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.