Atlanta Falcons 2008 Regular Season Review

The Atlanta Falcons (11-5) Finished the Regular Season as an NFC Wild Card.

Almost a complete reversal from last season's 4-12 mark, the Atlanta Falcons finished this season with an 11-5 record. In retrospect, the disappointment of the NFL 2007 season laid the groundwork for the Falcons success in 2008.

The Falcons realized they needed to go back to the drawing board and conceive their Hire, Draft and Sign Strategy.

The Falcons first order of business was to hire a new head coach.

Mike Smith was named the Falcons 14th Head Coach on January 23, 2008. Prior to joining the Falcons, Smith spent five years as Defensive Coordinator for the Jaguars and helped the defensive unit rank among the NFL's best.

Along with Smith, the Falcons hired 12 new members to the coaching staff.

The next order of business was to focus on the draft.

With the 3rd overall pick in the NFL draft the Falcons selected quarterback Matt Ryan of Boston College. With their second pick of the first round (21st overall) the Falcons selected Sam Baker of USC to shore up the offensive line. In the draft's second round, the Falcons selected MLB Curtis Lofton.

The final order of business was to improve the running game. Michael Turner was signed by the Falcons as an unrestricted free agent in 2008.

The Falcons featured 10 new starters in 2008 compared to the 2007 regular season finale against the Seattle Seahawks

The 11-5 regular season record landed the Falcons 2nd place in the NFC South (perhaps the best division in the NFL this season) and an NFC Wild Card berth. This marks the first playoff appearance for the Falcons since 2004 when the Falcons made a NFC Championship Game appearance.

Head Coach Mike Smith led the Atlanta Falcons to one of the biggest turnarounds in team history (11 wins) while leading the team to its first playoff berth since 2004. Atlanta witnessed several improvements from the previous season, which included points per game average, rushing yards per game average, passing touchdown to interception ratio and sacks allowed. Smith had the Falcons ready to play in every game this season as Atlanta ranked first in the NFL in first quarter points scored and sixth in first quarter points allowed. The team also recorded a streak of 12 of 15 games holding opponents to under 20 rushing yards in the opening 15 minutes of play.

Under Smith's guidence, rookie quarterback Matt Ryan quickly developed into an offensive leader as he became the first Falcons quarterback to win 10 games in his first season. Ryan also threw for over 3,000 passing yards, becoming Atlanta's first rookie quarterback to accomplish the feat. Free agent running back Michael Turner revived the Falcons rushing attack and he finished the regular season ranked second in the league in rushing yards. Turner also topped the 1,000-yard plateau for the first time in his career. Finally, Smith witnessed Roddy White become the first wide receiver in franchise history to post back to back 1,200-yard seasons while setting a single-season mark with 1,382 yards.

This season, the Falcons rushing attack ranked second in the NFL averaging 152.7 yards per game. Atlanta's rushing total also led to a total offensive effort which ranked third in the NFC with a 361.2 yards per game average. Running back Michael Turner ranked second in the league in rushing with 1,699 yards while quarterback Matt Ryan contributed with 3,440 passing yards en route to a 208.5 net passing average per game.

Prior to this season and since the NFL merger took place in 1970, only three rookie quarterbacks have started all 16 games of a season. Those players include Rick Mirer in 1993 (6-10), Peyton Manning in 1998 (3-13) and David Carr in 2002 (4-12).

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (11-5) and Baltimore QB Joe Flacco (11-5) joined the trio following the regular season finale last Sunday. Ryan and Flacco both became the only rookies to lead their respective teams to the playoffs after starting every game in the regular season.

This season, quarterback Matt Ryan completed 265 of 434 passes for 3,440 yards and 16 touchdowns. His streak of nine consecutive games with 200 or more passing yards ended against Minnesota in Week 16. He also recorded seven contests with a 60 percent or better completion percentage.

The duo of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood gave the Falcons a signifcant one-two punch at the running back position.

In his first season in an Atlanta Falcons uniform, Michael Turner posted 1,699 rushing yards, which ranks second in the NFL, 61 yards shy of Adrian Peterson (1,760 yards). Along with producing eight 100-yard games this season, Turner set a franchise single-game rushing record with a 220-yard performance against the Detroit Lions. He also tied a club record with four rushing touchdowns in one game against the Panthers (Week 12) and 17 touchdowns this season. Michael Turner finished the season tied for first in the NFL with 86 first downs, 84 of which came on the ground. Turner has also converted 10 of 13 third-and-one rushing opportunities for a new set of downs.

On two occasions, Turner was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week. The first was for his performance against the Lions in Week 1 and the second honor came in Week 3 after he tallied 104 yards and three touchdowns against the Kansas City Chiefs.

As a running back, Jerious Norwood contributed 489 rushing yards on 95 carries for a 5.1 average, 338 receiving yards on 36 catches and six total touchdowns. Norwood also notched 1,311 kickoff return yards on 51 attempts (25.7 avg). His 25.7 yards per return average ranked 4th in the NFC.

Roddy White became the first Falcons receiver to post back-to-back 1,000-yard seasons since 1998-99 and the first player in team history to register back-to-back 1,200-yard campaigns. His 1,382 receiving yardage total ranks fourth in the NFL and set a new franchise record for receiving yards for a season. He also broke career highs in receptions (88) and touchdowns (seven). White recorded seven 100-yard games this year, which included a Week 14 performance at New Orleans where he set a career-high in receiving yards (164) on 10 receptions. White also ranks second in the NFL in third down receptions (29) and leads the league in third down receiving yards (516).

Defensive end John Abraham continued his dominance as the nine year veteran his third three-sack performance of the season against Tampa Bay (Week 15) en route to a 13-10 Falcons overtime victory. Abraham finished with the third highest sack total (16.5 for 109.5 yards) in the NFL this season. He has tallied 18.5 sacks in his last 17 games, 26.5 in his last 31 contests and has recorded 84.0 for his career. As a Falcon, Abraham has posted 30.5 sacks in 40 games played

OLB Keith Brooking - Ranked first on the Falcons with 133 tackles and led the team stops for the eighth consecutive season. Along with starting in every contest, Brooking also lead Atlanta in assisted tackles with 53.

MLB Curtis Lofton - Led all Falcons rookies with 108 tackles (67 solo) and ranked second in the league in stops among first year players. In Week 6 versus Chicago, he led the team with 11 tackles. Two Sunday's later against Philadelphia, Lofton tallied his first career sack while forcing a fumble on the play.

OLB Michael Boley - Ranked fifth on the Falcons with 90 tackles and contributed with nine passes defensed and one interception. Set a season-high with nine tackles in a Week 6 meeting against Chicago and tied the mark against the Saints in Week 10.

This season, kicker Jason Elam split the uprights on 29 of 31 field goal attempts while converting all 42 PATs to log 129 points. His scoring total ranks fifth in the NFC and was 15 points shy of Philadelphia Eagles kicker David Akers' total (144).

Atlanta Falcons (11-5) NFL 2008 Regular Season

 

NFL 2008 Game 1: Atlanta Falcons 34, Detroit Lions 21

(September 7, 2008 Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA)

Michael Turner rushed for a franchise-record 220 yards and scored two touchdowns as the Falcons defeated the Detroit Lions 34-21 in the 2008 opener.

Atlanta (1-0) exploded out of the gate, scoring on the first three offensive possessions and racking up 216 yards of total offense in the opening period. Quarterback Matt Ryan's first pass attempt of the season -- and his career -- was a 62-yard scoring strike to Michael Jenkins. That was followed by 66- and 5-yard touchdown runs by Turner. Turner rushed for 117 yards and both touchdowns the first quarter but that was just a sign of big things to come for a Falcons football team eager to show off a new form of intensity for first-year Head Coach Mike Smith.

A 21-0 lead -- and a season-opening victory also seemed to breathe new life into a fan base that witnessed just four 'W's' in a tumultuous 2007. Each score in the Falcons first-quarter barrage met with boisterous approval from the 62,310 inside the refurbished Georgia Dome.

Ryan, who became the first rookie to start a season for the Falcons since Steve Bartkowski in 1975, finished with a solid 161 passing yards and 137.0 quarterback rating. Turner led a ground game that picked up a franchise-record 318 rushing yards (7.6 yards per carry). The amount of big plays resulted in plenty of big celebrations, as Falcons players danced around the field almost nonstop during the game.

In all, 10 young players got their first opening day start with the Falcons on Sunday.

The defense surrendered 14-second quarter points, but reasserted itself on the Lions opening drive of the third quarter with a Lawyer Milloy interception. The 13-year veteran returned the ball 38 yards back to the lions 49. Four plays later, Jason Elam kicked a 50-yard field goal to open a 24-14 lead.

The Falcons hit the accelerator again on the next possesion, using a 46-yard completion from Ryan to Roddy White to set up a 10-yard touchdown run by Norwood.

Turner and Norwood were nothing short of dominant in the second half (158 rushing yards) as they darted through holes in the middle of the defense and delivered hits to tiring Lions defenders. The Falcons talked throughout the off-season and training camp about estabilishing an identy based on toughness and a punishing run game. Mission accomplished.

With Norwood's 93 rushing yards, the Falcons came just seven yards away from having a 200- and 100-yard rusher for the first time in team history. Turner rushed for multiple touchdowns for the first time in his career, which started behind All-Pro LaDanian Tomlinson in San Diego.

As a Charger, Turner often watched as Tomlinson re-wrote the record books.

Some would say he shattered the previous numbers (202 yards by Gerald Riggs), which will outshine the solid performance of the team's defense as Week 2 begins.

The group bent, but failed to break Sunday as defensive end John Abraham sacked Lions quarterback Jon Kitna three times.

NFL 2008 Game 2: Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, Atlanta Falcons 9

(September 14, 2008 Raymond James Stadium - Tampa, FL)

Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan threw the first interceptions of his career into an aggressive Buccaneers defense as the Falcons fell to their division rival 24-9 at Raymond James Stadium Sunday afternoon.

Ryan rebounded and the Falcons showed incredible heart in the second half, but didn't overcome first-half miscues.

Ryan misfired on his first nine pass attempts as the offense struggled to get into the powerful groove it established in a Week 1 victory over Detroit. The quarterback's first interception came on the first drive as a third-down throw went through the hands of rookie wide receiver Harry Douglas and into the mitts of cornerback Aqib Talib.

Five plays later Brian Griese found tight end John Gilmore with a 5-yard touchdown pass.

Ryan didn't complete a pass until the 6:27 mark of the second quarter and the team converted just 2-of-10 third downs in the first half. Balls were dropped, Ryan was pressured and good plays were erased with holding penalties and shoe-string tackles. Ryan was 13 of 33 for 158 yards in the game and was sacked four times.

The Falcons defense held the Bucs to 36 net rushing yards in the first half -- the lowest total in a half since the 2006 season finale -- but Tampa Bay did just enough in the run game to stay on the move.

Former Falcon Warrick Dunn rushed for 49 yards on 12 carries in the game including a 17-yard touchdown. The score -- a gutsy draw play on third-and-goal from the 17 -- gave his team a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter.

Ryan's second interception of the day came on the next series. That led to a 33-yard field goal by Matt Bryant. But the tide started to turn for the Falcons at the close of the first half despite a 17-0 disadvantage.

A 37-yard punt return by Adam Jennings set the Falcons up at the Bucs 25 with just more than two minutes to play. A key completion to Roddy White on third-and-13 gave Jason Elam a chance at a 32-yard field goal, which he made to get the Falcons on the scoreboard.

It was the longest return in Jennings' career and the longest for the team since 2006. The Falcons got on the board again with 6:43 remaining in the third quarter with a 27-yard field goal by Elam. The drive covered 75 yards in 13 plays as Ryan completed 6 of 7 passes for 62 yards.

The Bucs went on the move on next series, pushing the ball deep into Falcons territory. But, as he's done numerous times in his career, Abraham made a big play. He sacked Griese and forced a fumble in the red zone that was recovered by Jason Jefferson. Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux also had a sack in the game. Abraham's sack is his 14th in the last 17 games.

The play kicked off a key drive for the Falcons, who drove into Bucs territory and took two cracks at the end zone with Ryan's arm. The quarterback was forced to throw it away on both attempts, however, bringing in Elam for a 25-yard field goal which made the score 17-9 with 5:12 remaining. It wasn't a one-possession game for long.

Bucs running back Earnest Graham notched a 68-yard touchdown run on the next series to put the game away. The Falcons got the ball twice more but the Bucs defensive line didn't let up. Ryan was pressured heavily through the end of the game.

NFL 2008 Game 3: Atlanta Falcons 38, Kansas City Chiefs 14

(September 21, 2008 Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA)

Five touchdowns, 378 yards on offense, three interceptions, a defensive score and a tie for the NFC South lead.

The Falcons improved to 2-0 at the Georgia Dome Sunday with an impressive 38-14 win over the Kansas City Chiefs. Running back Michael Turner rushed for 104 yards and a career-high three touchdowns while rookie quarterback Matt Ryan found Roddy White on a 70-yard touchdown as the offense recovered from a rough outing in Week 2.

Defensive backs Erik Coleman, Brent Grimes and Chris Houston each recorded an interception off second-year quarterback Tyler Thigpen, who was starting his first NFL game. Houston returned his for a touchdown late in the game. The defense opened the game by forcing five straight three-and-outs.

Turner's performance made a fitting encore after he introduced himself to the home crowd with a franchise record, 220 yards in a Week 1 win over Detroit. He took a different route to success this time, however, giving fans a taste of grit and persistence. He had just two yards on his first four carries as the offense eased out of the locker room. But, as if to prove patience can pay, Turner set the tone on the next carry.

The stout running back broke a tackle and spun away from another on his way to a 38-yard run with 6:44 remaining in the opening quarter. A 30-yard completion from Ryan to Jerious Norwood later in the drive set Turner up for a touchdown run and a 7-0 Falcons lead.

Turner's three rushing touchdowns tied for the second-most in franchise history while Ryan's big completion to White set the team mark for longest scoring pass by a rookie. It also marked the longest reception of White's career.

White finished the day with five catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. Ryan didn't throw an interception for the second time this season and completed 12-of-18 passes for 192 yards (120.6 passer rating).

The defense held the Chiefs to just 7 yards and zero first downs in the first quarter while Coleman and Grimes interceptions led to a Jason Elam field goal and the second of Turner's touchdowns.

Defensive end John Abraham chipped in with two sacks and a forced fumble. He now leads the league with six sacks through three games.

Kansas City managed consecutive touchdown drives to pull within 14 points with 9:42 remaining in the third quarter.

But Turner and the offense responded, putting together a 60-yard drive that ended with a third-quarter touchdown effectively putting the game away. The defense kept up the pressure through the end of the game, keeping the Chiefs out of the end zone with a fourth-down tackle by rookie Curtis Lofton and Houston's interception return.

NFL 2008 Game 4: Carolina Panthers 24, Atlanta Falcons 9

(September 28, 2008 Bank of America Stadium - Charlotte, NC)

The Falcons hit the road this week determined to correct the mistakes that plagued them in their first division game.

The Falcons (2-2, 0-2) found a way to stick around for three quarters in Sunday's game at Bank of America Stadium but injuries, dropped passes and untimely penalties filled the afternoon. Atlanta lost starting strong safety Lawyer Milloy in the first half after he took a shot to the ribs and played the entire game without starting left tackle Sam Baker. Holding calls extended the field on offense while six dropped passes kept the team from picking up momentum. The Falcons finished the day 2-of-13 on third down.

Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme finished the day 20-of-29 for 294 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He worked heavily against Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes with wide receiver Mushin Muhammad (eight catches for 147 yards and a score). Later in the game Delhomme worked the middle of the field attacking safeties Erik Coleman and Jamaal Fudge, who replaced Milloy.

Wide receiver Steve Smith, in his second game back after a twogame suspension ran through the Falcons secondary to get open on a 56-yard touchdown play.

The Panthers (3-1, 1-0) lost starting offensive tackles Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah in the game to injury and also went several series without starting cornerback Ken Lucas. But that didn't stop the NFC South leaders from imposing their will on both sides of the ball and put up more than 400 yards of total offense.

Atlanta got the ball to start and escaped a game-changing play from the Panthers defense. Ryan's first pass attempt was intercepted and returned for a touchdown by Richard Marshall but the play was reversed after a roughing the passer call on defensive end Julius Peppers. Another personal foul penalty helped the Falcons move into Panthers territory but the team would be forced to punt.

The Panthers answered with an 11-play, 80-yard scoring drive that ended with an 8-yard touchdown run by rookie Jonathan Stewart. Unlike two weeks ago in Tampa, the Falcons clawed back earlier in the game. The Falcons didn't convert a third down in the first half, but a no-huddle offense kept the Panthers off balance enough to create scoring opportunities.

Unfortunately those scores came from the foot of Jason Elam. The Falcons stalled in the red zone as league rushing leader Michael Turner was held to 56 yards on the ground.

The veteran kicker connected on field goals of 33, 44 and 44 yards in the opening half to keep it a one-score game into the third quarter. The Panthers responded, however, with two scores in the second half - - a field goal and the game-clinching touchdown pass to Muhammad.

The Falcons were benefactors of strong special teams play throughout the game and got select strikes on offense. Defensive end John Abraham got the first blocked punt of his career. That set up a field goal, as did a 40-yard run by Jerious Norwood near the end of the second quarter.

Atlanta rushed for 118 yards and got seven-catch, 90-yard game from White.

NFL 2008 Game 5: Atlanta Falcons 27, Green Bay Packers 24

(October 5, 2008 Lambeau Field - Green Bay, WI)

On a field that's seen its share of great quarterback-receiver combinations Matt Ryan and Roddy White introduced themselves to the NFL. The Falcons rookie quarterback and veteran wide receiver went to work at historic Lambeau Field Sunday afternoon leading their team to a 27-24 victory over the Green Bay Packers.

The game came down to fourth-quarter heroics, but overall Ryan engineered the best game of his short career, completing 16 of 26 passes for 194 yards and two touchdowns. One of those scores went to White, who finished the day with eight catches for 132 yards, all in the first half.

The duo started quickly, hooking up for 37 yards on the first snap of the game. Nine plays later Ryan found tight end Justin Peelle in the end zone for an early touchdown. The score -- symbolically and literally -- ended earlier problems that plagued the Falcons in two previous road games. Ryan finished 4-of-4 on the opening drive and found Peelle on a fourth-and-goal play -- an example of the team's desire to succeed in the red zone.

Atlanta drove down the field on the next possession, but a dropped pass killed the drive before entering the red zone. Jason Elam added points with 4:20 left in the first quarter with a 42-yard field goal.

On defense the Falcons found ways to harass quarterback Aaron Rodgers. Atlanta recorded two sacks (Grady Jackson and John Abraham) and did enough early to keep Green Bay off balance. The Packers opened the game with two three-and-out possessions and the Falcons dominated the first quarter (8-0 on first downs, four plays of 18 yards or more on offense, 147-10 on net offensive yards and 75-7 on rushing yards).

Rodgers threw for more than 300 yards in the game, but most of that came in the fourth quarter as he put together drives to keep attacking a Falcons lead.

The Falcons were hurt by the big play in Sunday's game, including a 44- yard touchdown from Rodgers to Donald Driver. That ended an eight-play, 87- yard scoring drive for the Packers pulled the home team to within three points in the first half.

But Ryan responded with a drive of his own, piloting the Falcons on a a nine-play, 90-yard march that ended with the 22-yard touchdown pass to White.

As the game continued, penalties and special teams play did more for the Falcons' cause.

Punter Michael Koenen placed two punts inside the Packers 5 yard line and a holding call on the Packers special teams unit wiped a field goal off the board for Mason Crosby. The kicker tried again, but missed from 53 yards out with 1:15 remaining in the first half. Green Bay was penalized nine times for 97 yards in the game.

The 17-7 score would hold until the 0:32 mark of the third quarter when Crosby connected on a 50-yard attempt. The Falcons marched down the field on the next drive helped by a third-down catch by Michael Jenkins that went for 31 yards into Packers territory. A personal foul moved the ball to the Green Bay 12 where Ryan had tight end Ben Hartsock open in the end zone. But the quarterback floated the ball into the hands of cornerack Tramon Williams. Four plays later Rodgers found Greg Jennings in the back of the end zone to tie the game with 10:08 to play.

Faced with another chance to correct some previous wrongs, the Falcons took the field again.

Return man Jerious Norwood returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards into Green Bay territory to help set up a go-ahead field goal by Elam. An interception by Michael Boley with 4:33 remaining gave the Falcons the ball back at the Packer 19-yard line and three plays later Michael Turner busted through the middle for a touchdown.

A late score by the Packers would close the gap, but an onside kick attempt failed. A few runs by Turner polished off his 121-yard day and allowed the Falcons to run out the clock.

NFL 2008 Game 6: Atlanta Falcons 22, Chicago Bears 20

(October 12, 2008 Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA)

His shot at redemption at hand, kicker Jason Elam left little doubt about the power in his 48-yard, game-winning field goal. The kick jetted off his 38-year-old foot and through the uprights as time expired to give the Falcons a thrilling 22-20 victory over the Chicago Bears.

The 16-year veteran's celebration was interrupted by a swarm of teammates near midfield. It was his fifth successful kick of the day but just moments before he missed a kick that could have iced the game. Chicago came off the miscue with a 77-yard touchdown drive to take a 20-19 lead with 11 seconds to play. But a 9-yard return off a short kickoff by Harry Dougals and a 26-yard strike from rookie quarterback Matt Ryan to Michael Jenkins set Elam up for the game-winner with 1 second left.

Ryan finished the game 22-of-30 for a career-high 301 passing yards. He also had a key fourth-quarter touchdown to Roddy White, who posted his second-straight 100-yard receiving game. With the victory the Falcons (4-2) match the win total from all of 2007 and go into the bye week on a winning note.

Ryan led an efficient offense that faced off against a Bears team that entered the game ranked fourth in the NFL in rushing defense. The Falcons scored on three of their first four possessions -- all field goals - - and controlled the ball for more than 19 minutes in the first half. Chicago sported trademark blitz looks throughout the game but the Falcons offensive line did not allow a sack for a second week in a row. The rookie found five different receivers and performed regular Houdini-like acts to find open players down the field for third-down conversions. Fellow rookie Douglas caught five passes for 96 yards including a 47-yard strike on third down that set up a 3-yard scoring toss to White with 13:25 remaining.

Ryan opened the game eight of eight for 107 yards and captained nearly identical scoring drives in the first quarter, leading the team on 48- and 49-yard marches that ended with field goals.

A chance at a touchdown came with 9:16 remaining in the first half after a curious turn of events near the goal line. A third-down run by Jerious Norwood came up short and ended with a fumble. Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris recovered but lost the ball before he was touched down. Jason Snelling recovered the ball for the Falcons, who got a fresh set of downs.

But the Falcons didn't convert. A touchdown pass to White was taken off the board after a penalty and the offense settled for another Elam field goal and a 9-0 advantage.

The defense made up for an early lack of offensive production by delivering on the statistical slugfest promised between the two teams. Running back Matt Forte was held to 20 rushing yards in the first half and the Bears were held scoreless until late in the second quarter. Defensive end Jamaal Anderson paced a defense that fed off the crowd's energy. He finished with four tackles (two for loss) and the first sack of his two-year career. Anderson also had two pass deflections on the Bears' first drive of the second quarter.

The Falcons offense started the second half with a no-huddle offense and added another Elam field goal to take a 12-3 lead. Chicago stuck with the running game and added a touchdown from Forte with 2:24 remaining in the third quarter.

The Falcons added a fourth-down stop at the goal line with 7:59 in the game but Gould added two more field goals in the final period. His 32-yard field goal with 4:00 remaining pulled the Bears to within a single possession. Norwood returned the next kickoff 85 yards to the Chicago 17-yard line but three plays later Elam misfired on a field goal that nearly proved a fatal mistake. The Bears would drive for the go-ahead touchdown but the Falcons didn't give up with time on the clock.

NFL 2008 Game 7: Philadelphia Eagles 27, Atlanta Falcons 14

(October 26, 2008 Lincoln Financial Field - Philadelphia, PA)

The Falcons spent much of the first half keeping McNabb and the Eagles high-flying offense on the ground. Atlanta didn't allow a firstquarter point for the fifth time this season and picked up two sacks, a forced fumble and a turnover in the first 30 minutes.

But McNabb rebounded toward the end of the second quarter and got Pro Bowler Brian Westbrook involved in the offense late to send the Falcons back to Atlanta with a 27-14 defeat. The Pro Bowl quarterback threw for 253 yards and rushed for a touchdown in the game.

The Falcons rattled McNabb in the early going, holding the Eagles to a 33-percent success rate on third down and coming away with a pair of sacks -- one from upstart defensive end Jamaal Anderson -- in the first half. Rookie linebacker Curtis Lofton would later force a fumble. Ryan gave the Falcons an early lead with 8:56 remaining in the first half when he threaded a pass between two Eagles defenders and into the hands of Roddy White. White scampered toward the end zone for a 55-yard score and a 7-0 lead.

But Philadelphia responded with 20 unanswered points, including scoring drives of 60, 70 and 69 yards. Twice McNabb scrambled for key first downs. The Falcons did not record a sack in the second half. McNabb turned from prolific passer to game-manager as the afternoon progressed, finding openings in the Falcons zone defense for short to medium gains and handing the ball off to Westbrook. The All- Pro rushed for 63 yards on 10 carries in the first half and finished with 22 carries for 167 yards. He also had six catches for 42 yards, one of six Eagles receivers with two or more catches.

The Falcons run game sputtered and suffered from untimely penalties. Starting left tackle Sam Baker missed the game with a hip injury and was replaced by Todd Weiner. Weiner would leave with an injury and was replaced by Quinn Ojinnaka. Michael Turner rushed for 58 yards on 17 carries.

Ryan threw for 277 yards in his seventh career start but also had a pair of interceptions. The defense held the Eagles after the first turnover but Ryan's second mistake came in the end zone, eliminating a redzone scoring chance. The Falcons would get another shot, however.

A late goal-line stand held the Eagles to a field goal and kept it a two-possesion game with 7:57 remaining. Ryan led a no-huddle offense into the red zone on the next series and found White with a second touchdown with less than four minutes to play.

Trailing 20-14, the Falcons defense stepped up with a key threeand- out but an odd turn of events kept the Falcons offense from getting a shot at the win.

Return man Adam Jennings decided at the last second not to field the punt after the Eagles' three-and-out drive. Officials ruled Jennings touched the ball and the muffed punt was recovered by the Eagles. The Falcons did not have a timeout left and, by rule, could not challenge the play.

Three plays later Westbrook rushed over the left side for a 39-yard, game-clinching touchdown.

NFL 2008 Game 8: Atlanta Falcons 24, Oakland Raiders 0

(November 2, 2008 Alameda County Coliseum - Oakland, CA)

Raider Nation got loud throughout Sunday's game against Atlanta at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum. The Falcons just made sure to convert early screams and hisses to a chorus of boos against the home team.

The Falcons took a big lead into halftime and cruised to a 24-0 victory over the Silver and Black. Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan threw two first-half touchdowns to wide receiver Michael Jenkins as Atlanta outgained Oakland in total yards 309 to minus-2 in the opening two quarters. They would finish the game with a 453-77 advantage. The Raiders (2-6) ran just 13 offensive plays in the first half, three of which ended with John Abraham sacks.

Atlanta (5-3) kept former Falcon DeAngleo Hall and the rest of the Raiders defense off balance with a mixture of techniques that worked in four previous victories: power running, working without a huddle, and moving players around before the snap.

It worked well, as the Falcons have now outscored opponents 68- 14 in the first quarter and surpassed last season's win total. Ryan piloted the Falcons on long scoring drives of 88, 77, and 88 yards in the game. The team chewed clock in the second half with a steady dose of Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood, who combined for 202 rushing yards and a touchdown.

Turner talked earlier in the week about bulldozing over teams that loaded up near the line of scrimmage to stop the run. He did most of the heavy-hitting between the tackles, breaking away from defenders and gaining 139 yards on 31 carries. Second-year man Jason Snelling spelled Turner late in the game and picked up an additional 47 yards. The Falcons picked up 30 first downs. The Raiders, three. Atlanta controlled the ball for more than 45 minutes -- the second highest total in the NFL since 1991.

Abraham led an aggressive defense that feasted on opportunities and forced the Raiders offense into mistake after mistake. In the process, the Falcons shutout an opponent for the first time since 2002. The only blemish on Ryan's scorecard came late in the second half. The rookie fumbled while waiting for a third-down passing lane to open. The ball was recovered by the Raiders but an Abraham sack ran out the half. The rookie finished the game with the highest completion percentage of his career (77.3). He threw for 220 yards and posted a quarterback rating of 138.4. He also completed passes to eight different receivers.

In fact, Atlanta's defense stepped up each time the Raiders began to put a drive together.

Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux recovered a fumble with 8:08 remaining in the third quarter that ended a drive. A scramble by quarterback JaMarcus Russell put the Raiders in scoring range early in the fourth quarter but two tackles for loss and an incompletion on fourthand- 17 gave the ball back to Atlanta.

Safety Erik Coleman intercepted Russell in the end zone with 7:27 left to preserve shutout.

NFL 2008 Game 9: Atlanta Falcons 34, New Orleans Saints 20

(November 9, 2008 The Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA)

Members of the Falcons secondary heard talk about the potency of the Saints passing game all week.

That doesn't mean it affected them.

The Falcons (6-3) met the challenges presented by the Saints topranked offense Sunday at the Georgia Dome and came away with a 34- 20 victory. The win snaps a four-game losing streak to the Saints and keeps the Falcons in the middle of the NFC playoff picture. Safety Erik Coleman intercepted Saints quarterback Drew Brees on his first attempt of the afternoon to set the tone for one of the best defensive performances of the year.

Nine Falcons finished with at least one pass defensed and Brees was held to his lowest completion rate of the season (53.4 percent). The Falcons also recorded two second-half interceptions, one returned 95 yards for a touchdown by rookie Chevis Jackson.

The Saints did not score a touchdown in the first half for the first time this season.

Cornerback Domonique Foxworth knocked away three passes in the first quarter, including a shot to the end zone intended for Marques Coleston with 3:42 left in the opening quarter.

The Falcons didn't have an issue scoring early and improved to 4- 0 at the Dome this season.

Quarterback Matt Ryan finished 16-of-23 for 248 yards and a pair of touchdowns in the game, his first going to wide receiver Roddy White with 9:12 remaining in the first quarter. He also led the Falcons on an 80-yard drive into the second quarter that ended with a Michael Turner touchdown run.

The Saints managed a pair of field goals in the first half after scoring 107 first-half points in the previous eight games. They struggled because each time the Falcons defense took the field a new face made plays.

Defensive end John Abraham picked up his 11th sack of the season on a key third-down stop in the first half. Chris Houston recorded an interception in the end zone that put down a fourth-quarter scoring threat. Linebacker Michael Boley had two pass breakups in one second- half series that further took wind out of the Saints' sails. Atlanta took a 17-6 lead into halftime after a 22-yard field goal by Jason Elam. Elam added another score in the third quarter but the Falcons blew the game 20 seconds into the final quarter when Jerious Norwood took a short pass from Ryan and turned it into an epic, 67-yard touchdown.

Brees threw a pair of touchdowns in the fourth quarter, including a Hail Mary at the end of the game, but the stars of the day were still members of the team's much-examined pass defense, which forced turnovers and slowed down one of the league's best despite getting just one sack from the defensive line.

NFL 2008 Game 10: Denver Broncos 24, Atlanta Falcons 20

(November 16, 2008 The Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA)

Running back Michael Turner rushed for two touchdowns, including a 28-yard score to give the Falcons a fourth-quarter lead, but it wasn't enough as the Denver Broncos left the Georgia Dome Sunday afternoon with a 24-20 win.

Turner's last score of the day put the Falcons up 20-17 with 10:41 remaining. That brought a sold-out crowd to life but they could do nothing but watch as Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler piloted his team on a 10-play, 86-yard drive into the red zone.

Cutler hit tight end Daniel Graham with a 9-yard pass for a touchdown with 5:35 remaining. The Falcons moved the ball to the Denver 45 and took a shot to the end zone, but Matt Ryan's last-chance pass on fourth-and-18 flew over the head of wide receiver Michael Jenkins. Atlanta trailed twice in the game but fought back with gritty running from Turner, who finished with 81 rushing yards, and clutch plays from Ryan and his receivers. The team was 11-of-18 on third down (61 percent) but didn't stay on the field when it mattered most.

The defense also played well in spurts, closing out the first half by forcing four-straight three-and-outs.

Denver (6-4) started the game with a score on the opening drive when reserve fullback Peyton Hillis slammed into the end zone from 7 yards out. Atlanta (6-4) tried to catch a banged-up Broncos defense off guard in the passing game but struggled out of the gate. The Falcons managed a pair of Jason Elam field goals to open the game and trailed 7-6 in the second quarter.

But, after a missed field goal by Broncos kicker Matt Prater, the Falcons went on the move.

Seven plays after the Denver miscue Turner was in the end zone for his first touchdown, a nine-yard run through the middle of the defense. The drive included a key, third-down completion to Roddy White that went for 37 yards into the red zone. White finished with game-high 102 yards on five catches. He said Sunday's loss would be tough to swallow and took blame for an incompletion in the end zone with 1:16 left that could have given the Falcons a win.

Ryan, who threw for 250 yards and an interception in the game, rolled out of the pocket and found White but the ball slipped through his hands as he fell toward the ground. Denver took a 14-13 lead in the third quarter with a two-yard touchdown run by Hillis -- a rookie that started the season as a fullback. A goal-line stand by the Falcons defense forced a Prater field goal that pushed the lead to four with 14:56 to play in the game.

The Broncos converted every third down they faced in the final period as momentum shifted. Cutler threw for 70 yards in the fourth quarter and wrapped up the game with 216 yards through the air, a touchdown and a 106.4 passer rating.

NFL 2008 Game 11: Atlanta Falcons 45, Carolina Panthers 28

(November 23, 2008 The Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA)

Michael Turner isn't one for flamboyant end zone celebrations. But the mild-mannered running back couldn't help celebrate a bit after a fourth-down touchdown run with 7:13 remaining in Sunday's victory over the Panthers.

An approving Georgia Dome crowd roared as the running back scored his third touchdown of the day. The gutsy play gave the Falcons a 10-point, fourth-quarter lead and sparked an exciting close to a 45-28 victory. Atlanta (7-4) scored 28 fourth-quarter points in the win.

Attitude was everything for the Falcons, who got off to an early ,17-0 lead, withstood a Panthers surge and put the game away when it counted. It mattered most after Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme rushed for a 12-yard touchdown with 10:57 left in the game. Carolina (8-4) pulled within three, 24-21, with a two-point conversion.

Matt Ryan and the offense faced a quick third down on the next possession, but the quarterback found rookie wide receiver Harry Douglas on a 69-yard pass play to the Panthers 6. Four plays later Turner got his key, fourth-down touchdown.

The Panthers faced an energized defense and a raucous crowd on the next possession. Defensive end Chauncey Davis recorded his second sack of the day and back-to-back false start penalties backed Carolina into the shadow of its own goal line. The Panthers punted from the end zone, giving Douglas a chance for a big return. The rookie brought the kick back up the middle 61 yards for a touchdown.

Delhomme found Muhsin Muhammad for a touchdown on the next series but the Falcons had already done plenty of damage. Still, Turner found the end zone for a final time with just 54 seconds to play.

The NFL's leader in rushing touchdowns (13) also surpassed the 1,000-yard mark for the 2008 season. He rushed for 117 yards Sunday as the Falcons pulled within one game of the NFC South lead.

Atlanta out-gained Carolina 162-0 in the first quarter thanks to solid defense and ball-hogging offense.

The Falcons darted down the field on the first series of the game but settled for a field goal. That was followed by touchdowns from Douglas and Turner.

Carolina scored 10-straight points in the third quarter negating some of the work the Falcons did in the opening half. But, when it mattered most, the team found a way to hit the accelerator.

NFL 2008 Game 12: Atlanta Falcons 22, San Diego Chargers 16

(November 30, 2008 Qualcomm Stadium - San Diego, CA)

The Falcons defeated the Chargers 22-16 Sunday in a game filled with emotional plays on both sides of the ball.

Three turnovers led to Chargers scores but a solid effort by the Falcons defense turned back the Chargers on multiple occasions. The unit also forced a key score just before halftime.

Atlanta took an early 3-0 lead off a Jason Elam field goal but fell behind after a fumbled punt by Harry Douglas inside Falcons territory. Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson got in for a touchdown four plays later, but that would be some of the only success the All Pro had in the afternoon.

Tomlinson was held to the second-lowest rushing total of his career (24 yards) and the Chargers didn't have an offensive play of more than 18 yards in the game. Michael Turner, who backed up Tomlinson for the first four years of his career before joining the Falcons, rushed for 120 yards on 31 careers.

Atlanta (8-4) got another Elam field goal in the first quarter, scored with a Matt Ryan to Justin Peelle touchdown pass and then opened the game up off a defensive play. In the process, the Falcons got their first win of the season when not leading after the first quarter.

The Falcons defense worked tirelessly to get in the face of Chargers quarterback Philip Rivers and was rewarded for the effort with eight minutes remaining in the first quarter.

A special teams tackle on a kickoff return by David Irons gave San Diego first-and-10 inside its own 10-yard line. The defense took over from there, dropping Tomlinson for a loss and forcing Rivers to throw from his own end zone on third down.

Defensive end John Abraham bull rushed over the left side and got his left arm on Rivers. The quarterback escaped but threw the ball to an empty space just over the line of scrimmage. The subsequent intentional grounding penalty resulted in a safety and an additional two points for the Falcons.

It was the first safety for the Falcons since Dec. 12, 2005 (New Orleans) but they would not capitalize after a Chargers free kick, driving down field but getting held out of the end zone on four tries from inside the 2-yard line.

The 15-7 lead carried into halftime.

Atlanta got the ball to open the third quarter and again moved down the field but a rare Brian Finneran fumble was recovered by safety Eric Weddle and returned 86 yards for a Chargers touchdown. Smith challenged the play but there wasn't enough to overturn the original call. San Diego missed on a two-point conversion attempt, however, and the Falcons retained a thin, two-point lead, 15-13.

The missed opportunity could have haunted the team, which missed out on touchdowns three times in the red zone, but a defensive stop was followed by a key drive for the Falcons, who ate up the rest of the third quarter with an 11-play, 72-yard drive that ended with a fiveyard touchdown pass from Ryan to Douglas on the first play of the fourth quarter.

Ryan finished the game with a solid 207 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He found Roddy White six times for 112 yards as the receiver went over the 1,000 yard mark for the second-straight season. Rookie DE Kroy Biermann got his first professional sack on the next Chargers possession, setting the tone for another defensive stop. But it was a 28-yard gain on a fake punt that gave San Diego new life in Falcons territory.Forced to answer the bell again, the defense forced a field goal attempt that was blocked by Jamaal Anderson. A fumble by Turner gave the ball back to San Diego with 9:05 to play but the defense held the home team to a field goal. Atlanta went three-and-out on the next possession, but the defense held San Diego again thanks to the second of two fourth-quarter sacks by defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux.

NFL 2008 Game 13: New Orleans Saints 29 Atlanta Falcons 25

(December 7, 2008 Louisiana Superdome - New Orleans, LA)

Wide receiver Roddy White notched a new career in receiving yards and Matt Ryan showed some moxie down the stretch but a surprising Saints running proved too much as the Falcons fell in New Orleans, 29-25.

The Falcons held a 25-22 lead with eight minutes to play, but an 88- yard kickoff return by Saints running back Pierre Thomas led to the goahead score.

Falcons linebacker Michael Boley nearly intercepted a Drew Brees pass on third-and-1 at the Atlanta 7, but the Saints stayed on the field and converted the fourth down. Thomas went in for the go-ahead touchdown on the following play.

It was a rough day for the Falcons defense, which faced a Saints team that stepped away from its dominance in the passing game to run the ball up the middle with running backs Thomas and Reggie Bush.

The pair combined for 182 yards on the ground and each caught touchdown passes from Brees inside the red zone. The teams both had 414 yards of total offense in this back-and-forth game but New Orleans held the advantage in rushing yards, 184-99.

The Saints (7-6) opened the game with five straight running plays and didn't immediately look to Brees, who leads the NFL in passing yards, as the first option. He still finished with 230 yards and two touchdowns on 32 attempts.

Falcons running back Michael Turner had a big, 26-yard run on the team's first possession, but finished the day with just 61 yards on a touchdown (3.4 yards per carry).

Ryan bounced back after an early interception to throw for a careerhigh 315 yards. He also rushed for his first career touchdown and had a toss to wide receiver Brian Finneran to cap a 14-point second quarter for the Falcons (8-5). His favorite target, White, caught 10 passes for a career-high 164 yards.

Atlanta responded from a 10-0 deficit to take a 14-13 lead with 2:13 remaining in the first half. The Saints got down field without a timeout, however, and took a 16-14 lead into halftime after a Garrett Hartley field goal.

Atlanta went three-and-out on the first drive of the third quarter but came back with a 15-play, 69-yard drive that ended in a Jason Elam field goal. Ryan completed third-down passes of 21, 5 and 6 yards before missing on a throw to the end zone.

Another key third down almost led to the game-winning score.

After a Brees-to-Thomas touchdown the Falcons got the ball back and drove into the red zone with a chance to take the lead. Facing thirdand- 4 from the New Orleans 12 Ryan opted not to force the ball into coverage and ran the ball in with eight minutes to play. He found wide receiver Michael Jenkins in the back of the end zone on the two-point conversion to stretch the Falcons lead.

But Thomas got his 88-yard return on the next kickoff. Atlanta got the ball back but was forced to punt, opening the door for Thomas to pick up a final first down that gave the Saints a chance to run out the clock.

NFL 2008 Game 14: Atlanta Falcons 13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 (OT)

(December 14, 2008 Georgia Dome - Atlanta, GA)

In a game defined by wild momentum swings, the Falcons had the ball last.

And that made all the difference.

Jason Elam's 34-yard field goal with 4:08 remaining in overtime lifted Atlanta to a 13-10 victory over the visiting Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The win moves Atlanta (9-5) into a second-place tie in the NFC South and keeps playoff hopes very much alive with just two weeks left in the season.

Running back Michael Turner picked up 34 of his game-high 152 rushing yards on the game-winning drive, setting up Elam for his second game-winning kick in the Georgia Dome this season. Tampa Bay won the coin toss to start the overtime period and took the ball, but John Abraham sacked quarterback Brian Griese on third-and-eight with 11:07 left to force a punt.

Abraham notched three sacks in the game to move his career-high sack total to 15.5 for the season.

Turner rushed for more than 100 yards in a game for the seventh time this season. His first quarter touchdown run (15) also broke the Falcons single-season record set by Jamal Anderson in 1998. Turner carried a Falcons offense that jumped out to a 10-0 first quarter lead but stalled in the second half. Quarterback Matt Ryan threw a pair of interceptions. A third quarter drive collapsed when tight end Jason Rader fumbled at the goal line. Another possession ended with a blocked punt that set up the Bucs game-tying field goal. The defense forced momentum shifts after almost every offensive miscue.

Cornerback Domonique Foxworth intercepted his first pass as a Falcon on the drive following Rader's fumble. He would later knock the ball away from tight end Alex Smith and tip a pass intended for Antonio Bryant on consecutive plays. That forced one of nine Buccaneer punts. The defense also benefited from a missed field goal with 3:38 remaining in regulation. The Bucs rushed for just 99 yards in the game and committed five false start penalties, which Smith attributed to crowd noise in an energized Georgia Dome.

Tampa Bay finished with 11 penalties for 76 yards. Bryant finished with eight catches for 108 yards and touchdown. Griese, playing in place of an injured Jeff Garcia, helped engineer that scoring drive just before halftime and cut into the Falcons lead, 10-7. But the Falcons redirected that momentum swing as well, holding the Bucs No. 1 receiver to just one catch the rest of the game.

With the win, a playoff picture is starting to take shape for the Falcons. Sunday's thriller also improved the Falcons to 6-1 in the Dome and improved the overall division record to 25-2 at home.

NFL 2008 Game 15: Atlanta Falcons 24, Minnesota Vikings 17

(December 21, 2008 Hubert Humphrey Metrodome - Minneapolis, Minnesota)

In a matter of a week, the Falcons went from being controllers of their own playoff destiny to a team that needed help from multiple teams to make the postseason. In just more than 24 hours in Week 16, the Falcons regained control and played themselves into the playoffs for the first time since 2004.

Atlanta held off a fourth quarter charge and defeated the Minnesota Vikings, 24-17, Sunday afternoon. The win, coupled with Tampa Bay and Dallas losses, clinches at least a Wild Card spot in the playoffs for Atlanta. The Falcons can still win the NFC South and get a postseason home game with a win next week over St. Louis and a Carolina Panthers loss at New Orleans. Atlanta turned four Vikings turnovers into 10 points Sunday afternoon, taking advantage of an offense that found ways to put the breaks on itself for much of the game. Pro Bowl running back Adrian Peterson fumbled twice and quarterback Tarvaris Jackson fumbled off a Kindal Moorehead sack in the third quarter. Wide receiver Eric Weems also forced a Bernard Berrian fumble on a first quarter punt. The Vikings fumbled thrice more in the game but managed to recover the ball.

Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan led a 64-yard scoring drive off the opening kick and got the Falcons in the end zone with a shovel pass to Jerious Norwood on the first play of the second quarter to put the Falcons up 14-7. Atlanta added a 22-yard Jason Elam field goal to go up 17-7 at halftime. A lackluster third quarter showed signs of life with Moorhead's sack and forced fumble with 11:11 remaining. The ball was recovered at the Atlanta 46 by Davis, his second fumble recovery of the afternoon, but the Falcons were forced to punt after three plays.

The Falcons defense forced another punt with 6:20 left, setting the stage for one of the more dramatic moments of the season. Atlanta took over at its own 49 and marched into the red zone. On second and goal from the Minnesota 5-yard line, Ryan rolled out of the pocket and sprinted toward the end zone. He dove for the goal line, but the ball was knocked free.

The quarterback was up-ended and landed on his face just inside the end zone. The ball bounced around a bit but was recovered by offensive lineman Justin Blalock for a touchdown. The second-year player became the first lineman to score a touchdown since 1996 (Robbie Tobeck) and put the Falcons up 24-7 with just more than 17 minutes to play in the game. Ryan finished with 134 passing yards on 13 completions. His favorite target was wide receiver Michael Jenkins, who caught four passes for 61 yards. Minnesota was led by tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, who led all pass catchers with seven grabs for 136 yards (two touchdowns). Besides fumbling three times, Peterson rushed for 76 yards. The defense was led again by Abraham, who got one sack and set a new franchise record (16.5). Davis also recorded a sack. Minnesota added 10 fourth-quarter points and pulled within one score with 2:40 remaining. The Vikings had the ball at their own 33 with 2:14 remaining but steady pressure from the Falcons defense proved too much.

The clock ran out on the Vikings has not finished for the Falcons, who are guaranteed at least 17 games in this magical season.

NFL 2008 Game 16: Atlanta Falcons 31, Saint Louis Rams 27

(December 28, 2008 Georgia Dome - Atlanta, Georgia)

Running back Jerious Norwood took his time entering the Georgia Dome before Sunday's game against the Rams. He greeted security personnel and cruised to his parking space and into the locker room at a steady pace.

The speedy running back rushed for a pair of touchdowns, including a 45-yard game-winner, in a 31-27 victory over St. Louis. Norwood also rushed for an 8-yard score off a direct snap just before halftime, which was setup by his 92-yard kickoff return with 20 seconds to go in the second quarter.

Norwood split time with Pro Bowl running back Michael Turner (208 yards and a score). Norwood touched the ball just four times on offense but made every play count in a game that secured a No. 5 seed in the NFC Playoffs. Atlanta will travel to Arizona next week for a Wild Card game against the Cardinals.

The Rams (2-14) did not back away from the playoff-bound Falcons, pulling out a fake punt and an onside kick in the game. St. Louis led three times, including a 27-24 advantage with 6:39 left in the ball game. Running back Steven Jackson rushed for 161 yards and a pair of touchdowns and quarterback Marc Bulger added to a 91.9 rating with a 16-yard touchdown to Donnie Avery with less than a minute to play in the first half.

Atlanta scored three-straight touchdowns to take a 10-point lead in the third quarter but the Rams stormed back, running 24 plays in the fourth period before the Falcons defense closed out the game by forcing a turnover on downs.

Linebacker Michael Boley was credited with a team-high 11 tackles while Chauncey Davis, playing for an injured Jamaal Anderson, recorded a sack. Rookie Kroy Biermann and linebacker Stephen Nicholas also dropped Bulger for a loss in the game.

Offensively the Falcons weren't without mistakes.

Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan threw a pair of interceptions, one leading to a St. Louis score, and Turner had a 70-yard run nullified with a fumble at the Rams 4-yard line. That play was reviewed, but upheld. Still the Falcons combined to rush for 263 rushing yards -- the second-highest total of the season. Wide receiver Roddy White (three catches for 48 yards) also set the team single-season record for receiving yards (1,382). His 18-yard touchdown grab in the third quarter also gave the Falcons a 10-point lead.

The biggest plays went to Norwood, who appears fully healed from a rib injury that limited his explosiveness in the second half of the year. The Falcons will be with his services -- and speed -- for the "second" season, which starts in less than a week.

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Atlanta Falcons Regular Season Review - NFL 2008