Fighting Falcons Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1966

The team's first year was 1966, and they finished with a 3-11 record. Their first head coach was Norb Hecker.

Answer: True

1973 was the year of the blowout for the Falcons. After beating the Saints, they were outscored 62-6 over the next two games, losing to the Rams 31-0 and the Lions 31-6. After losing a close game to the 49ers, the Falcons then won their next two games, 46-6 over the Bears and 41-0 over the Chargers.

Answer: Dave Hampton

Hampton accomplished this feat with 1,002 yards in 1975. He had come very close to doing it earlier, rushing for 995 yards in 1972 and 997 yards in 1973. Cannonball Butler and Bubba Bean really are names of ex-Falcon running backs, but neither of them ever hit 1,000 yards. William Andrews broke 1,000 yards for the team in 1979, 1980, 1981, and 1983.

Answer: Philadelphia Eagles

The Falcons' first ever playoff appearance and their only playoff appearance of the 1970s came in 1978. They narrowly defeated the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Wildcard game 14-13, and were then beaten by the Dallas Cowboys in the second round, 27-20.

Answer: The Falcons didn't win a playoff game in the 1980s

The Falcons made the playoffs in 1980, but lost to the Cowboys in the first round 30-27. They lost a first round playoff game to the Minnesota Vikings in 1982, 30-24, and failed to qualify for the playoffs again until 1991.

Answer: False

Reeves did have a winning record with the team (28-23), but so did Leeman Bennett (47-44). Bennett coached the Falcons from 1977-1982.

Answer: Andre Rison

Rison won this award despite the fact that he did not score a touchdown in the game. He caught 6 passes for 86 yards in a 17-3 NFC victory.

Answer: Mike Hegman

Sanders, Edwards, and Matthews, were all on the Falcons roster in 1994. Both Edwards (a safety) and Sanders (wide receiver) were members of the Super Bowl Champion Washington Redskins in 1991. Edwards also played for the Minnesota Vikings. Matthews was a linebacker who spent most of his 19 year career with the Cleveland Browns. Mike Hegman spent his entire 12 year career as a linebacker for the Dallas Cowboys.

Answer: Herman Edwards

All of these coaches were former players. Fisher, Dungy, and Edwards, were all defensive backs. Fisher played for the Chicago Bears from 1981-1984. Dungy played for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 1977 and 1978, and for the San Francisco 49ers in 1979. Dan Reeves was a running back for the Dallas Cowboys from 1965-1972.

He led the NFL in touchdowns scored in 1967, with 16. Herman Edwards had the longest playing career of the bunch, playing from 1977-1985 with the Philadelphia Eagles, and spending his final season of 1986 with the Falcons and Los Angeles Rams.

Answer: 14

The Falcons went 14-2 in 1998 and ended up NFC champions, only to lose in the Super Bowl to John Elway and the Denver Broncos 34-19. Prior to 1998, the team's best year was 1980, when they finished at 12-4.