2006 Atlanta Falcons season
The 2006 Atlanta Falcons season was the franchise's 41st in the National Football League. The team attempted to improve on their 8–8 record in 2005.
Michael Vick became the first quarterback in modern NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards, with 1,039. Running back Warrick Dunn rushed for 1,140 yards, making the 2006 Falcons only the fourth team in the history of the NFL and AFL since 1920 to have two 1,000-yard rushers. The Falcons are, however, the only team to have multiple 1,000-yard rushers and finish the season with a losing record.
This was the end of the Michael Vick era in Atlanta as his dog fighting case led to his departure from the team the following season.
Once again, the Falcons failed to make the playoffs despite beginning with a 5–2 record.
Offseason
NFL draft
Staff
Roster
Schedule
In the 2006 regular season, the Falcons’ non-divisional, conference opponents were primarily from the NFC East, although they also played the Detroit Lions from the NFC North, and the Arizona Cardinals from the NFC West. Their non-conference opponents were from the AFC North.Standings
Regular season
Week 1: at Carolina Panthers
at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North CarolinaThe Falcons opened the regular season on the road against the Carolina Panthers on September 10. Even though the Panthers scored first, with opposing kicker John Kasay getting a 54-yard field goal, the Falcons responded with a field goal of their own, as kicker Michael Koenen booted a 25-yarder. In the second quarter, the Falcons unleashed their best, as Koenen got a 32-yard field goal and QB Michael Vick completed a 34-yard pass to WR Michael Jenkins. The Panthers tried to respond in the third quarter with Kasay kicking a 46-yard field goal, but Vick and the Falcons put the game away with a 1-yard TD pass to TE Alge Crumpler. Other than Vick having a good game, Warrick Dunn contributed with 132 rushing yards, while Atlanta's newest member, defensive end John Abraham, had 5 tackles, 2 sacks and two forced fumbles.
With the win, the Falcons started the season at 1–0.
Week 2: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers
at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Falcons entered their Week 2 home-opener against another NFC South rival, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The only Atlanta scores of the game came in the first quarter, with a 1-yard TD run on QB Michael Vick's QB sneak. The only other Falcons score came in the second quarter, with RB Fred McCrary getting a 4-yard TD run. The Buccaneers only score of the game came in the second quarter, with opposing kicker Matt Bryant kicking a 22-yard field goal. The ground game made short work of the Tampa Defense, with Michael Vick and Warrick Dunn combining for 261 rushing yards. Rookie running back Jerious Norwood added 45 more rushing yards to the Falcon's total. The Falcons set a new franchise record for rushing yards in a game with 306. On the other side of the ball, the Falcons defense shut down the Tampa offense, with DeAngelo Hall picking off two passes and Jason Webster picking off one. Also, they held Tampa Bay RB Carnell "Cadillac" Williams to just 37 yards on 15 carries. Special teams struggled as kicker Michael Koenen missed three field goals and had one blocked, making him 2/8 so far this season.
With the win, the Falcons improved to 2–0.
Week 3: at New Orleans Saints
at the Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, LouisianaFollowing two-straight wins over two division opponents, the Falcons flew to the Louisiana Superdome to take on the New Orleans Saints, who were playing in the Superdome for the first time since December 2004 due to Hurricane Katrina, for an NFC South match-up on Monday Night. From the get-go the Falcons trailed, when they had a punt blocked by Saints safety Steve Gleason and DB Curtis Deloatch landed on the ball in the end zone for the touchdown. The Falcons responded as kicker Morten Andersen kicked a 26-yard field goal. That was their only score of the night, as WR Devery Henderson ran for an 11-yard TD on a reverse. Then, Saints kicker John Carney provided the remaining points for the New Orleans, with two field goals in the second quarter and one field goal in the third. The Falcons fell to 2–1. QB Michael Vick was sacked five times, while he and RB Warrick Dunn combined for only 101 rushing yards.
Week 4: vs. Arizona Cardinals
at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GeorgiaComing into this game, the Falcons were the number one rushing team in the NFL. Against the hapless Arizona Cardinals, QB Mike Vick and RB Jerious Norwood both ran for over 100 yards each, making the Falcons the only NFL team in history to have a quarterback and running back run for 100+ yards in a game twice in a franchise's history.. Jerious Norwood also set a new franchise record for the longest run in team history with a 78-yard touchdown. Atlanta's victory was led by their defense and they ended Kurt Warner’s undefeated streak at the Georgia Dome. Warner was promptly benched because of his sub-par play; Patrick Kerney’s two sacks didn't help his cause either. Matt Leinart played in his first NFL game as a rookie. Even with Arizona's adjustments, the Falcons managed to rebound and held on to win 32–10. Atlanta entered its bye week at 3–1.
Week 6: vs. New York Giants
at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GeorgiaComing off their Bye Week, the Falcons lost their second game of the season against the New York Giants.
A defensive battle early in the game, the first quarter went scoreless. The Giants got on the board first when former Falcons kicker Jay Feely connected on a 21-yard field goal midway through the second quarter. The Falcons responded when quarterback Michael Vick scored on a 22-yard rushing touchdown to take a 7–3 halftime lead. Falcons running back Warrick Dunn opened the second half in a big way, scoring on a franchise record 90-yard touchdown run. That was all the Falcons had left as the Giants proceeded to score 24 unanswered points to take control of the game when many of the Falcons' vaunted defensive starters had to leave the game due to injury. Quarterback Eli Manning hit tight end Jeremy Shockey twice for touchdowns in the second half, and backup running back Brandon Jacobs ran one in. Giants running back Tiki Barber rushed for a season high 185 yards, and Feely added another field goal.
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 3–2.
Week 7: vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
at the Georgia Dome, Atlanta, GeorgiaThe Falcons welcomed the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers to town. The Falcons beat the Steelers in overtime, 41–38. The Falcons recovered a Steelers fumble after they punted to start the game. On the next play Michael Vick hit Alge Crumpler for a 22-yard touchdown pass. It was the first in a career-high four touchdown pass game for Vick. After Steelers’ kicker Jeff Reed kicked a 28-yard, the Steelers’ defense held and forced the Falcons to give up the ball again when Steelers' safety Troy Polamalu intercepted Vick. Steelers’ quarterback Ben Roethlisberger hit Georgia native and Steelers’ receiver Hines Ward for an 11-yard touchdown pass to give the Steelers a 10–7 lead after one quarter of play. On the next Steelers’ drive, Roethlisberger found Heath Miller for a 1-yard touchdown pass to give the Steelers a 17–7 lead. The Steelers then fumbled on the first play of their following drive and the Falcons took over. Six plays later Vick found Crumpler again, this time for a 3-yard touchdown pass to cut the Steelers’ lead to 17–14. The teams exchanged touchdowns and the Steelers led at halftime, 24–21. The first score of the second half came after another Steelers fumble when Warrick Dunn scored on a 3-yard touchdown run to put the Falcons ahead for the second time in the game, 28–24. Steelers' backup quarterback Charlie Batch, who came in for an injured Roethlisberger, hit Ward for a 70-yard touchdown pass to give the Steelers a 31–28 lead. The Falcons answered when Vick found Crumpler for a third time in the game with a 31-yard touchdown pass that put the Falcons ahead, 35–31. After the Falcons' Morten Andersen kicked a 25-yard field goal to give the Falcons a 38–31 lead, the Steelers came back again with a Batch 17-yard touchdown pass to tie the game at 38 and force overtime. In overtime the Falcons won the coin toss. Falcons' kicker Morten Andersen, after an 11-play 65-yard drive, put the capper on the game with a 32-yard field goal to give the Falcons an overtime victory over the Steelers as the team improved to 4–2.
Week 8: at Cincinnati Bengals
at Paul Brown Stadium, Cincinnati, OhioIn Week 8, the Falcons traveled to Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati to take on the Bengals. The star of the game was QB Michael Vick. Vick had the second best game of his career with a quarterback rating of 140.6, and passed for a season high 291 yards and touchdowns to Alge Crumpler, Michael Jenkins and Justin Griffith. The Falcons were down early to the Bengals 14–6, but were leading 29–20 with 7 minutes remaining. A late touchdown to the Bengals set up a thrilling finish to the match, with Atlanta's defence proving too tough for Cincinnati, sacking Bengals’ QB Carson Palmer to seal the match as the team's comeback win improved the team to 5–2.
Week 9: at Detroit Lions
at Ford Field, Detroit, MichiganComing off an impressive road performance against the Bengals, the Falcons flew to Ford Field for Week 9 as they took on the Detroit Lions. Atlanta fell behind early, as Lions kicker Jason Hanson kicked a 28-yard field goal, followed up by a 35-yard TD run by RB Kevin Jones. The Falcons scored on QB Michael Vick’s 19-yard TD pass to TE Alge Crumpler. In the second quarter, Jones scored another touchdown on a 2-yard run, while Atlanta RB Warrick Dunn scored on a 1-yard TD run. In the third quarter, Hanson kicked a 19-yard field goal for the Lions with the only score of the period. In the fourth quarter, the Falcons fell as QB Jon Kitna completed a 60-yard TD pass to WR Roy Williams and Hanson kicked a 36-yard field goal to end the game in favor of Detroit. With the loss, the Falcons fell to 5–3.