NFL team season
The 1980 Atlanta Falcons season was the Falcons' 15th season and culminated in their first division title in franchise history. After a 3–3 start, the Falcons went on a nine-game winning streak as quarterback Steve Bartkowski passed for a career-best 3,544 yards while connecting on 31 touchdown passes. As the NFC's top seed, the Falcons gained home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The Falcons' season ended with a 30–27 divisional playoff loss to the Dallas Cowboys before 60,022 fans at Fulton County Stadium.
This would be the last time the Falcons capture a winning record in a non strike season until 1991, as well as their last division title until 1998.
Offseason
Draft
[ 1]
Personnel
Staff
1980 Atlanta Falcons staff
Front office
Head coaches
Offensive coaches
Defensive coaches
Roster
Regular season
Schedule
Week
Date
Opponent
Result
Record
Venue
Attendance
Recap
1
September 7
at Minnesota Vikings
L 23–24
0–1
Metropolitan Stadium
44,773
Recap
2
September 14
at New England Patriots
W 37–21
1–1
Schaefer Stadium
48,321
Recap
3
September 21
Miami Dolphins
L 17–20
1–2
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
55,470
Recap
4
September 28
at San Francisco 49ers
W 20–17
2–2
Candlestick Park
56,518
Recap
5
October 5
Detroit Lions
W 43–28
3–2
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
57,652
Recap
6
October 12
New York Jets
L 7–14
3–3
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
57,458
Recap
7
October 19
at New Orleans Saints
W 41–14
4–3
Louisiana Superdome
62,651
Recap
8
October 26
Los Angeles Rams
W 13–10
5–3
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
57,401
Recap
9
November 2
at Buffalo Bills
W 30–14
6–3
Rich Stadium
57,959
Recap
10
November 9
at St. Louis Cardinals
W 33–27 (OT)
7–3
Busch Memorial Stadium
48,662
Recap
11
November 16
New Orleans Saints
W 31–13
8–3
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
53,871
Recap
12
November 23
Chicago Bears
W 28–17
9–3
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
49,156
Recap
13
November 30
Washington Redskins
W 10–6
10–3
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
55,665
Recap
14
December 7
at Philadelphia Eagles
W 20–17
11–3
Veterans Stadium
70,205
Recap
15
December 14
San Francisco 49ers
W 35–10
12–3
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium
55,767
Recap
16
December 21
at Los Angeles Rams
L 17–20 (OT)
12–4
Anaheim Stadium
62,469
Recap
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
Week 1
1
2 3 4 Total
Falcons
6
0 7 10
23
• Vikings
7
7 7 3
24
Week 2
1
2 3 4 Total
• Falcons
14
14 3 6
37
Patriots
7
14 0 0
21
Week 3
1
2 3 4 Total
• Dolphins
3
0 0 17
20
Falcons
0
7 7 3
17
Week 4
1
2 3 4 Total
• Falcons
3
0 3 14
20
49ers
0
3 0 14
17
Date: September 28Location: Candlestick Park Referee: Bob FredericTV announcers (CBS): Vin Scully and George Allen
Week 5
1
2 3 4 Total
Lions
3
3 0 22
28
• Falcons
17
17 2 7
43
Date: October 5Location: Atlanta-Fulton County StadiumReferee: Dick JorgensenTelevision network: CBS
Week 6
1
2 3 4 Total
• Jets
7
0 0 7
14
Falcons
0
0 0 7
7
Date: October 12Location: Atlanta-Fulton County StadiumReferee: Gordon McCarterTelevision network: NBC
Week 7
1
2 3 4 Total
• Falcons
7
6 21 7
41
Saints
7
7 0 0
14
Date: October 19Location: Louisiana Superdome Game start: 1:00 p.m. Game weather: Indoors (dome)Referee: Jerry SeemanTV announcers (CBS): Jim Kelly and Sonny Jurgenson
[ 2]
Week 8
1
2 3 4 Total
Rams
0
3 7 0
10
• Falcons
6
0 0 7
13
Date: October 26Location: Atlanta-Fulton County StadiumReferee: Jerry MarkbreitTelevision network: CBS
Week 9
1
2 3 4 Total
• Falcons
0
10 10 10
30
Bills
7
7 0 0
14
Date: November 2Location: Rich Stadium Referee: Chuck HeberlingTelevision network: CBS
Week 10
1
2 3 4 OT Total
• Falcons
3
3 14 7 6
33
Cardinals
17
7 3 0 0
27
Week 11
1
2 3 4 Total
Saints
7
0 0 6
13
• Falcons
3
7 7 14
31
Date: November 16Location: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Week 12
1
2 3 4 Total
Bears
7
3 7 0
17
• Falcons
0
14 0 14
28
Date: November 23Location: Atlanta-Fulton County StadiumReferee: Fred WyantTelevision network: CBS
Week 13
1
2 3 4 Total
Redskins
0
3 0 3
6
• Falcons
0
0 7 3
10
Date: November 30Location: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Week 14
1
2 3 4 Total
• Falcons
3
7 7 3
20
Eagles
0
14 0 3
17
Date: December 7Location: Veterans Stadium Referee: Pat HaggertyTV announcers (CBS): Gary Bender and John Madden
Week 15
1
2 3 4 Total
49ers
0
3 0 7
10
• Falcons
7
0 14 14
35
Date: December 14Location: Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium
Week 16
1
2 3 4 OT Total
Falcons
7
7 0 3 0
17
• Rams
3
0 14 0 3
20
Playoffs
Divisional
1
2 3 4 Total
• Cowboys
3
7 0 20
30
Falcons
10
7 7 3
27
Standings
References
External links
Franchise Stadiums Culture Lore Rivalries Wild card / First round berths (8) Division championships (6) Conference championships (2) Ring of Honor Current league affiliations