For all of us who were around then like myself. That defense we had then paired with that 2016 offense would have demolished New England in the Super Bowl.
That is because the offense scored 10.5 points a game....kinda hard when you have to shut everybody out.....not the defense fault......still the greatest.
Set records in a 14 game season in a year which had the lowest offensive output of every single NFL season in existence. 77 Falcons were the best defense in 1977 but in 1977 the entire NFL scored the least points ever. And there were two defenses that gave up less points than the 77 Falcons once you subtract the points given up by the offense and special teams. You should not penalize the defense for a pick six or kick off return for TD. If you want to know who the best defense ever was check out greatest NFL defenses part one.
@michaelleroy9281 sadly, the offense was horrible which if you look at it, lends more credit to how good this defense was. Atlanta's offense couldn't sustain drives much less score points.
I was at the Falcons vs. Bears game at Soldier Field in 1977. The Bears Brian Baschnagel scored on a kickoff return on the last play of the game. Falcons won 16-10. That 7 points wasn't allowed by the defense. And it added a half point to the Falcons points per game in that 14 game schedule. The record should be even better than 9.2 points per game. It should have been 8.7 points per game.
Atlanta also gave up two late touchdowns in losing to Minnesota and New Orleans. Viking Bobby Bryant interception return of 41 yards to get them in the red zone with under two minutes remaining set up Minnesota's winning score. Archie Manning's pass to Henry Childs in the final two minutes brought New Orleans back from a 20-7 halftime deficit to a 21-20 Saint victory
I lived 20 miles south of the stadium straight down interstate 75 and could get to a game in less than 30 minutes. When I got my license in 1985 I started going to games. I loved it. I can find a few of those games today. Some games my father took us to before 85, I remember the Bills and Oj came into ATL and he ran all up and down the field that day. I can not find the game or find the year, does anyone know?
@@SportsOdyssey2019 Record shouldnt count. Idc if they lost every game. Still best defense. That s not even right. And if you think bout it, the offense so bad, the defense on the field twice as much. League is fixed. Lol
@@SportsOdyssey2019 The defense was only great for one season. The Vikings set the 3-year record from 1969-71, giving up 9 pts/game over the course of 3 years...
It was Dallas because Landry finally inserted Randy White and 'Hollywood' Henderson into the starting lineup. The Cowboys proved this because they were world champions in the end. Rolland Lawrence had the best season as a corner then any other Falcon including Deion
@@howardcosell2022 Sanders was the best cover corner I’ve ever seen. There would be games where he was barely targeted. I’ve never seen anything like it before or since.
@@howardcosell2022 Thank God for the rule changes. 1977 was prime the worst year from an entertainment point of view. Especially if you were a kid like I was at the time. In just 2 years scoring went from 41.2- 34.4 pts per game. The early 80s were the best years in my opinion excluding the strike year.
I know how great this defense was, but to say it's the greatest ever might be a little bit of an exaggeration. The falcons had one of the easiest schedules in the nfl that year, and their defense was mediocre against the run. At one point, the gritz blitz gave up over 100 yards rushing in 5 straight games. Great defense, but not the greatest
Something Special about Fulton County Stadium and outdoor Football....just great times
isaiah marquez coach that was human that survive that concrete bullshit.still alive on planet earth december 7,2024
If this defense was paired with the offense of 2016, the Falcons would’ve been unbeatable.
For all of us who were around then like myself. That defense we had then paired with that 2016 offense would have demolished New England in the Super Bowl.
The Gritz Blitz
Defense allowed 9.2 points per game....still the best all-time.
That is because the offense scored 10.5 points a game....kinda hard when you have to shut everybody out.....not the defense fault......still the greatest.
@@SportsOdyssey2019 Who knows what would have happened if Steve Bartkowski stayed healthy all year.
@SportsOdyssey2019 It still adds up to 7-7 nothing to write home about
Rolland Lawrence one of the most underrated DB in history. Flew under the radar in Atlanta.
Like Tommy Nobis…
This defense was INSANELY great. Set records that won't ever be touched.
Set records in a 14 game season in a year which had the lowest offensive output of every single NFL season in existence. 77 Falcons were the best defense in 1977 but in 1977 the entire NFL scored the least points ever. And there were two defenses that gave up less points than the 77 Falcons once you subtract the points given up by the offense and special teams. You should not penalize the defense for a pick six or kick off return for TD. If you want to know who the best defense ever was check out greatest NFL defenses part one.
@mitchykramer1586 That defense went nowhere after December 18 last day of the season
@michaelleroy9281 sadly, the offense was horrible which if you look at it, lends more credit to how good this defense was. Atlanta's offense couldn't sustain drives much less score points.
I was at the Falcons vs. Bears game at Soldier Field in 1977. The Bears Brian Baschnagel scored on a kickoff return on the last play of the game. Falcons won 16-10. That 7 points wasn't allowed by the defense. And it added a half point to the Falcons points per game in that 14 game schedule. The record should be even better than 9.2 points per game. It should have been 8.7 points per game.
Atlanta also gave up two late touchdowns in losing to Minnesota and New Orleans. Viking Bobby Bryant interception return of 41 yards to get them in the red zone with under two minutes remaining set up Minnesota's winning score. Archie Manning's pass to Henry Childs in the final two minutes brought New Orleans back from a 20-7 halftime deficit to a 21-20 Saint victory
9:34 Ralph Ortega throwing a right hand at the ball carrier..jeesh.
Not a Falcons fan but I loved this team.
Hey. Your second fav team. Welcome
I lived 20 miles south of the stadium straight down interstate 75 and could get to a game in less than 30 minutes. When I got my license in 1985 I started going to games. I loved it. I can find a few of those games today.
Some games my father took us to before 85, I remember the Bills and Oj came into ATL and he ran all up and down the field that day. I can not find the game or find the year, does anyone know?
Very well done!! Great footage
Thanks sport odyssey for uploading
Warren Brayan was a graduate of Miami Edison Senior High
Haskle standback, it sounds like a football player of the late 70s, great name
Haskel 'Snap-back' Stanback!! His nickname at Tennessee,
Defense is said to be a precursor the Bears' murderous "46 Defense" of 1985.
Yep. Buddy Ryan must have been paying attention.
8:50 Some things never change.
Randomly had one of the best defenses in NFL history...sadly paired with one of the worst offenses. The Grits Blitz is an all time name for a defense.
Who's the sole genius that disliked this? SMH
Its the person with the pathetic life.
@Coogan It wasn't because of the defense.
What is really sad.....they not even mentioned when 'experts' give their top 10 defenses all time. No respect!!
Its because they look at the record....that was the offense fault....they were beyond pathetic.
@@SportsOdyssey2019 Record shouldnt count. Idc if they lost every game. Still best defense. That s not even right. And if you think bout it, the offense so bad, the defense on the field twice as much. League is fixed. Lol
@@SportsOdyssey2019 The defense was only great for one season. The Vikings set the 3-year record from 1969-71, giving up 9 pts/game over the course of 3 years...
@@massvt3821 it because player probably left the team after
@Mac of All Trades OJ won that 3-0 barn burner for Buffalo
Historically great defense. Still blows a lead to the Patriots 😅
Yep
Falcons defense was great in 77 but when you factor in the schedule the 77 Broncos had the best defense that year in my opinion.
It was Dallas because Landry finally inserted Randy White and 'Hollywood' Henderson into the starting lineup. The Cowboys proved this because they were world champions in the end. Rolland Lawrence had the best season as a corner then any other Falcon including Deion
@@howardcosell2022 Sanders was the best cover corner I’ve ever seen. There would be games where he was barely targeted. I’ve never seen anything like it before or since.
@@ronsmac Still with the 1977 rules, Roland Lawrence was the key to the 'Gritz Blitz' even with Claude
@@howardcosell2022 Thank God for the rule changes. 1977 was prime the worst year from an entertainment point of view. Especially if you were a kid like I was at the time. In just 2 years scoring went from 41.2- 34.4 pts per game. The early 80s were the best years in my opinion excluding the strike year.
@@ronsmac It destroys the integrity of the sport. With TV revenue taking precedent over the actual game, the sport becomes watered down
I know how great this defense was, but to say it's the greatest ever might be a little bit of an exaggeration. The falcons had one of the easiest schedules in the nfl that year, and their defense was mediocre against the run. At one point, the gritz blitz gave up over 100 yards rushing in 5 straight games. Great defense, but not the greatest
What was so great about this team so they gave up the fewest points for 14 games they still were 7-7
Scott Hunter - yuck