The 2017 Atlanta Falcons season was the
franchise's 52nd
season in the
National Football League (NFL) and their third under
head coachDan Quinn. They entered the season as the defending NFC champions and tried to defend their NFC title for a second consecutive trip to the
Super Bowl after losing the previous year against the Patriots in
Super Bowl LI after blowing a 28-3 lead. This was the Falcons' first year in
Mercedes-Benz Stadium after spending the previous 25 seasons in the
Georgia Dome, which was demolished on November 20, 2017. Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened as scheduled on August 26, 2017; however, its retractable roof system was incomplete. The roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium remained in the closed position for most of the 2017 season, with the roof opened only during the September 17 game against the
Green Bay Packers, as contractors continued to fully mechanize the roof.[1]
On December 13, 2017,
Tommy Nobis, the first player drafted by the Falcons, died at the age of 74.[2]
Despite the Falcons failing to improve on their 11–5 record from 2016 or defend their NFC South title, the team posted its first consecutive winning seasons, consecutive 10-win seasons, and consecutive playoff berths since the
2012 season. The Falcons were the only NFC team from the
2016 playoffs to qualify for the
2017 playoffs. In the playoffs, the Falcons defeated the
Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card Round, but lost against the
eventual Super Bowl championPhiladelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round despite being the first team to be favored over a number one seed in the Divisional Round.
As of
2023, this represents the most recent winning season and playoff appearance for the Falcons.
In their home opener, the Falcons hosted the Green Bay Packers in a rematch of the 2016 NFC Championship Game. This was the first regular season game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Despite prior reports that the roof would be closed for the game, Falcons owner Arthur Blank elected to open the roof if weather permitted, marking the first time since the
1991 season, the team's final season at their original home of
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, that the Falcons played a home game in Atlanta under open air.[3] The Falcons controlled most of the game, went up by as much as 24, and won 34–23. They were led by Devonta Freeman (19 rushes, 84 yards, 2 TD) and Julio Jones (108 yards, 5 receptions). The 2017 Falcons became only the fourth team in NFL history to start 2–0 after they lost the Super Bowl the previous year.
Week 3: at Detroit Lions
Week 3: Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions – Game summary
In a rematch of
Super Bowl LI eight months later, the Falcons were trying to avenge their historic defeat, where they blew a 28-3 lead and lost in overtime, however Atlanta lost the rematch 23-7, in a game dominated by fog in the Foxboro area in the second half.
Week 8: at New York Jets
Week 8: Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets – Game summary
^
abPhiladelphia claimed the No. 1 seed over Minnesota based on winning percentage vs. common opponents. Philadelphia's cumulative record against Carolina, Chicago, the Los Angeles Rams and Washington was 5–0, compared to Minnesota's 4–1 cumulative record against the same four teams.
^
abLA Rams claimed the No. 3 seed over New Orleans based on head-to-head victory.
^
abNew Orleans clinched the NFC South division over Carolina based on head-to-head sweep.
^
abcDetroit finished ahead of Dallas and Seattle based on conference record, while Seattle finished ahead of Dallas based on head-to-head victory.
^
abGreen Bay finished ahead of Washington based on record vs. common opponents. Green Bay's cumulative record against Dallas, Minnesota, New Orleans and Seattle was 2–3, compared to Washington's 1–4 cumulative record against the same four teams.
^
abTampa Bay finished ahead of Chicago based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.
The 2017 Atlanta Falcons season was the
franchise's 52nd
season in the
National Football League (NFL) and their third under
head coachDan Quinn. They entered the season as the defending NFC champions and tried to defend their NFC title for a second consecutive trip to the
Super Bowl after losing the previous year against the Patriots in
Super Bowl LI after blowing a 28-3 lead. This was the Falcons' first year in
Mercedes-Benz Stadium after spending the previous 25 seasons in the
Georgia Dome, which was demolished on November 20, 2017. Mercedes-Benz Stadium opened as scheduled on August 26, 2017; however, its retractable roof system was incomplete. The roof of Mercedes-Benz Stadium remained in the closed position for most of the 2017 season, with the roof opened only during the September 17 game against the
Green Bay Packers, as contractors continued to fully mechanize the roof.[1]
On December 13, 2017,
Tommy Nobis, the first player drafted by the Falcons, died at the age of 74.[2]
Despite the Falcons failing to improve on their 11–5 record from 2016 or defend their NFC South title, the team posted its first consecutive winning seasons, consecutive 10-win seasons, and consecutive playoff berths since the
2012 season. The Falcons were the only NFC team from the
2016 playoffs to qualify for the
2017 playoffs. In the playoffs, the Falcons defeated the
Los Angeles Rams in the NFC Wild Card Round, but lost against the
eventual Super Bowl championPhiladelphia Eagles in the NFC Divisional Round despite being the first team to be favored over a number one seed in the Divisional Round.
As of
2023, this represents the most recent winning season and playoff appearance for the Falcons.
In their home opener, the Falcons hosted the Green Bay Packers in a rematch of the 2016 NFC Championship Game. This was the first regular season game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Despite prior reports that the roof would be closed for the game, Falcons owner Arthur Blank elected to open the roof if weather permitted, marking the first time since the
1991 season, the team's final season at their original home of
Atlanta–Fulton County Stadium, that the Falcons played a home game in Atlanta under open air.[3] The Falcons controlled most of the game, went up by as much as 24, and won 34–23. They were led by Devonta Freeman (19 rushes, 84 yards, 2 TD) and Julio Jones (108 yards, 5 receptions). The 2017 Falcons became only the fourth team in NFL history to start 2–0 after they lost the Super Bowl the previous year.
Week 3: at Detroit Lions
Week 3: Atlanta Falcons at Detroit Lions – Game summary
In a rematch of
Super Bowl LI eight months later, the Falcons were trying to avenge their historic defeat, where they blew a 28-3 lead and lost in overtime, however Atlanta lost the rematch 23-7, in a game dominated by fog in the Foxboro area in the second half.
Week 8: at New York Jets
Week 8: Atlanta Falcons at New York Jets – Game summary
^
abPhiladelphia claimed the No. 1 seed over Minnesota based on winning percentage vs. common opponents. Philadelphia's cumulative record against Carolina, Chicago, the Los Angeles Rams and Washington was 5–0, compared to Minnesota's 4–1 cumulative record against the same four teams.
^
abLA Rams claimed the No. 3 seed over New Orleans based on head-to-head victory.
^
abNew Orleans clinched the NFC South division over Carolina based on head-to-head sweep.
^
abcDetroit finished ahead of Dallas and Seattle based on conference record, while Seattle finished ahead of Dallas based on head-to-head victory.
^
abGreen Bay finished ahead of Washington based on record vs. common opponents. Green Bay's cumulative record against Dallas, Minnesota, New Orleans and Seattle was 2–3, compared to Washington's 1–4 cumulative record against the same four teams.
^
abTampa Bay finished ahead of Chicago based on head-to-head victory.
^When breaking ties for three or more teams under the NFL's rules, they are first broken within divisions, then comparing only the highest-ranked remaining team from each division.