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1974 Atlanta Falcons season

{{short description|NFL team season}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2020}}

{{Infobox NFL team season

| team = Atlanta Falcons

| year = 1974

| record = 3–11

| division_place = 4th NFC West

| coach = Norm Van Brocklin (fired Nov. 6; 2–6 record)
Marion Campbell (interim; 1–5 record)

| general_manager = Norm Van Brocklin (fired Nov. 6)

| owner = Rankin M. Smith Sr.

| stadium = Atlanta Stadium

| playoffs = Did not qualify

| pro_bowlers = {{collapsible list

| title = 3

| C Jeff Van Note

| T George Kunz

| DE Claude Humphrey

}}

| AP All-pros = {{collapsible list

| title = 1

| DE Claude Humphrey (2nd team)

}}

| shortnavlink = Falcons seasons

}}

The 1974 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's ninth year in the National Football League (NFL). After coming close to their maiden postseason appearance the previous season and finishing with a best-to-date 9–5 record despite an upset loss to the Cardinals, the Falcons traded star cornerback Ken Reaves to the archrival New Orleans Saints to obtain in-demand guard Royce Smith, a former Georgia Bulldogs All-American,“Falcons deny trading Reaves Connected with Players’ Strike”; in Ellensburg Daily Record; July 20, 1974; p. 4 in a widely criticized move (Reaves played only five games for New Orleans before he was cut; he signed with St. Louis, where he remained through his retirement in 1978). During the strike-affected pre-season, they beat the Eagles 23–7 in a rain-soaked match,“Falcons blast Eagles, 23–7”; in St. Petersburg Times; August 5, 1974; p. 9C before losing to the Raiders, 28–16.“Harold Hart, Stabler Leader Raiders’ Win Over Falcons”; in The Tuscaloosa News; August 11, 1974; p. 2C Soon afterwards the Falcons lost key offensive tackle Bill Sandeman for the entire season with a slipped disc in his back.“Falcon Tackle out for Season”; in Bangor Daily News; August 22, 1974; p. 18

Along with a form lapse from quarterback Bob Lee and an injury to running back Dave Hampton,“Hampton out with Bum Knee”; in Rome News-Tribune; August 27, 1974; p. 6 this destroyed the Falcons’ offense. The 1974 Falcons scored 111 points with a mere twelve touchdowns, the lowest total in franchise history, and the second lowest by any team in a fourteen-game NFL season[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/play-index/tgl_finder.cgi?request=1&match=single&year_min=1961&year_max=1978&game_type=R&playoff_round=&game_num_min=0&game_num_max=99&week_num_min=0&week_num_max=99&game_day_of_week=&game_time=&time_zone=&game_location=&surface=&roof=&game_result=&overtime=&league_id=&team_id=&opp_id=&conference_game=&division_game=&tm_is_playoff=&opp_is_playoff=&tm_is_winning=&opp_is_winning=&tm_scored_first=&tm_led=&tm_trailed=&c1stat=points&c1comp=lt&c1val=200&c2stat=&c2comp=gt&c2val=&c3stat=&c3comp=gt&c3val=&c4stat=&c4comp=gt&c4val=&order_by=points&order_by_asc=Y Pro-Football-Reference.com: In a single season, from 1961 to 1978, in the regular season, sorted by ascending Points For and Requiring Points For less than 200] after the infamous “Zero Gang” offense of the 1977 Buccaneers who were shut out six times in fourteen games. Their failure to score more than seventeen points in any game has been equalled since only by the infamous offense of the 1992 Seahawks.

The Falcons sacked long-serving head coach Norman van Brocklin after being thrashed by the Miami Dolphins and having heard demands from fans to make that move. Three of his successors have suffered the same humiliation in the middle of a season: Marion Campbell (1976 and 1989), Dan Reeves (2003) and Dan Quinn (2020), and Bobby Petrino quit with three games remaining in 2007.“Falcons Dump the Dutchman”; in The Pittsburgh Press, November 5, 1974; p. 69“Steelers Take on Falcons”; in St. Petersburg Times; October 28, 1974; p. 3C

The 1974 Falcons suffered through the humiliation of being the first Falcons team to be swept by the Saints since the teams became division rivals with the AFL-NFL merger. The Saints entered the season 1–9 all-time vs. the Falcons, with that win coming in the teams' first meeting in 1967. New Orleans did not sweep Atlanta again until 1983.

Offseason

=NFL Draft=

{{main|1974 NFL draft}}

{{NFL team draft start

| year = 1974

| teamname = Atlanta Falcons

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 2

| pick = 44

| player = Gerald Tinker

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Kent State

| notes = Selected two spots ahead of Kent State teammate Jack Lambert.

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 3

| pick = 69

| player = Kim McQuilken

| position = Quarterback

| college = Lehigh

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 4

| pick = 96

| player = Vince Kendrick

| position = Running back

| college = Florida

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 5

| pick = 128

| player = Monroe Eley

| position = Running back

| college = Arizona State

| notes = Would join the Falcons in 1975 after having played in the CFL for the British Columbia Lions between 1972 and 1974.

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 6

| pick = 147

| player = Doyle Orange

| position = Running back

| college = Southern Mississippi

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 7

| pick = 173

| player = Jim Coode

| position = Offensive tackle

| college = Michigan

| notes = Played in the CFL for the Ottawa Rough Riders up to 1980.

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 9

| pick = 225

| player = Larry Bailey

| position = Defensive tackle

| college = Pacific

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 10

| pick = 252

| player = Paul Ryczek

| position = Center

| college = Virginia

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 11

| pick = 277

| player = Eddie Wilson

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Albany State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 12

| pick = 304

| player = Vic Kögel

| position = Linebacker

| college = Ohio State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 13

| pick = 329

| player = Ralph Powell

| position = Running back

| college = Nebraska

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 14

| pick = 356

| player = John Givens

| position = Guard

| college = Villanova

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 15

| pick = 381

| player = Willie Jones

| position = Wide receiver

| college = Iowa State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 16

| pick = 408

| player = Sylvester McGee

| position = Running back

| college = Rhode Island

| notes =

| maderoster = yes

}}

{{NFL team draft entry

| round = 17

| pick = 433

| player = Al Davis

| position = Guard

| college = Boise State

| notes =

| maderoster = no

}}

{{NFL team draft end

| hof = no

}}

{{cite web |url=https://www.pro-football-reference.com/teams/atl/1974_draft.htm |title=1974 Atlanta Falcons draftees |work=Pro-Football-Reference.com |accessdate=October 24, 2014 }}

Personnel

=Staff=

{{NFL final staff

| year = 1974

| team = Atlanta Falcons

| front_office =

| head_coach =

  • Head coach – Norm Van Brocklin (games 1-8)
    Marion Campbell (games 9-14)

| offensive =

| defensive =

}}

=Roster=

{{NFL final roster

| year = 1974

| team = Atlanta Falcons

| prefix =

| active =

| inactive =

| PS =

| quarterbacks =

{{NFLplayer|19|Bob Lee|d=quarterback}}

{{NFLplayer|11|Kim McQuilken|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|7|Pat Sullivan|d=American football}}

|Running Backs=

{{NFLplayer|43|Dave Hampton}}

{{NFLplayer|20|Vince Kendrick|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|25|Art Malone|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|31|Molly McGee|d=gridiron football|rookie=y}}

{{NFLplayer|44|Eddie Ray}}

|Wide Receivers=

{{NFLplayer|82|Ken Burrow}}

{{NFLplayer|41|Al Dodd}}

{{NFLplayer|84|Tom Geredine}}

{{NFLplayer|80|Louis Neal}}

{{NFLplayer|81|Gerald Tinker|rookie=y}}

|Tight Ends=

{{NFLplayer|83|Larry Mialik}}

{{NFLplayer|86|Jim Mitchell|d=tight end}}

|Offensive Linemen=

{{NFLplayer|63|Nick Bebout|T}}

{{NFLplayer|68|Ted Fritsch|d2=Jr.|C}}

{{NFLplayer|65|Len Gotshalk|T}}

{{NFLplayer|56|Dennis Havig|G}}

{{NFLplayer|75|George Kunz|T}}

{{NFLplayer|55|Jim Miller|d=offensive guard|G}}

{{NFLplayer|53|Paul Ryczek|rookie=y|C}}

{{NFLplayer|66|Royce Smith|G}}

{{NFLplayer|57|Jeff Van Note|C}}

|Defensive Linemen=

{{NFLplayer|87|Claude Humphrey|DE}}

{{NFLplayer|69|Mike Lewis|d=American football|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|77|Rosie Manning|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|74|Mike Tilleman|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|79|Chuck Walker|d=American football|DT}}

{{NFLplayer|71|John Zook|DE}}

|Linebackers=

{{NFLplayer|50|Greg Brezina}}

{{NFLplayer|58|Don Hansen}}

{{NFLplayer|52|Ken Mitchell|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|60|Tommy Nobis}}

{{NFLplayer|51|Dick Palmer|d=American football}}

{{NFLplayer|59|Lonnie Warwick}}

|Defensive Backs=

{{NFLplayer|34|Ray Brown|d=safety|S}}

{{NFLplayer|32|Ray Easterling|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|29|Clarence Ellis|FS}}

{{NFLplayer|27|Tom Hayes|d=cornerback|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|22|Rolland Lawrence|CB}}

{{NFLplayer|38|Rick Byas|rookie=y|CB}}

|Special Teams=

{{NFLplayer|6|John James|d=American football|P}}

{{NFLplayer|12|Nick Mike-Mayer|K}}

|Reserve Lists=

{{NFLplayer|61|Bill Sandeman|T|IR}}

|Practice Squad=

}}

Regular season

=Schedule=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}}"| Week

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}}"| Date

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}}"| Opponent

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}}"| Result

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}}"| Record

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}}"| Venue

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}}"| Attendance

!style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}}"| Recap

style="background:#fcc"

! 1

| September 15

| Dallas Cowboys

| L 0–24

| 0–1

| Atlanta Stadium

| 52,322

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409150atl.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 2

| September 22

| San Francisco 49ers

| L 10–16

| 0–2

| Atlanta Stadium

| 47,686

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409220atl.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 3

| September 29

| at New Orleans Saints

| L 13–14

| 0–3

| Tulane Stadium

| 62,273

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409290nor.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 4

| October 6

| at New York Giants

| W 14–7

| 1–3

| Yale Bowl

| 42,379

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410060nyg.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 5

| October 13

| Chicago Bears

| W 13–10

| 2–3

| Atlanta Stadium

| 47,835

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410130atl.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 6

| October 20

| New Orleans Saints

| L 3–13

| 2–4

| Atlanta Stadium

| 47,217

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410200atl.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 7

| {{dow tooltip|October 28, 1974}}

| at Pittsburgh Steelers

| L 17–24

| 2–5

| Three Rivers Stadium

| 48,094

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410280pit.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 8

| November 3

| at Miami Dolphins

| L 7–42

| 2–6

| Miami Orange Bowl

| 64,399

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411030mia.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 9

| November 10

| at Los Angeles Rams

| L 0–21

| 2–7

| Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

| 70,056

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411100ram.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 10

| November 17

| Baltimore Colts

| L 7–17

| 2–8

| Atlanta Stadium

| 41,278

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411170atl.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 11

| November 24

| at San Francisco 49ers

| L 0–27

| 2–9

| Candlestick Park

| 45,435

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411240sfo.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 12

| December 1

| Los Angeles Rams

| L 7–30

| 2–10

| Atlanta Stadium

| 18,648

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412010atl.htm Recap]

style="background:#fcc"

! 13

| {{dow tooltip|December 7, 1974}}

| at Minnesota Vikings

| L 10–23

| 2–11

| Metropolitan Stadium

| 47,105

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412070min.htm Recap]

style="background:#cfc"

! 14

| December 15

| Green Bay Packers

| W 10–3

| 3–11

| Atlanta Stadium

| 10,020

| [https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412150atl.htm Recap]

style="{{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}}"

|colspan="8"| Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

=Game summaries=

==Week 1: vs. Dallas Cowboys==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 1: Atlanta Falcons at Dallas Cowboys – Game summary

|date=September 15

|time=4:00 p.m. EDT

|road=Cowboys

|R1=7|R2=10|R3=0|R4=7

|home=Falcons

|H1=0|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0

|stadium=Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

|attendance=52,322

|weather=Partly cloudy, {{convert|71|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409150atl.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • DAL – Mac Percival 33-yard field goal. Cowboys 10–0.
  • DAL – Golden Richards 52-yard pass from Roger Staubach (Mac Percival kick). Cowboys 17–0.

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

}}

==Week 2: vs. San Francisco 49ers==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 2: San Francisco 49ers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

|date=September 22

|time=1:00 p.m. EDT

|road=49ers

|R1=13|R2=0|R3=0|R4=3

|home=Falcons

|H1=7|H2=0|H3=0|H4=3

|stadium=Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

|attendance=47,686

|weather=Cloudy, {{convert|68|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409220atl.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • No scoring plays

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

  • ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 32-yard field goal. 49ers 13–10.
  • SF – Bruce Gossett 25-yard field goal. 49ers 16–10.

|stats=

Top passers

  • SF – Joe Reed – 7/22, 101 yards, TD, INT
  • ATL – Bob Lee – 10/23, 99 yards, 3 INT

Top rushers

Top receivers

}}

==Week 3: at New Orleans Saints==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 3: Atlanta Falcons at New Orleans Saints – Game summary

|date=September 29

|time=1:00 p.m. EDT/12:00 p.m. CDT

|road=Falcons

|R1=0|R2=7|R3=3|R4=3

|home=Saints

|H1=0|H2=7|H3=0|H4=7

|stadium=Tulane Stadium, New Orleans, Louisiana

|attendance=62,273

|weather=Cloudy, {{convert|79|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197409290nor.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

  • No scoring plays

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 21-yard field goal. Falcons 10–7.

Fourth quarter

  • ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 27-yard field goal. Falcons 13–7.
  • NO – Jess Phillips 8-yard run (Bill McClard kick). Saints 14–13.

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

}}

==Week 4: at New York Giants==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 4: Atlanta Falcons at New York Giants – Game summary

|date=October 6

|time=1:00 p.m. EDT

|road=Falcons

|R1=0|R2=7|R3=7|R4=0

|home=Giants

|H1=7|H2=0|H3=0|H4=0

|stadium=Yale Bowl, New Haven, Connecticut

|attendance=42,379

|weather=Partly cloudy, {{convert|63|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410060nyg.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • ATL – Ray Brown 59-yard interception return (Nick Mike-Mayer kick). Falcons 14–7.

Fourth quarter

  • No scoring plays

|stats=

Top passers

  • ATL – Bob Lee – 10/17, 142 yards, TD, 3 INT
  • NYG – Norm Snead – 10/20, 85 yards, 2 INT

Top rushers

Top receivers

}}

==Week 5: vs. Chicago Bears==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 5: Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

|date=October 13

|time=1:00 p.m. EDT

|road=Bears

|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=10

|home=Falcons

|H1=0|H2=7|H3=3|H4=3

|stadium=Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

|attendance=47,835

|weather=Partly cloudy, {{convert|68|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410130atl.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

  • No scoring plays

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 35-yard field goal. Falcons 10–0.

Fourth quarter

  • CHI – Bo Rather 59-yard pass from Gary Huff (Mirro Roder kick). Falcons 10–7.
  • CHI – Mirro Roder 37-yard field goal. Tied 10–10.
  • ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 31-yard field goal. Falcons 13–10.

|stats=

Top passers

  • CHI – Gary Huff – 14/25, 177 yards, TD, 2 INT
  • ATL – Bob Lee – 10/18, 121 yards, 2 INT

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • CHI – Bo Rather – 6 receptions, 114 yards, TD
  • ATL – Ken Burrow – 4 receptions, 76 yards

}}

==Week 6: vs. New Orleans Saints==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 6: New Orleans Saints at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

|date=October 20

|time=1:00 p.m. EDT

|road=Saints

|R1=0|R2=10|R3=3|R4=0

|home=Falcons

|H1=0|H2=3|H3=0|H4=0

|stadium=Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

|attendance=47,217

|weather=Sunny, {{convert|52|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410200atl.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

  • No scoring plays

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • NO – Bill McClard 31-yard field goal. Saints 13–3.

Fourth quarter

  • No scoring plays

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

}}

==Week 7: at Pittsburgh Steelers==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 7: Atlanta Falcons at Pittsburgh Steelers – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|October 28, 1974}}

|time=9:00 p.m. EST

|road=Falcons

|R1=0|R2=14|R3=0|R4=3

|home=Steelers

|H1=14|H2=0|H3=3|H4=7

|stadium=Three Rivers Stadium, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

|attendance=48,094

|weather=Clear, {{convert|51|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=ABC

|TVAnnouncers=Frank Gifford and Howard Cosell

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197410280pit.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • PIT – Roy Gerela 33-yard field goal. Steelers 17–14.

Fourth quarter

  • PIT – Franco Harris 7-yard run (Roy Gerela kick). Steelers 24–14.
  • ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 32-yard field goal. Steelers 24–17.

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • ATL – Jim Mitchell – 2 receptions, 62 yards
  • PIT – Franco Harris – 2 receptions, 37 yards

}}

==Week 8: at Miami Dolphins==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 8: Atlanta Falcons at Miami Dolphins – Game summary

|date=November 3

|time=4:00 p.m. EST

|road=Falcons

|R1=0|R2=7|R3=0|R4=0

|home=Dolphins

|H1=0|H2=14|H3=21|H4=7

|stadium=Miami Orange Bowl, Miami, Florida

|attendance=64,399

|weather=Partly cloudy, {{convert|77|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411030mia.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

  • No scoring plays

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • MIA – Don Nottingham 1-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick). Dolphins 21–7.
  • MIA – Jim Mandich 18-yard pass from Bob Griese (Garo Yepremian kick). Dolphins 28–7.
  • MIA – Don Nottingham 2-yard run (Garo Yepremian kick). Dolphins 35–7.

Fourth quarter

  • MIA – Don Nottingham 1-yard (Garo Yepremian kick). Dolphins 42–7.

|stats=

Top passers

  • ATL – Bob Lee – 8/15, 65 yards, INT
  • MIA – Bob Griese – 10/15, 158 yards, 2 TD, INT

Top rushers

Top receivers

}}

==Week 9: at Los Angeles Rams==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 9: Atlanta Falcons at Los Angeles Rams – Game summary

|date=November 10

|time=4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST

|road=Falcons

|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0

|home=Rams

|H1=7|H2=0|H3=7|H4=7

|stadium=Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California

|attendance=70,056

|weather=Sunny, {{convert|65|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411100ram.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • No scoring plays

Third quarter

  • LAR – Tony Baker 1-yard run (David Ray kick). Rams 14–0.

Fourth quarter

  • LAR – Harold Jackson 25-yard pass from James Harris (David Ray kick). Rams 21–0.

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • ATL – Art Malone – 6 receptions, 33 yards
  • LAR – Harold Jackson – 3 receptions, 79 yards, 2 TD

}}

==Week 10: vs. Baltimore Colts==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 10: Baltimore Colts at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

|date=November 17

|time=1:00 p.m. EST

|road=Colts

|R1=0|R2=10|R3=0|R4=7

|home=Falcons

|H1=0|H2=7|H3=0|H4=0

|stadium=Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

|attendance=41,278

|weather=Partly cloudy, {{convert|54|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411170atl.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

  • No scoring plays

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

  • BAL – Bill Olds 1-yard run (Toni Linhart kick). Colts 17–7.

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

}}

==Week 11: at San Francisco 49ers==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 11: Atlanta Falcons at San Francisco 49ers – Game summary

|date=November 24

|time=4:00 p.m. EST/1:00 p.m. PST

|road=Falcons

|R1=0|R2=0|R3=0|R4=0

|home=49ers

|H1=7|H2=7|H3=0|H4=13

|stadium=Candlestick Park, San Francisco, California

|attendance=45,435

|weather=Cloudy, {{convert|50|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197411240sfo.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • SF – Gene Washington 53-yard pass from Tom Owen (Bruce Gossett kick). 49ers 14–0.

Third quarter

  • No scoring plays

Fourth quarter

  • SF – Manfred Moore 88-yard punt return (Bruce Gossett kick). 49ers 21–0.
  • SF – Bruce Gossett 20-yard field goal. 49ers 24–0.
  • SF – Bruce Gossett 42-yard field goal. 49ers 27–0.

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • ATL – Dave Hampton – 4 receptions, 37 yards
  • SF – Gene Washington – 2 receptions, 58 yards, 2 TD

}}

==Week 12: vs. Los Angeles Rams==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 12: Los Angeles Rams at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

|date=December 1

|time=4:00 p.m. EST

|road=Rams

|R1=6|R2=7|R3=17|R4=0

|home=Falcons

|H1=0|H2=7|H3=0|H4=0

|stadium=Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

|attendance=18,648

|weather=Rain, {{convert|36|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412010atl.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • LAR – Dave Elmendorf 57-yard interception return (David Ray kick). Rams 20–7.
  • LAR – Jim Bertelsen 4-yard run (David Ray kick). Rams 27–7.
  • LAR – David Ray 23-yard field goal. Rams 30–7.

Fourth quarter

  • No scoring plays

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

}}

==Week 13: at Minnesota Vikings==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 13: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings – Game summary

|date={{dow tooltip|December 7, 1974}}

|time=1:00 p.m. EST/12:00 p.m. CST

|road=Falcons

|R1=0|R2=7|R3=0|R4=3

|home=Vikings

|H1=7|H2=3|H3=6|H4=7

|stadium=Metropolitan Stadium, Bloomington, Minnesota

|attendance=47,105

|weather=Cloudy with flurries, {{convert|28|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412070min.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

Third quarter

  • MIN – Dave Osborn 5-yard run (kick failed). Vikings 16–7.

Fourth quarter

  • ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 36-yard field goal. Vikings 16–10.
  • MIN – Stu Voigt 10-yard pass from Bob Berry (Fred Cox kick). Vikings 23–10.

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

  • ATL – Ken Burrow – 3 receptions, 50 yards
  • MIN – Dave Osborn – 6 receptions, 39 yards

}}

==Week 14: vs. Green Bay Packers==

{{Americanfootballbox

|titlestyle={{NFLPrimaryStyle|Atlanta Falcons|year=1974|border=2}};text-align:center;

|state=autocollapse

|title=Week 14: Green Bay Packers at Atlanta Falcons – Game summary

|date=December 15

|time=1:00 p.m. EST

|road=Packers

|R1=0|R2=0|R3=3|R4=0

|home=Falcons

|H1=7|H2=3|H3=0|H4=0

|stadium=Atlanta Stadium, Atlanta, Georgia

|attendance=10,020

|weather=Cloudy, {{convert|42|F|C}}

|referee=

|TV=

|TVAnnouncers=

|reference=[https://www.pro-football-reference.com/boxscores/197412150atl.htm Box score]

|scoring=

First quarter

Second quarter

  • ATL – Nick Mike-Mayer 47-yard field goal. Falcons 10–0.

Third quarter

Fourth quarter

  • No scoring plays

|stats=

Top passers

Top rushers

Top receivers

}}

=Standings=

{{1974 NFC West standings}}

References

{{Reflist|30em}}

External links

{{Atlanta Falcons}}

{{Atlanta Falcons seasons}}

{{1974 NFL season by team}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:1974 Atlanta Falcons Season}}

Atlanta Falcons

Category:Atlanta Falcons seasons

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