The 2007 Atlanta Falcons season was the 42ndseason for the franchise in the National Football League (NFL). They finished the 2007 season with a record of 4–12 and failed to improve upon their 7–9 record in 2006 after finishing third place in the NFC South.
The season was marred with the Falcons' starting quarterback Michael Vick getting indicted on federal and state charges over his involvement in an illegal dog fighting ring. New head coach Bobby Petrino was initially hired to help develop Vick into a more complete quarterback and improve the Falcons' languid offense (ranked 25th in scoring) from the previous season, but with Vick's absence and longtime dependable backup quarterback Matt Schaub traded to the Houston Texans before Vick's indictment, Petrino was instead forced to rely on journeyman quarterbacks Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich and Chris Redman for the offense. Petrino's game plan did not fit, both on the field and in the locker room, with veteran players Alge Crumpler and DeAngelo Hall voicing their displeasure.
Petrino later resigned just 13games into the season to coach the Arkansas Razorbacks. Petrino resigned the day after Michael Vick was sentenced to 23months in prison and also a day after Petrino coached the Falcons in a 34–14 loss to the New Orleans Saints on Monday Night Football. He did not address his players in person, only leaving a hand-written note. This was the final season Morten Andersen would play in the NFL.
Offseason Head coach change Head coach Bobby Petrino spent less than a year with the Atlanta Falcons. He was hired on January 7, 2007 after the Falcons fired Jim Mora, Jr., who was fired on New Year's Day. On December 11, 2007, Petrino announced his resignation just 13 games into his first year.
Departures
On March 2, the Falcons released linebackers Edgerton Hartwell and Ike Reese. On March 5, the Falcons released guard Matt Lehr and long-snapper Gavin Tarquinio. On March 6, wide receiver Ashley Lelie signed a contract with the San Francisco 49ers. On March 7, defensive end Patrick Kerney signed a contract with the Seattle Seahawks. On March 8, the Falcons traded quarterback Matt Schaub to the Houston Texans along with their 2007 first round pick (10th overall) in exchange for the Texans' first round pick (8th overall), a 2007 second round pick and a 2008 second round pick. On March 9, fullback Justin Griffith signed a contract with the Oakland Raiders.
Signings On March 2, the Falcons signed fullback Ovie Mughelli, formerly with the Baltimore Ravens, to a contract. On March 3, the Falcons signed linebacker Marcus Wilkins, formerly with the Cincinnati Bengals, to a contract. On March 7, the Falcons signed cornerback Lewis Sanders, formerly with the Houston Texans, to a contract. On March 8, the Falcons signed wide receiver Joe Horn, formerly with the New Orleans Saints, to a contract. On March 15, the Falcons signed guard Toniu Fonoti, formerly with the Miami Dolphins, to a contract. On March 15, the Falcons signed wide receiver Derrick Hamilton, formerly with the San Francisco 49ers, to a contract. On March 22, the Falcons signed kicker Aaron Elling, formerly with the Baltimore Ravens, to a contract. On March 23, the Falcons signed quarterback Chris Redman to a contract. On April 9, the Falcons signed quarterback Joey Harrington, formerly with the Miami Dolphins, to a contract. On May 4, the Falcons signed kicker Billy Cundiff to a contract. On May 9, the Falcons signed tackle Leander Jordan, formerly with the San Diego Chargers, to a contract.
Free agents heading into the 2007 season Position Player Free agencytagRFA: Restricted free-agent, UFA: Unrestricted free-agent, ERFA: Exclusive rights free agent Date signed 2007 team K Morten Andersen UFA TE Dwayne Blakley RFA April 4 CB Chris Cash UFA G Ben Claxton ERFA FB Justin Griffith UFA March 9 Oakland Raiders DE Patrick Kerney UFA March 7 Seattle Seahawks C Austin King RFA P Michael Koenen ERFA March 19 Atlanta Falcons WR Ashley Lelie UFA March 6 San Francisco 49ers FB Fred McCrary UFA FB Corey McIntyre ERFA March 19 Atlanta Falcons QB Matt Schaub RFA March 22 Houston Texans S Lance Schulters UFA LB Demorrio Williams RFA April 23 Atlanta Falcons
NFL draft
Staff
Roster
Preseason Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 at New York Jets L 16–31 0–1 Giants Stadium Recap 2 at Buffalo Bills W 13–10 1–1 Ralph Wilson StadiumRecap 3 Cincinnati Bengals W 24–19 2–1 Georgia Dome Recap 4 Baltimore Ravens W 13–10 3–1 Georgia DomeRecap
Regular season Schedule Week Date Opponent Result Record Venue Recap 1 September 9 at Minnesota Vikings L 3–24 0–1 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap 2 September 16 at Jacksonville Jaguars L 7–13 0–2 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Recap 3 September 23 Carolina Panthers L 20–27 0–3 Georgia Dome Recap 4 September 30 Houston Texans W 26–16 1–3 Georgia DomeRecap 5 October 7 at Tennessee Titans L 13–20 1–4 LP Field Recap 6 October 15 New York Giants L 10–31 1–5 Georgia Dome Recap 7 October 21 at New Orleans Saints L 16–22 1–6 Superdome Recap 8 Bye 9 November 4 San Francisco 49ers W 20–16 2–6 Georgia Dome Recap 10 November 11 at Carolina Panthers W 20–13 3–6 Bank of America Stadium Recap 11 November 18 Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 7–31 3–7 Georgia Dome Recap 12 Indianapolis Colts L 13–31 3–8 Georgia Dome Recap 13 December 2 at St. Louis Rams L 16–28 3–9 Edward Jones Dome Recap 14 New Orleans Saints L 14–34 3–10 Georgia DomeRecap 15 December 16 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 3–37 3–11 Raymond James Stadium Recap 16 December 23 at Arizona Cardinals L 27–30 3–12 University of Phoenix Stadium Recap 17 December 30 Seattle Seahawks W 44–41 4–12 Georgia Dome Recap
Game summaries Week 1: at Minnesota Vikings
Hoping to put a troublesome off-season behind them, the Falcons began their 2007 campaign on the road against the Minnesota Vikings. In the first quarter, Atlanta immediately trailed as Vikings DT Kevin Williams returned an interception 54 yards for a touchdown, which was the only score of the half. In the third quarter, Minnesota increased its lead with kicker Ryan Longwell getting a 49-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Falcons got their only score of the game, with kicker Matt Prater's 45-yard field goal. From there, the Vikings put the game away with QB Tarvaris Jackson completing a 60-yard TD pass to RB Adrian Peterson, along with CB Antoine Winfield returning an interception 14 yards for a touchdown.
QB Joey Harrington, in his Falcons debut, completed 23 out of 32 passes for 199 yards with no touchdowns and 2 interceptions.
With the loss, Atlanta began its season at 0–1.
Week 2: at Jacksonville Jaguars
Trying to rebound from their road loss to the Vikings, the Falcons went to Jacksonville Municipal Stadium for a Week 2 interconference fight with the Jacksonville Jaguars. After a scoreless first quarter, Atlanta trailed early as Jaguars kicker John Carney got a 35-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Falcons had their only score of the game as RB Warrick Dunn got a 4-yard TD run. After a scoreless third quarter, Jacksonville sealed the win with QB David Garrard's 14-yard TD pass to WR Reggie Williams and Carney's 27-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 0–2.
Week 3: vs. Carolina Panthers
Trying to avoid their first 0–3 start since 1999, the Falcons played their Week 3 home opener against their divisional rival, the Carolina Panthers. After a scoreless first quarter, Atlanta trailed early as Panthers kicker John Kasay got a 45-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Falcons took the lead with QB Joey Harrington completing a 69-yard TD pass to WR Roddy White. However, Carolina retook the lead with QB Jake Delhomme completing a 13-yard TD pass to RB DeShaun Foster. Atlanta tied the game prior to halftime with kicker Morten Andersen getting a 24-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Falcons regained the lead with Harrington completing a 13-yard TD pass to TE Alge Crumpler, yet the Panthers regained the lead with Delhomme completing a 5-yard TD pass to TE Jeff King, along with Foster's 10-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, Carolina ended its scoring with Kasay kicking a 49-yard field goal. Atlanta tried to mount a comeback, yet the only score was Andersen's 25-yard field goal.
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 0–3.
Week 4: vs. Houston Texans
Still searching for their first win of the year, the Falcons stayed at home for an interconference duel with the Houston Texans, featuring a former teammate in QB Matt Schaub. In the first quarter, Atlanta delivered the first punch with kicker Morten Andersen getting a 28-yard field goal. However, the Texans took the lead with Schaub completing a 35-yard TD pass to WR André Davis. The Falcons regained the lead with QB Joey Harrington completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR Michael Jenkins. In the second quarter, Harrington and Jenkins hooked up with each other again on a 7-yard TD pass. Also, Andersen contributed to Atlanta's cause by kicking a 22-yard field goal. Houston ended the half with kicker Kris Brown getting a 42-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, the Texans drew close with Brown kicking a 37-yard field goal. The Falcons responded with Andersen getting a 36-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Houston tried to retaliate with Brown kicking a 19-yard field goal. Again, Atlanta answered with Andersen nailing a 46-yard field goal. Afterwards, the Falcons held on to give head coach Bobby Petrino his first NFL victory.
With the win, the Falcons snapped a six-game losing skid and improved to 1–3.
Week 5: at Tennessee Titans
Coming off their home win over the Texans, the Falcons flew to LP Field for a Week 5 interconference duel with the Tennessee Titans. In the first quarter, Atlanta got off to a fast start as CB DeAngelo Hall returned a LenDale White fumble 56 yards for a touchdown. The Titans tied the game with RB Chris Brown getting a 3-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Falcons regained the lead with kicker Morten Andersen getting a 32-yard field goal. Tennessee ended the half with kicker Rob Bironas getting a 30-yard field goal.
In the third quarter, Atlanta got their lead back with Andersen kicking a 28-yard field goal. However, the Titans took the lead with Bironas nailing a 40-yard field goal, along with DB Vincent Fuller intercepting QB Joey Harrington and returning it 76 yards for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, with Harrington being ineffective (16/31 for 87 yards and 1 interception), back-up QB Byron Leftwich came to try to lead the Falcons to victory. Near the end of the game, Atlanta came close (at Tennessee's 1-yard line). On four-straight plays, they were held out of the end zone, with Albert Haynesworth making a leaping tackle of Warrick Dunn in the backfield after hurdling an offensive lineman.
With the loss, not only did the Falcons fall to 1–4, but it also marked their fifth straight loss to the Titans.
Week 6: vs New York Giants
Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Titans, the Falcons came home for Monday Night Football has they hosted the New York Giants. In the first quarter, Atlanta took flight early as kicker Morten Andersen got a 47-yard field goal. However, the Giants responded with QB Eli Manning completing a 5-yard TD pass to WR Amani Toomer. The Falcons answered with RB Jerious Norwood getting a 67-yard TD run. Afterwards, New York replied with RB Reuben Droughns getting a 1-yard TD run. In the second quarter, Atlanta's struggles continued as Manning completed a 43-yard TD pass to WR Plaxico Burress to increase the Giants' lead. After a scoreless third quarter, New York sealed the win with kicker Lawrence Tynes nailing a 32-yard field goal, while RB Derrick Ward got a 9-yard TD run.
With their second-straight loss, the Falcons fell to 1–5.
Week 7: at New Orleans Saints