The Atlanta Falcons got pushed around by the Patriots in this game plain and simple.  Matt Ryan did not have a good game as he completed 17 of 28 passes for 199 yards.  Michael Turner also got bottled up in this game rushing for only 56 yards on 15 carries (3.7 ypc) with a TD.  In the passing game the only standout was Michael Jenkins who caught 5 passes for 78 yards (15.6 avg).  The Falcons only had possession of the football for 20:11 in this game which partially explains why they only finished up with 257 total yards (58 rushing, 199 passing) in this game.

The defense really got smoked by the Patriots’ offense in this game.  LBs Curtis Lofton (19 tackles) and Mike Peterson (11 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss) both did a solid job for the Falcons in this game but they didn’t have much help.  The Patriots finished up with 445 yards in this game (168 rushing, 277 passing) on offense.  The Falcons are now 2-1 on the season.

The Atlanta Falcons are a very balanced team on offense and that could give the defense of the Patriots some trouble.  With the Patriots without Jared Mayo in the middle the Falcons will no doubt give the rock to Michael Turner (170 yards rushing) quite often.  When the Patriots sneak up to stop Turner that’s when Ryan will attack them over the middle with TE Tony Gonzalez and down the field with Roddy White and Michael Jenkins.  Opposing QBs have a 108.0 rating against the Patriots so they must put pressure on Ryan or he could have a field day.

This is the game that the Patriots can actually get a running game started.  The Falcons’ D is allowing 120.0 yards rushing and 5.1 yards per carry so far this season.  Fred Taylor (71 yards rushing) and Laurence Maroney (55 yards rushing) will likely get the bulk of the work in the running game for the Patriots this week.  The Patriots must do a good job blocking DE John Abraham (2 sacks) if  Tom Brady is going to have the time needed to throw the ball.  With Wes Welker back in action this weekend the Patriots will likely be clicking on all cylinders.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 31, PATRIOTS 30

The Falcons have lost first round pick Peria Jerry for the year due to a knee injury.  Jerry was the Falcons’ first round pick this season and they were depending on him to help the run defense.  He only had 1 tackle this season when he was injured.  Thomas Johnson will start at DT now and he has made 2 tackles this season.  The Falcons will likely continue to have problems defending the running game.

The Falcons were in a fight yesterday with the Panthers before finishing them off.  Matt Ryan was good as usual completing 21 of 27 passes for 220 yards with 3 TD passes and 1 interception.  Michael Turner was a busy man carrying the ball 28 times for 105 yards (3.8 ypc) with a TD.  Jason Snelling was also effective carrying the ball 6 times for 37 yards (6.2 ypc) and he also caught 1 pass for 10 yards and it went for a TD.  TE Tony Gonzalez (7 rec, 71 yards) and WR Roddy White (6 rec, 53 yards, TD) were Ryan’s top two targets in this game.  The Falcons finished up with 371 total yards on offense (151 rushing, 220 passing) in this game.

The defense had a tough time dealing with the Panthers’ O in this game.  LB Mike Peterson and S Erik Coleman led the way for the Falcons in this game with 9 tackles apiece.  Safety Thomas DeCloud (5 tackles, fumble recovery) and CB Chris Houston (5 tackles, interception) also made some big plays for the Falcons’ D.  The Panthers finished up with 440 total yards in this game (144 rushing, 296 passing).  The Falcons improved to 2-0 on the season with this win.

The Falcons punished the Panthers 45-28 on there last visit to Atlanta.  Falcons’ Coach Mike Smith is 8-1 in Atlanta.  So, the Panthers will have to play a almost flawless game to win in Atlanta.  The Falcons gave up 4.4 yards per carry last week against the Dolphins so look for the Panthers to keep the ball on the ground with DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart.  The Falcons had 4 sacks last week and the Panthers allowed 5 of them last week against the Eagles so Jake Delhomme could be under some pressure.  The key to Delhomme is to relax as it’s better to throw the ball away than force it into double or triple coverage.  After all, the Eagles intercepted 3 passes intended for Steve Smith last week.  Still, if the running game is effective then the Panthers can go deep to Steve Smith against the Falcons.

This a bad matchup for the Panthers’ defense.  They allowed 185 yards rushing (5.8 ypc) against the Eagles and the Falcons have better RBs than them.  Michael Turner only had 65 yards rushing last week which makes him even more dangerous than usual this week.  He rushed for 117 yards and 4 TDs last year against the Panthers in Atlanta.  But, Matt Ryan will balance the Falcons’ offense with passes to Roddy White, Michael Jenkins and Tony Gonzalez.  If the Falcons are successful in protecting Matt Ryan from DE Julius Peppers he will have a field day throwing the football.

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 31, PANTHERS 16