1972 NFC West

[74_75_78_79_]

I didn't know until right now that ATLANTA were all by themselves atop the division with two weeks to go! Van Brocklyn's bunch was 7-5 with the Rams & Forty Niners at 6-5-1 apiece. The Falcons already split with the Rams who, themselves, just won their second game against San Fran; and the Falcons also won at Green Bay in Wk#6. Yes, 7-5 all by themselves in 1st! But they lost to the Forty Niners for a second time in Wk#13 as well as losing the finale at home to KC to finish 7-7. Rams also lost their final two as San Fran did the opposite (won their finale vs Vikings) thus won the West for a third year in a row!

When I think of the best the Falcons were before '78, I think '73 when they finished 9-5. I also have been aware, here and there, of 7-6-1 in '71 as well. But '72 may have actually been the best they've been until the last two games. '71-thru-'73 Norm was 23-18-1 FWIW.

Prothro was out of LA after this campaign, enter Chuck Knox. The Rams were basically the only team in the division the rest of the decade barring a rare exception (SF's 6-1 start in '76, LA themselves starting 5-6 in '79).

[7DnBrnc53]

Yes, 7-5 all by themselves in 1st! But they lost to the Forty Niners for a second time in Wk#13 as well as losing the finale at home to KC to finish 7-7.

That was the franchise's first taste of something they would get used to: Choking with the money on the line.

[saturdaysarebetter]

From their inception in 1966 to 2007, the Atlanta Falcons did not have back-to-back winning seasons. Even after going 14-2 and making the Super Bowl, the following season they were 5-11, the preceding season they were 7-9.

[Jay Z]

It's also why Dave Hampton didn't get much of a chance to get back to 1,000, since the Falcons had to try to win the game.

Hampton made exactly 1,000 on the second play of the 4th quarter. The Falcons then punted. The Chiefs ran a nine play drive and also punted. There were still over 9 minutes to go when Hampton lost 6 yards and the Falcons scored a go ahead touchdown on the next play. But then the Chiefs had a long drive of their own, running the ball 11 straight times until Len Dawson threw a TD pass on 4th down.

By that time, there was 2:14 left and the Falcons felt they had to pass. Hampton got one carry for a yard. They may as well have run it since Bob Berry went 1 for 6 and took a sack.

[74_75_78_79_]

Why not talk about odd-man-out Saints in Archie's second season? They finish 2-11-1, tied for their worst season yet at the time (2-11-1 two years prior) but not the worst team in the league that year thanks to Peterson's Oilers. And, technically, not 'second'-worst either being they beat the Eagles who also finished 2-11-1. Saints upsetting the Rams late sure served as a significant spoiler.

As for they beating the Eagles, why were they initially the 2nd overall pick for '73 instead? They sure made a bad move trading that pick to Colts who, of course, got Bert Jones in the deal. Assuming the Saints don't take Bert anyway being who they obviously had at QB, they could have gotten...John Hannah! Sisemore wouldn't have been a bad alternative but they could have went for Sam Cunningham or Chuck Foreman as well.