1997 Atlanta Falcons
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Record: 7-9-0, Finished 2nd in NFC West Division
NFL Season Summary
Scored 320 points (20.0/g), 18th of 30 in the NFL.
Allowed 361 points (22.6/g), 21st.
Differential of -41 points (-2.6/g), 19th.
Expected W-L: 6.9-9.1.
Takeaway/Giveaway Differential +4 (0.2/g), 11th.
Simple Rating System: Total -4.2, Offense: -1.2, Defense: -2.9, SoS: -1.6, versus averages of 0.0.
Coached by
Dan Reeves (7-9-0)
Offensive Coordinator: George Sefcik
Defensive Coordinator: Rich Brooks
Training Camp: Falcons Training Facility (Suwanee, Georgia)
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Starters
ProBowl(*), 1st-team All-Pro(+),Hide Non-primary Starters
| Pos | Age | Yrs | GS | Summary of Player Stats | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Offensive Starters | ||||||
| QB | Chris Chandler* | 32 | 9 | 14 | 202 for 342, 2,692 yards, 20 td, 7 int, & 43 rushes for 158 yards and 0 td | Indianapolis Colts / 3rd / 76th pick / 1988 |
| RB | Jamal Anderson | 25 | 3 | 15 | 290 rushes for 1,002 yards, 7 td, & 29 catches for 284 yards and 3 td | Atlanta Falcons / 7th / 201st pick / 1994 |
| FB | Bob Christian | 29 | 5 | 12 | 7 rushes for 8 yards, 0 td, & 22 catches for 154 yards and 1 td | Atlanta Falcons / 12th / 310th pick / 1991 |
| WR | Bert Emanuel | 27 | 3 | 16 | 65 catches for 991 yards, 9 td | Atlanta Falcons / 2nd / 45th pick / 1994 |
| WR | Terance Mathis | 30 | 7 | 16 | 62 catches for 802 yards, 6 td, & 3 rushes for 35 yards and 0 td | New York Jets / 6th / 140th pick / 1990 |
| TE | O.J. Santiago | 23 | Rook | 11 | 17 catches for 217 yards, 2 td | Atlanta Falcons / 3rd / 70th pick / 1997 |
| TE | Brian Kozlowski | 27 | 3 | 5 | 7 catches for 99 yards, 1 td | |
| LT | Bob Whitfield | 26 | 5 | 16 | Atlanta Falcons / 1st / 8th pick / 1992 | |
| LG | Robbie Tobeck | 27 | 3 | 15 | 1 fumble recovered | |
| C | Calvin Collins | 23 | Rook | 13 | Atlanta Falcons / 6th / 180th pick / 1997 | |
| RG | Gene Williams | 29 | 6 | 15 | 2 fumbles recovered | Miami Dolphins / 5th / 121st pick / 1991 |
| RT | Matt Willig | 28 | 4 | 13 | ||
| Defensive Starters | ||||||
| LDE | Lester Archambeau | 30 | 7 | 16 | 8.5 sacks, 1 interception, 3 fumbles recovered | Green Bay Packers / 7th / 186th pick / 1990 |
| LDT | Travis Hall | 25 | 2 | 16 | 10.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Atlanta Falcons / 6th / 181st pick / 1995 |
| RDT | Dan Owens | 30 | 7 | 15 | 8.0 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 35th pick / 1990 |
| RDE | Chuck Smith | 28 | 5 | 15 | 12.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | Atlanta Falcons / 2nd / 51st pick / 1992 |
| LLB | Cornelius Bennett | 32 | 10 | 16 | 7.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Indianapolis Colts / 1st / 2nd pick / 1987 |
| MLB | Jessie Tuggle* | 32 | 10 | 15 | 1.5 sacks, 0 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | |
| RLB | Henri Crockett | 23 | Rook | 10 | 2.0 sacks, 0 interceptions, 1 fumble recovered | Atlanta Falcons / 4th / 100th pick / 1997 |
| LCB | Ray Buchanan | 26 | 4 | 16 | 0.0 sacks, 5 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Indianapolis Colts / 3rd / 65th pick / 1993 |
| RCB | Ronnie Bradford | 27 | 4 | 15 | 0.0 sacks, 4 interceptions, 0 fumbles recovered | Miami Dolphins / 4th / 105th pick / 1993 |
| SS | William White | 31 | 9 | 16 | 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 0 fumbles recovered | Detroit Lions / 4th / 85th pick / 1988 |
| FS | Devin Bush | 24 | 2 | 16 | 0.0 sacks, 1 interception, 1 fumble recovered | Atlanta Falcons / 1st / 26th pick / 1995 |
| Special Teams Starters | ||||||
| K | Morten Andersen | 37 | 15 | 0 | 23 of 27 field goals & 35 of 35 extra points | New Orleans Saints / 4th / 86th pick / 1982 |
| P | Dan Stryzinski | 32 | 7 | 0 | 89 punts for a 39.3 average, 0 blocked | |
| PR | Todd Kinchen | 28 | 5 | 0 | 52 punt returns for a 8.6 average and 0 td | Los Angeles Rams / 3rd / 60th pick / 1992 |
| KR | Byron Hanspard | 21 | Rook | 0 | 40 kick returns for a 24.7 average and 2 td | Atlanta Falcons / 2nd / 41st pick / 1997 |
| No. | Age | Pos | G | GS | Wt | Ht | College/Univ | BirthDate | Yrs | Drafted (tm/rnd/yr) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 71 | Scott Adams | 31 | G-T | 6 | 0 | 301 | 6-5 | Georgia | 9/28/1966 | 5 | |
| 5 | Morten Andersen | 37 | K | 16 | 0 | 217 | 6-2 | Michigan St. | 8/19/1960 | 15 | New Orleans Saints / 4th / 86th pick / 1982 |
| 32 | Jamal Anderson | 25 | RB | 16 | 15 | 237 | 5-11 | Utah | 9/30/1972 | 3 | Atlanta Falcons / 7th / 201st pick / 1994 |
| 92 | Lester Archambeau | 30 | DE | 16 | 16 | 275 | 6-5 | Stanford | 6/27/1967 | 7 | Green Bay Packers / 7th / 186th pick / 1990 |
| 47 | Chris Bayne | 22 | DB | 13 | 0 | 205 | 6-1 | Fresno St. | 3/22/1975 | Rook | Atlanta Falcons / 7th / 222nd pick / 1997 |
| 97 | Cornelius Bennett | 32 | LB | 16 | 16 | 237 | 6-2 | Alabama | 8/25/1965 | 10 | Indianapolis Colts / 1st / 2nd pick / 1987 |
| 3 | Scott Bentley | 23 | K | 2 | 0 | 203 | 6-0 | Florida St. | 4/10/1974 | Rook | |
| 43 | Juran Bolden | 23 | DB | 14 | 1 | 207 | 6-2 | Mississippi Delta CC | 6/27/1974 | 1 | Atlanta Falcons / 4th / 127th pick / 1996 |
| 20 | Michael Booker | 22 | DB | 15 | 2 | 203 | 6-2 | Nebraska | 4/27/1975 | Rook | Atlanta Falcons / 1st / 11th pick / 1997 |
| 23 | Ronnie Bradford | 27 | DB | 16 | 15 | 188 | 5-10 | Colorado | 10/1/1970 | 4 | Miami Dolphins / 4th / 105th pick / 1993 |
| 51 | David Brandon | 32 | LB | 4 | 4 | 234 | 6-4 | Memphis | 2/9/1965 | 10 | Buffalo Bills / 3rd / 60th pick / 1987 |
| 34 | Ray Buchanan | 26 | DB | 16 | 16 | 186 | 5-9 | Louisville | 9/29/1971 | 4 | Indianapolis Colts / 3rd / 65th pick / 1993 |
| 91 | John Burrough | 25 | DE-DT | 16 | 1 | 275 | 6-5 | Washington St.,Wyoming | 5/17/1972 | 2 | Atlanta Falcons / 7th / 245th pick / 1995 |
| 25 | Devin Bush | 24 | DB | 16 | 16 | 210 | 5-11 | Florida St. | 7/3/1973 | 2 | Atlanta Falcons / 1st / 26th pick / 1995 |
| 12 | Chris Chandler* | 32 | QB | 14 | 14 | 224 | 6-4 | Washington | 10/12/1965 | 9 | Indianapolis Colts / 3rd / 76th pick / 1988 |
| 44 | Bob Christian | 29 | RB | 16 | 12 | 226 | 5-11 | Northwestern | 11/14/1968 | 5 | Atlanta Falcons / 12th / 310th pick / 1991 |
| 68 | Calvin Collins | 23 | G-C | 15 | 13 | 307 | 6-2 | Texas A&M | 1/5/1974 | Rook | Atlanta Falcons / 6th / 180th pick / 1997 |
| 94 | Henri Crockett | 23 | LB | 16 | 10 | 240 | 6-2 | Florida St. | 10/28/1974 | Rook | Atlanta Falcons / 4th / 100th pick / 1997 |
| 76 | Antone Davis | 30 | T-G | 3 | 3 | 330 | 6-4 | Tennessee | 2/28/1967 | 6 | Philadelphia Eagles / 1st / 8th pick / 1991 |
| 99 | Nathan Davis | 23 | DE | 2 | 0 | 312 | 6-5 | Indiana | 2/6/1974 | Rook | Atlanta Falcons / 2nd / 32nd pick / 1997 |
| 72 | Scott L. Davis | 27 | G | 2 | 2 | 292 | 6-3 | Iowa | 1/29/1970 | 4 | New York Giants / 6th / 150th pick / 1993 |
| 45 | Gary Downs | 25 | RB | 16 | 0 | 212 | 6-1 | North Carolina St. | 6/6/1972 | 3 | New York Giants / 3rd / 95th pick / 1994 |
| 75 | Shane Dronett | 26 | DT-DE | 16 | 1 | 300 | 6-6 | Texas | 1/12/1971 | 5 | Denver Broncos / 2nd / 54th pick / 1992 |
| 87 | Bert Emanuel | 27 | WR | 16 | 16 | 180 | 5-10 | UCLA,Rice | 10/26/1970 | 3 | Atlanta Falcons / 2nd / 45th pick / 1994 |
| 65 | Roman Fortin | 30 | C-T-G | 3 | 3 | 297 | 6-5 | Oregon St.,San Diego St. | 2/26/1967 | 6 | Detroit Lions / 8th / 203rd pick / 1990 |
| 53 | Jamal Fountaine | 26 | DE | 3 | 0 | 240 | 6-3 | Washington | 1/29/1971 | 2 | |
| 13 | Tony Graziani | 24 | QB | 3 | 1 | 210 | 6-2 | Oregon | 12/23/1973 | Rook | Atlanta Falcons / 7th / 204th pick / 1997 |
| 28 | Harold Green | 29 | RB | 16 | 1 | 222 | 6-2 | South Carolina | 1/29/1968 | 7 | Cincinnati Bengals / 2nd / 38th pick / 1990 |
| 27 | Donovan Greer | 23 | DB | 1 | 0 | 178 | 5-9 | Texas A&M | 9/11/1974 | Rook | |
| 98 | Travis Hall | 25 | DT-DE | 16 | 16 | 295 | 6-5 | BYU | 8/3/1972 | 2 | Atlanta Falcons / 6th / 181st pick / 1995 |
| 54 | Ruffin Hamilton | 26 | LB | 12 | 0 | 235 | 6-1 | Tulane | 3/2/1971 | 3 | Green Bay Packers / 6th / 175th pick / 1994 |
| 24 | Byron Hanspard | 21 | RB | 16 | 0 | 198 | 5-10 | Texas Tech | 1/23/1976 | Rook | Atlanta Falcons / 2nd / 41st pick / 1997 |
| 84 | Mercury Hayes | 24 | WR | 2 | 0 | 195 | 5-11 | Michigan | 1/1/1973 | 1 | New Orleans Saints / 5th / 136th pick / 1996 |
| 82 | Michael Haynes | 32 | WR | 12 | 0 | 184 | 6-0 | Northern Arizona | 12/24/1965 | 9 | Atlanta Falcons / 7th / 166th pick / 1988 |
| 89 | Todd Kinchen | 28 | WR | 16 | 0 | 187 | 5-11 | LSU | 1/7/1969 | 5 | Los Angeles Rams / 3rd / 60th pick / 1992 |
| 85 | Brian Kozlowski | 27 | TE | 16 | 5 | 250 | 6-3 | Connecticut | 10/4/1970 | 3 | |
| 81 | Terance Mathis | 30 | WR | 16 | 16 | 177 | 5-10 | New Mexico | 6/7/1967 | 7 | New York Jets / 6th / 140th pick / 1990 |
| 22 | Lenny McGill | 26 | DB | 15 | 0 | 195 | 6-1 | Arizona St. | 5/31/1971 | 3 | |
| 55 | Nate Miller | 26 | G | 13 | 0 | 310 | 6-3 | LSU | 10/8/1971 | Rook | |
| 93 | Dan Owens | 30 | DE-DT-NT | 15 | 15 | 280 | 6-3 | USC | 3/16/1967 | 7 | Detroit Lions / 2nd / 35th pick / 1990 |
| 96 | Anthony Pleasant | 29 | DE-DT | 11 | 0 | 280 | 6-5 | Tennessee St. | 1/27/1968 | 7 | Cleveland Browns / 3rd / 73rd pick / 1990 |
| 88 | O.J. Santiago | 23 | TE | 11 | 11 | 265 | 6-7 | Kent St. | 4/4/1974 | Rook | Atlanta Falcons / 3rd / 70th pick / 1997 |
| 52 | Craig Sauer | 25 | LB | 16 | 1 | 240 | 6-1 | Minnesota | 12/13/1972 | 1 | Atlanta Falcons / 6th / 188th pick / 1996 |
| 49 | Brian Saxton | 25 | TE | 3 | 0 | 256 | 6-6 | Boston Col. | 3/13/1972 | 1 | |
| 67 | Adam Schreiber | 35 | G-C | 16 | 0 | 290 | 6-4 | Texas | 2/20/1962 | 13 | Seattle Seahawks / 9th / 243rd pick / 1984 |
| 84 | Freddie Scott | 23 | WR | 2 | 0 | 188 | 5-10 | Penn St. | 8/26/1974 | 1 | |
| 42 | Chris Shelling | 25 | DB | 2 | 0 | 180 | 5-10 | Auburn | 11/3/1972 | 2 | |
| 90 | Chuck Smith | 28 | DE-LB | 16 | 15 | 257 | 6-2 | Tennessee | 12/21/1969 | 5 | Atlanta Falcons / 2nd / 51st pick / 1992 |
| 86 | Ed Smith | 28 | TE | 5 | 1 | 253 | 6-4 | none | 6/5/1969 | Rook | |
| 4 | Dan Stryzinski | 32 | P | 16 | 0 | 237 | 6-0 | Indiana | 5/15/1965 | 7 | |
| 50 | Eddie Sutter | 28 | LB | 16 | 0 | 240 | 6-3 | Northwestern | 10/3/1969 | 4 | |
| 61 | Robbie Tobeck | 27 | C-G | 16 | 15 | 297 | 6-4 | Washington St. | 3/6/1970 | 3 | |
| 11 | Billy Joe Tolliver | 31 | QB | 6 | 1 | 217 | 6-1 | Texas Tech | 2/7/1966 | 8 | San Diego Chargers / 2nd / 51st pick / 1989 |
| 58 | Jessie Tuggle* | 32 | LB | 16 | 15 | 230 | 5-11 | Valdosta St. | 4/4/1965 | 10 | |
| 83 | Ed West | 36 | TE | 12 | 3 | 250 | 6-1 | Auburn | 8/2/1961 | 13 | |
| 35 | William White | 31 | DB | 16 | 16 | 199 | 5-10 | Ohio St. | 2/19/1966 | 9 | Detroit Lions / 4th / 85th pick / 1988 |
| 70 | Bob Whitfield | 26 | T | 16 | 16 | 310 | 6-5 | Stanford | 10/18/1971 | 5 | Atlanta Falcons / 1st / 8th pick / 1992 |
| 69 | Gene Williams | 29 | G-T | 15 | 15 | 310 | 6-2 | Iowa St. | 10/14/1968 | 6 | Miami Dolphins / 5th / 121st pick / 1991 |
| 77 | Matt Willig | 28 | T | 16 | 13 | 315 | 6-8 | USC | 1/21/1969 | 4 | |
| 48 | Marcus Wimberly | 23 | DB | 6 | 0 | 192 | 5-11 | Miami (FL) | 7/8/1974 | Rook | Atlanta Falcons / 5th / 133rd pick / 1997 |
| Team Total | 27.2 | 16 | 241.0 | 6-1.8 | 4.2 |