Saint Louis Rams (2-13) at Atlanta Falcons (10-5) - Sunday, FOX, 1:00PM ET
Falcons Quarterback Matt Ryan has been brilliant at home this season.
Ryan has completed 111 of 167 passing attempts for 1,617 yards and five touchdowns while guiding the Falcons
to a 6-1 home record. In his 15 starts this season, Ryan has completed 255 of 413 passes for 3,280 yards, 15
touchdowns and nine interceptions for a 89.6 passer rating.
Matt Ryan was named NFC Rookie of the Month (October) and NFC Offensive Player of the Week (NFL 2008 Week 9).
The other major weapon on offense for the Falcons has been running back Michael Turner.
In his first season with the Falcons, Turner has has posted 351 carries for 1,491 yards and 16 touchdowns. The 1,491
rushing yards currently ranks Turner second in the NFL.
This season, Michael Turner set the Falcons single-game rushing record with 220 yards against the Detroit Lions in Week 1.
Turner also scored four touchdowns against Carolina in Week 12 for the first time in his career as while topping the 1,000-yard rushing
mark. For his effort and achievement this season, Michael Turner was selected to the NFC's Pro Bowl Squad.
Series: Rams hold a 47-24-2 series advantage over the Falcons
The Falcons and Rams will meet for the second time in as many years. Although, the Rams hold a 47-24-2
series advantage, the Falcons have won the last two games between the two teams at the Georgia Dome (2004 and 2005).
Last season (12/2/2007), the Rams defeated the Falcons at home, 28-16. Rams backup quarterback Gus Frerotte
threw three first-half touchdown passes to give St. Louis a 21-0 halftime lead, but it was Atlanta's backup quarterback
that made plays down the stretch and nearly led the Falcons to a miraculous comeback.
Chris Redman, who replaced Joey Harrington at the start of the fourth quarter, finished the game 16 of 24 for
172 yards and two touchdowns. The Falcons had a shot at victory inside the final three minutes, but a fourth-down
incompletion in the red zone and an interception with 1:31 remaining essentially ended the game. A 50-yard touchdown
run by Steven Jackson blew the game open with 1:17 left and secured a 28-16 victory for the Rams.
The Falcons have won the only playoff meeting in the series with a 47-17 victory in a 2005 NFC Divisional Playoff
game.
NFL 2008 Week 16: Atlanta Falcons 24, Minnesota Vikings 17
The Falcons clinched their first playoff berth since 2004 after defeating the Minnesota Vikings, 24-17, on the road.
Running back Michael Turner led the Falcons running game with 70 yards and one touchdown. Quarterback Matt Ryan
completed 13 of 24 passes for 134 yards and one touchdown pass.
Atlanta jumped to a 17-7 lead at halftime as running back Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood contributed
with touchdowns. Offensive lineman Justin Blalock recovered a fumble in the end zone to give the Falcons a
24-7 lead in the third quarter and the defensive unit did the rest holding off a Vikings comeback.
Defensively, John Abraham had one sack which set a Falcons club record for most sacks in a season
(16.5). Defensive tackles Kindal Moorehead and Chauncey Davis also added one sack each.
NFL 2008 Week 16: San Francisco 49ers 17, Saint Louis Rams 16
In Week 16, the Rams played the San Francisco 49ers at the home in their second
meeting of the season, losing 17-16.
The 49ers opened the scoring in the first quarter with a K Joe Nedney field goal, but the Rams
answered back in the second quarter with a field goal by kicker Josh Brown. The following 49er drive was ended abruptly
when Atogwe forced and recovered a fumble. Then, on the Rams next defensive possession, Atogwe ended another
49er drive with an interception of QB Shaun Hill.
After the two-minute warning in the first half, QB Marc Bulger connected with rookie WR Keenan Burton for a
30-yard touchdown pass. The 49ers were stopped again when Bartell made his first interception
of the game, putting the Rams in field goal position and increasing their lead to 13-3.
After a scoreless third quarter, the Rams kicked a third field goal, but the 49ers managed to get into the endzone
two times, giving them a one-point lead for a final score, 17-16.
Saint Louis Rams (2-13)
In 3 career starts vs. the Atlanta Falcons (including playoff games), QB MARC BULGER has completed 70 of 100
(70.0 pct.) for 936 yards with 5 touchdowns vs. 4 interceptions for 99.4 passer rating RB STEVEN JACKSON
rushed for 108 yards last week. In last meeting, Jackson rushed for 96 yards with 1 TD & added 3 receptions for 71
yards Since 2000, WR TORRY HOLT leads NFL with 811 receptions & 11,782 yards. Holt aims for 4th game in row
with 100+ yards & 1+ TD. In past 3 vs. the Atlanta Falcons, Holt has 26 catches for 417 yards (139.0 per game) & 4
touchdowns. WR DONNIE AVERY is 2nd among NFC rookie WRs with 48 receptions & 634 yards S OSHIOMOGHO ATOGWE has 5 interceptions, 5 forced fumbles & 2 fumble recoveries (including 75-yard TD) in past 12.
Has 13 interceptions since start of 2007, 2nd most in NFL. DE CHRIS LONG is tied for NFC rookie lead with 4.0 sacks K JOSH BROWN has 103 points, his 6th consecutive season with 100+ points
Atlanta Falcons (10-5)
The Falcons clinched an NFC playoff berth last week and are 6-1 (.857) at home. Rookie QB MATT RYAN has completed 111 of 167 (66.5 pct.) for 1,617 yards with 5 touchdowns vs. 3 interceptions
for 100.3 passer rating at home. When Ryan has 100.0+ rating, the Falcons are undefeated (6-0) Pro Bowl RB MICHAEL TURNER ranks 2nd in NFL with 1,491 rush yards & has franchise-record 16 rush touchdowns.
Turner has 10 rushing touchdowns in past 7 games. When Turner has 8+ carries, his teams are 21-5 (.808). RB JERIOUS NORWOOD has 7 career touchdowns & 4 have been 67+ yards Pro Bowl WR RODDY WHITE has
79 catches for 1,221 yards (93.9 per game) & 6 touchdowns in past 13, including 7 100-yard games. White leads the
NFC with 1,334 yards & needs 25 to set a Falcons' team single-season record (1,358, ALFRED JENKINS, 1981) DE
JOHN ABRAHAM has 26.5 sacks in past 30. Has 84.0 sacks since 2000, 3rd most in NFL. Has franchise-record 16.5 sacks K JASON ELAM has 122 points & has scored 100+ points in each of 1st 16 seasons to start career, longest in history.
PREDICTION: Atlanta Falcons 34, Saint Louis Rams 14
The Falcons are playing to win the NFC South division title and more importantly the number 2 seed in the NFC playoff.
A Falcons win plus a Panthers loss gives Atlanta a week off from the NFC's Wildcard round and a home game the following
week in the divisional round.
The Falcons have been impressive at home, to say the least, in sporting a 6-1 record. Meanwhile, the Rams are 1-6 on the road.
As such, expect the Falcons to come out strong and hungry for the win. On the other hand, the Rams have nothing to really
play for and may have already called it a season.
Yes, the Rams can play for pride, but in the end the Falcons are a better team, especially at home.
RELATED NFL 2008 Week 17
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line. As such, the Panthers find themselves in a vulnerable and precarious situation on the road.
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straightforward proposition, win and the Dolphins are AFC East champs. For the Jets, they need to win plus rely on
either the Bills or Jaguars to win.
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Win-and-In Opportunity for Cowboys Against Eagles
The Cowboys control their own destiny, despite losing to the Ravens last week, 33-24. After a 10-3 loss in Washington,
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Week 17: Final Week of the NFL's 2008 Regular Season & It's All on the Line
The journey to the NFL's playoffs has been challenging this 2008 season especially over the last two weeks which have been
topsy-turvy. Upsets, disappointments and surprises leave a number of teams fighting for the remaining NFL's 5 playoff spots.
For those teams, this is their last-chance. They either do it now in NFL's final week of the 2008 regular season or start
planning for 2009. Plus, at stake for the Falcons and Panthers, the NFC's number two seed and a first-round playoff bye.
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NFL 2008 WEEK 17 SCHEDULE (DECEMBER 28)
(All times local)
St. Louis at Atlanta, 1:00 PM
Cleveland at Pittsburgh, 1:00 PM
New England at Buffalo, 1:00 PM
Oakland at Tampa Bay, 1:00 PM
Kansas City at Cincinnati, 1:00 PM
Seattle at Arizona, 4:15 PM
Detroit at Green Bay, 1:00 PM
Jacksonville at Baltimore, 4:15 PM
Chicago at Houston, 1:00 PM
Miami at N.Y. Jets, 4:15 PM
Tennessee at Indianapolis, 1:00 PM
Dallas at Philadelphia, 4:15 PM
N.Y. Giants at Minnesota, 1:00 PM
Washington at San Francisco, 4:15 PM
Carolina at New Orleans, 1:00 PM
Denver at San Diego, 5:15 PM (NBC)
NFL 2008 WEEK 16 RESULTS (DECEMBER 18, 20-22)
(Home team in CAPS)
Indianapolis 31, JACKSONVILLE 24 (Thursday)
Baltimore 33, DALLAS 24 (Saturday)
San Diego 41, TAMPA BAY 24
TENNESSEE 31, Pittsburgh 14
Buffalo 30, DENVER 23
OAKLAND 27, Houston 16
SEATTLE 13, N.Y. Jets 3
Atlanta 24, MINNESOTA 17
Cincinnati 14, CLEVELAND 0
WASHINGTON 10, Philadelphia 3
New Orleans 42, DETROIT 7
Miami 38, KANSAS CITY 31
NEW ENGLAND 47, Arizona 7
San Francisco 17, ST. LOUIS 16
N.Y. GIANTS 34, Carolina 28 (OT)
CHICAGO 20, Green Bay 17 (OT) (Monday)
NFL 2008 WEEK 15 RESULTS – DECEMBER 11, 14-15
(Home Team in Caps)
CHICAGO BEARS 27, New Orleans Saints 24 (OT)
N.Y. JETS 31, Buffalo Bills 27
Seattle Seahawks 23, ST. LOUIS RAMS 20
Minnesota Vikings 35, ARIZONA CARDINALS 14
ATLANTA FALCONS 13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 (OT)
Pittsburgh Steelers 13, BALTIMORE RAVENS 9
CINCINNATI BENGALS 20, Washington Redskins 13
CAROLINA PANTHERS 30, Denver Broncos 10
HOUSTON TEXANS 13, Tennessee Titans 12
New England Patriots 49, OAKLAND RAIDERS 26
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 31, Detroit Lions 21
DALLAS COWBOYS 20, N.Y. Giants 8
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 20, Green Bay Packers 16
San Diego Chargers 22, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 21
MIAMI DOLPHINS 14, San Francisco 49ers 9
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 30, Cleveland Browns 10
NFL 2008 WEEK 14 RESULTS - DECEMBER 4, 7 - 8
(Home team in CAPS)
SAN DIEGO 34, Oakland 7
Miami 16, BUFFALO 3 (Toronto)
DENVER 24, Kansas City 17
SAN FRANCISCO 24, N.Y. Jets 14
CHICAGO 23, Jacksonville 10
New England 24, SEATTLE 21
Minnesota 20, DETROIT 16
ARIZONA 34, St. Louis 10
Houston 24, GREEN BAY 21
PITTSBURGH 20, Dallas 13
INDIANAPOLIS 35, Cincinnati 3
BALTIMORE 24, Washington 10
NEW ORLEANS 29, Atlanta 25
Philadelphia 20, N.Y. GIANTS 14
TENNESSEE 28, Cleveland 9
CAROLINA 38, Tampa Bay 23
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