The 2020 season was the Atlanta Falcons' 55th season in the National Football League (NFL), their fourth playing their home games at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, their thirteenth and final season under general manager Thomas Dimitroff and their sixth and final season under head coach Dan Quinn.
For the first time since the 2003 season, the Falcons wore new uniforms, which were unveiled on April 8, 2020.
The Falcons failed to improve on their 7–9 season from the previous year following a Week 14 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers and failed to make the playoffs for the third consecutive season the same week. They suffered their worst record since 2013, and finished last place in the NFC South for the first time since 2007. This was in part of the Falcons beginning the season 0–5, their first 0–5 start since 1997, which included two squandered fourth-quarter leads by more than 15 points in back-to-back weeks. This season was plagued by blown leads and an inability to close out games, with the Falcons squandering six total leads which led to losses and lost eight games with a deficit of 7 or less points. On October 11, following a Week 5 loss to the Carolina Panthers, the Falcons fired head coach Dan Quinn and general manager Thomas Dimitroff. The following day, the Falcons named defensive coordinator Raheem Morris interim head coach. The next day their special teams coordinator Ben Kotwicka was fired. The team failed to beat a single team with a winning record.
Contents
Draft
Trades
The Falcons traded wide receiver Mohamed Sanu to the New England Patriots in exchange for a second-round selection.
The Falcons traded the second-round selection from New England and a fifth-round selection to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange for tight end Hayden Hurst and a fourth-round selection.
The Falcons traded a sixth-round selection and linebacker Duke Riley to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for safety Johnathan Cyprien and a seventh-round selection.
Preseason
The Falcons' preseason schedule was announced on May 7, but was later cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Regular season
Schedule
The Falcons' 2020 schedule was announced on May 7.
Note: Intra-division opponents are in bold text.
Game summaries
With the loss, the Falcons failed to win their opening game for the third straight season and lost their first home opener since 2016.
The Falcons got off to a 29–10 lead in the first half, but the Cowboys outscored them 30–10 in the second half, including three straight scoring drives in the fourth quarter to win 40–39. In the waning moments of the game, with the Falcons clinging to a 39–37 lead, the Cowboys managed to recover an onside kick despite three Falcons being there to recover it; the Falcons then allowed a game-winning field goal. With this loss, the Atlanta Falcons dropped to 0–2 on the season, their first such start to a season since 2007. The team also dropped to 11–18 all-time against the Cowboys. The Falcons' 39 points scored were the second-most by a losing team all season (only the Browns scored more in a loss, with 42 points against the Ravens in Week 15).
The Falcons recorded three takeaways (all in the first half), but also gave up 572 yards to the Cowboys offense. Atlanta's loss marked the first time a team that scored 39+ points with no giveaways lost a game; teams were previously 440–0 in said situation.
For the second consecutive week, the Falcons blew a 15+ point lead entering the fourth quarter. With yet another defeat, the Atlanta Falcons lost their first three games of the season for the first time since 2007. The Falcons became the first team in NFL history to lose at least two games in the same season after leading by at least 15 points entering the fourth quarter.
In the final seconds of the game, Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford would throw a walk-off touchdown pass to tight end T. J. Hockenson to tie the game. The extra point was successfully converted, giving the Lions a 23–22 victory. Previously during the game, Falcons running back Todd Gurley had accidentally scored a touchdown on a play where the Falcons intended to down the ball at the Lions' 1, run out the clock and kick a field goal.
With the loss, the Falcons fell to 1–6. The Falcons wore their red to black gradient uniforms for the first time ever in this game.
With the win, the Atlanta Falcons got their only win in their division.