The Falcons Great Turn-Around  

       The 1997 Season was full of ups and downs for the Atlanta Falcons.  Dan Reeves and the Falcons showed towards the end of the Season what they were all about.  As the Falcons finished up the season with a 6-2 record in the second half  (a great turn around of the Season after  starting out 0-5),  they began to prepare for the 1998 Season. 

Chandler had a Pro Bowl Year 

     Chris Chandler was a very questionable addition to the Falcons camp early in 1997, and his early season injuries seemed to only fuel the fire of those out for his head.  As he settled down, the Atlanta Falcons, under the guidance of chandler marched to a tremendous turn around on the Season.  With Brett Favre unable to attend the Pro Bowl, Chandler got the open invite, and was there in Hawaii to play in it.  What a year he had .  Take a look at  his numbers in the 1997 Stats section of this page. 
 

 
 

Check out the 1997 Atlanta Falcon Player Stats. 

Results of Falcons Player of the Year Poll
(these numbers are based on Fan responses to this page following the 1997 Season.) 
 
Player of the Year
Chris Chandler 54%
Jessie Tuggle 20%
Jamal Anderson 11%
Bert Emmanuel 8%
Chuck Smith 5%
Byron Hanspard 2%
 
To vote in the current poll, please to go the main page and enter the poll. 


 
 
1997 ATLANTA FALCONS SCHEDULE
       
 Regular season  All times ET
 Sun  8 / 31 at Detroit  L 17-28 
 Sun  9 / 7 Carolina  L 6-9 
 Sun  9 / 14 Oakland  L 31-36 
 Sun  9 / 21 at San Francisco  L 7-34 
 Sun  9 / 28 Denver  L 21-29 
 Sun  10 / 12 at New Orleans  W 23-17 
 Sun  10 / 19 San Francisco  L 28-35 
 Sun  10 / 26 at Carolina  L 12-21 
 Sun  11 / 2 St. Louis  W 34-31 
 Sun  11 / 9 Tampa Bay  L 10-31 
 Sun  11 / 16 at St. Louis  W 27-21 
 Sun  11 / 23 New Orleans  W 20-3 
 Sun  11 / 30 at Seattle  W 24-17 
 Sun  12 / 7 at San Diego  W 14-3 
 Sun  12 / 14 Philadelphia  W 20-17 
 Sun  12 / 21 at Arizona  L 26-29 
       
 
Falcon's Finish Third in NFC West

       The Falcon's may have finished third in the NFC West, but try telling that to the Falcon players who fought hard the second half of the season.   The Falcon's hope to take there momentum from their 6-2 finish in 1997 into the 1998 season.  Behind Jessie Tuggle and Chris Chandler, both Pro Bowlers, the Falcons could have a chance to surprise the NFC Western Division.  We will just have to wait and see what Dan Reeves and his Falcons have in store for us in 1998. 
 

DIVISION STANDINGS
 49ers 13 - 3 
 Panthers 7 - 9 
 Falcons 7 - 9 
 Saints 6 - 10 
 Rams  5 - 11