George Allen and Jim Brown Steve Bartkowski threw a 24-yard touchdown pass to Billy Ryckman early in the second quarter and Bubba Bean erupted for a 25-yard touchdown run in the final minutes of the game as the Falcons got a critical win to stay alive in the NFC Playoff hunt. The Falcons defense also played a part in their win with two brilliant goal line stands. It was the first home shutout in Falcons History. The Lions' woeful offense could produce only 22 rushing yards.
Week 8 vs San Francisco 49ers
Atlanta erased a 17–7 deficit in the final 5:38 of the game, beating San Francisco on Tim Mazzetti's last-second, 29-yard field goal. Steve Bartkowski directed the comeback, hitting a 71-yard bomb to set up a 21-yard Mazzetti field goal, completing a 59-yard scoring pass to Billy Ryckman with 1:52 remaining and then finding Tim Mitchell with a 19-yard reception to set up a winning kick. This game was broadcast by CBS with announcers Vin Scully, George Allen and Jim Brown at the game.
Week 9
;Rams
;Falcons
Week 10 vs. San Francisco 49ers
- Referee: Fred Silva
- TV Network: CBS
- Announcers: Frank Glieber and Johnny Unitas Steve Bartkowski, who suffered a separate shoulder last Monday, ran for one touchdown and threw a 37-yard scoring pass to Wallace Francis as Atlanta spoiled the head coaching debutof the 49ers' Fred O'Connor who replaced the fired Pete McCulley on Tuesday. San Francisco's O.J. Simpson suffered a shoulder separation early in the second period. Simpson had carried 5 times for only 15 yards before the injury. Atlanta's win help keep their playoff hopes alive for a wild card berth at 6–4 the same record as the Cowboys and the Vikings.
Week 11
Week 12
Week 13
Week 14
Week 15
Week 16
Postseason
NFC Wild Card Game
The Falcons won their first playoff game in team history after they overcame a 13–0 deficit by scoring 2 touchdowns in the final 5 minutes of the game.
NFC Divisional Playoff
Dallas' "Doomsday Defense" limited Atlanta quarterback Steve Bartkowski to only 8 completions in 23 attempts and intercepted him 3 times en route to victory. After the Falcons led 20–13 at halftime, the Cowboys scored 14 unanswered points in the second half.
References
References
- "1978 Atlanta Falcons draftees". Pro-Football-Reference.com.
- "1978 Atlanta Falcons".
- "1978 Atlanta Falcons Statistics & Players".
This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.
Ask Mako anything about 1978 Atlanta Falcons season — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.
Research with MakoFree with your Surf account
Create a free account to save articles, ask Mako questions, and organize your research.
Sign up freeThis content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.
Report