2002 Atlanta Falcons 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 2007 and 2008 seasons.

Offseason

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Signings	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Departures
RB Warrick Dunn (Buccaneers)	QB Chris Chandler (Bears)
DE John Thierry (Packers)	G Bob Hallen (Chargers)
DT Ellis Johnson (Colts)	LB Henri Crockett (Vikings)
LB John Holecek (Chargers)	FS Ronnie Bradford (Vikings)
T Todd Weiner (Seahawks)	WR Terance Mathis (Steelers)
CB Allen Rossum (Packers)	DE Chuck Wiley (Vikings)
CB Kevin Mathis (Saints)
CB Fred Weary (Saints)

Undrafted free agents

2002 undrafted free agents of note

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Player	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Position	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| College
Matt Allen	Punter	Troy State

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 Template:Nfly standings.

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Week	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Date	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Opponent	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Result	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Record	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Attendance
1	September 8	at Green Bay Packers	L 34-37 (OT)	0–1	63,127
2	September 15	Chicago Bears	L 13-14	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 6-20	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 10-34	8–4–1	65,648
15	December 15	Seattle Seahawks	L 24-30 (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 16-24	9–6–1	73,528
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.

Game summaries

Week 1: at Green Bay Packers

Week 1: Atlanta Falcons at Green Bay Packers

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Falcons	0	21	3	10	0	34
Packers	3	10	14	7	3	37

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

• Date: September 8, 2002
• Game time: 1:00 p.m.
• Game weather: Sunny,
• Game attendance: 63,127
• Referee: Ron Winter (14)
• TV announcers (Fox): Curt Menefee, Tim Ryan, and Drew Smith
• Recap, Game Book

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

Week 2: Chicago Bears at Atlanta Falcons

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bears	0	7	7	0	14
Falcons	0	10	3	0	13

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

• Date: September 15, 2002
• Game time: 1:00 pm
• Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
• Game attendance: 68,081
• Referee: Jeff Triplette (42)
• TV announcers (Fox): Pat Summerall, Brian Baldinger
• Recap, Game Book

Game information

First quarter No scoring plays. 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 No scoring plays. 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

Quarter	1	2	3	4	Total
Bengals	0	3	0	0	3
Falcons	13	7	7	3	30

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia

• Date: September 22, 2002
• Game time: 8:30 pm
• Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
• Game attendance: 68,129
• Referee: Terry McAulay (77)
• TV announcers (ESPN): Mike Patrick, Joe Theismann, Paul Maguire, and Suzy Kolber
• Recap, Game Book

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

Week 13: Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings

Quarter	1	2	3	4	OT	Total
Falcons	0	14	7	3	6	30
Vikings	7	7	7	3	0	24

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

• Date: December 1, 2002
• Game time: 12:00 p.m. CDT
• Game weather: None (indoor stadium)
• Game attendance: 63,947
• Referee: Ed Hochuli (85)
• TV announcers (FOX): Kenny Albert, Tim Green
• Recap, Game Book

Game information

First quarter MIN – Daunte Culpepper 1-yard run (Gary Anderson kick), 9:38. Vikings 7–0. Drive: 11 plays, 75 yards, 5:22. 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

Quarter	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 announcers (FOX): Dick Stockton, Daryl Johnston, and Ron Pitts
• 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

style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Week	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Date	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Opponent	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Result	style="Template:NFLPrimaryStyle"| Attendance
Wild Card	Template:Dow tooltip	at Green Bay Packers	W 27–7	65,358
Divisional	Template:Dow tooltip	at Philadelphia Eagles	L 6–20	66,452

Game summaries

NFC Wild Card: at Green Bay Packers

NFC Wild Card Game: (6) Atlanta Falcons at (3) Green Bay Packers

Quarter	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,
• 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 No scoring plays. 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