What was Falcons’ head coach Mike Smith thinking?  He went for it on 4 and 1 from his own 29-yard line in O.T.!  The Falcons didn’t get it and the Saints whacked a 26-yard field goal a few plays later to finish them off!  Matt Ryan had a solid game as he completed 29 of 52 passes for 351 yards with 2 TD passes and 1 INT.  Michael Turner led the way for the Falcons on the ground with 96 yards rushing on 22 carries (4.4 ypc).  Jacquizz Rodgers also got in on the action with 7 carries for 30 yards (4.3 ypc) yesterday.  Jason Snelling carried the ball 1 time for 0 yards but he also caught 2 passes for 25 yards (12.5 avg) with 1 TD grab.  WR Harry Douglas stepped up and had a huge game with 8 receptions for 133 yards (16.6 avg).  TE Tony Gonzalez (6 rec, 71 yards, TD) and WR Roddy White (4 rec, 62 yards) also pitched in with solid games for the Falcons yesterday.  The Falcons finished up with 138 yards rushing on 32 carries (4.3 ypc) and they also completed 29 of 52 passes (55.8%) for 343 yards as they had possession of the ball for 36:32.

The defense was excellent against the run, but very poor against the pass yesterday.  LB Curtis Lofton led the way for the Falcons on D, as usual, with 9 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss. Safety Thomas DeCoud (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) and LB Sean Weatherspoon (6 tackles and 1 pass defensed) also pitched in for the Falcons in this game.  The Saints finished up with 41 yards rushing on 16 carries (2.6 ypc) and they also completed 30 of 43 passes (69.8%) for 322 yards.  The Falcons are now 5-4 on the season and they are 1.5 games behind the Saints in the NFC South.

The Falcons completely dominated the Colts yesterday in Indianapolis.  Matt Ryan was solid as he completed 14 of 24 passes for 275 yards with 3 TD passes and 1 INT (it was returned 6 yards for a TD by Colts’ CB Jerraud Powers).  Michael Turner looked solid in this game with 19 carries for 71 yards (3.7 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Jacquizz Rodgers got an extended look in this game and he looked pretty good.  He carried the ball 10 times for 44 yards (4.4 ypc) and he also caught 1 pass for 16 yards in this game.  Jason Snelling pitched in with 15 yards rushing on 8 carries (1.9 ypc).  Rookie WR Julio Jones had a true breakout game for the Falcons yesterday as he caught 3 passes for 131 yards (43.7 avg) with 2 TD grabs and he also carried the ball 2 times for 33 yards (16.5 ypc).  Jones’ two TDs went for 50 and 80 yards!  Roddy White (4 rec, 76 yards) and Tony Gonzalez (4 rec, 36 yards, TD) also pitched in for the Falcons in the passing game.  The Falcons finished up with 163 yards rushing on 41 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 24 passes (58.3%) for 269 yards as they had possession of the ball for 37:46.

The defense was outstanding as they pitched a shutout!  LBs Curtis Lofton (12 tackles and 1 tackle for a loss) and Sean Weatherspoon (10 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss and 2 passes defensed) led the way for the Falcons in this game.  CB Kelvin Hayden (7 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception) and DE Ray Edwards (1 fumble recovery) also pitched in for the Falcons in this game.  The Colts finished up with 83 yards rushing on 21 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 33 passes (51.5%) for 103 yards.  The Falcons are now 5-3 on the year.

The Falcons played ball control on offense and solid defense yesterday which were the big reasons for the win.  Matt Ryan completed 20 of 34 passes for 218 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 INTs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 2 yards (0.7 ypc) with 1 TD run in this game.  Chris Redman replaced Ryan when he dinged up his knee a little bit and he threw one incomplete pass.  Michael Turner was solid once again with 122 yards rushing on 27 carries (4.5 ypc).  TE Tony Gonzalez (5 rec, 62 yards), WR Harry Douglas (4 rec, 62 yards) and WR Roddy White (5 rec, 52 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game for the Falcons yesterday.  The Falcons finished up with 129 yards rushing on 31 carries (4.2 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 35 passes (57.1%) for 199 yards as they had possession of the ball for 34:57.

The defense was very solid for the Falcons in this game.  LB Curtis Lofton led the way for the Falcons on D in this game with 10 tackles and 1 QB hit.  LBs Sean Weatherspoon (6 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 sack, 1 pass defensed and 1 QB hit) and Stephen Nicolas (6 tackles) also played solid games.  The Lions finished up with 104 yards on 20 carries (5.2 ypc) and they also completed 15 of 32 passes (46.9%) for 159 yards.  The Falcons are now 4-3 on the year.

The Atlanta Falcons scored 17 unanswered points in the fourth quarter to take down the Panthers today in Atlanta.  Matt Ryan was in game manager mode today as he completed 14 of 22 passes for 163 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 7 yards (2.3 ypc) with 1 TD run today.  Michael Turner had a monster game for the Falcons today as he carried the ball 27 times for 139 yards (5.1 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  Fullback Ovie Mughelli carried the ball 1 time for 0 yards and he also caught 2 passes for 20 yards (10.0 avg) with 1 TD grab in this game.  WR Harry Douglas (2 rec, 57 yards), TE Tony Gonzalez (3 rec, 29 yards) and WR Roddy White (2 rec, 21 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Falcons today.  The Falcons finished up with 166 yards rushing on 35 carries (4.7 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 22 passes (63.6%) for 159 yards as they had possession of the ball for 30:34.

The defense really got into Cam Newton’s head today.  Safety Thomas DeCoud (8 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception), LB Curtis Lofton (7 tackles and 1 pass defensed) and CB Kelvin Hayden (6 tackles) led the way for the Falcons on D in this game.  CB Brent Grimes and DT Corey Peters each pitched in with 1 interception apiece in this game.  The Panthers finished up with 142 yards rushing on 25 carries (5.7 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 35 passes (60%) for 226 yards in this game.  The Falcons are now 3-3 on the season.

The Falcons were great in the first half last night as they were winning 14-6…..but in the second half they were awful on both sides of the ball and it cost them this game.  Matt Ryan didn’t play well at all last night as he completed 18 of 32 passes for 167 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 INTs.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 9 yards (3.0 ypc) in this game.  Michael Turner pitched in with 56 yards rushing on 16 carries (3.5 ypc) with 1 TD run to lead the way for the Falcons on the ground in this game.  TE Tony Gonzalez (6 rec, 60 yards) and WR Roddy White (6 rec, 50 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game.  The Falcons rushed for 95 yards on 22 carries (4.3 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 32 passes (56.3%) for 156 yards as they had possession of the ball for 26:49.

The Falcons played great run defense but they were awful against the pass last night.  LBs Sean Weatherspoon (11 tackles, 1 sack, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 QB hit) and Curtis Lofton (10 tackles) led the way for the Falcons on D in this game.  Safety Thomas DeCoud (8 tackles, 2 QB hits), CB Brent Grimes (7 tackles and 2 passes defensed) and DT Vance Walker (fumble recovery) also had solid games for the Falcons last night.  The Packers finished up with 57 yards rushing on 20 carries (2.9 ypc) and they also completed 26 of 39 passes (66.7%) for 369 yards.  The Falcons are now 2-3 on the year.

The Atlanta Falcons are lucky that they controlled the football so long in this game because the Seahawks offense was moving the ball at will late in this game.  Matt Ryan was solid today as he completed 28 of 42 passes for 291 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  He also carried the ball 4 times for 26 yards (6.5 ypc) in this game.  Michael Turner had a heavy workload as he carried the ball 26 times for 70 yards (2.7 ypc) with 2 TD runs.  He also caught 2 passes for 18 yards (9.0 avg) in this game.  Rookie RB Jacquizz Rodgers pitched in with 25 yards rushing on 6 carries (4.2 ypc).  Rodgers also caught 1 pass for 10 yards.  Rookie WR Julio Jones led the way in the passing game for the Falcons with 11 grabs for 127 yards (11.5 avg).  TE Tony Gonzalez (7 rec, 56 yards, TD) and WR Roddy White (6 rec, 78 yards) also had solid games for the Falcons.  The Falcons finished up with 121 yards rushing on 36 carries (3.4 ypc) and they also completed 28 of 42 passes (66.7%) for 291 yards as they had possession of the ball for an amazing 40:10 in this game.

The run defense was solid for the Falcons but the pass defense was pretty inept.  Safety William Moore (8 tackles), LB Curtis Lofton (8 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception) and LB Sean Weatherspoon (7 tackles) led the way for the D today.  Safety Thomas DeCoud pitched in with 3 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception.  The Seahawks finished up with 53 yards rushing on 15 carries (3.5 ypc) and they also completed 25 of 38 passes (65.8%) for 319 yards.  The Falcons are now 2-2 on the year.

The Falcons’ offense wasted a really good effort from the defense yesterday in Florida.  Matt Ryan completed 26 of 47 passes for 330 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 INT.  He also carried the ball 1 time for 12 yards but he lost 2 fumbles!  Michael Turner didn’t get anything going on the ground as he only carried the ball 11 times for 20 yards (1.8 ypc) yesterday.  WRs Roddy White (9 rec, 140 yards) and Julio Jones (6 rec, 115 yards) led the way for the Falcons yesterday in the passing game.  WR Harry Douglas (5 rec, 35 yards) and TE Tony Gonzalez (2 rec, 18  yards, TD) also pitched in for the Falcons.  The Falcons finished up with only 30 yards rushing on 15 carries (2.0 ypc) but they also completed 26 of 47 passes (55.3%) for 295 yards in this game as they only had possession of the ball for 24:08.

The defense played their best game of the season without a doubt for the Falcons.  LBs Sean Weatherspoon (11 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss) and Curtis Lofton (11 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) led the way for the Falcons in this game.  Safeties Thomas DeCoud (9 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception) and William Moore (4 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception) also had solid games for the Falcons.  The Buccaneers finished up with 115 yards rushing on 36 carries (3.2 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 32 passes (68.8%) for 180 yards.  The Falcons are now 1-2 on the year.

The Falcons were motivated last night in Michael Vick’s return to Atlanta.  They forced him to lose two fumbles and throw an interception before they knocked him out of the game due to a concussion.  Matt Ryan was solid as he completed 17 of 28 passes for 195 yards with 4 TD passes and 2 INTs.  Michael Turner had a huge game with 114 yards rushing on 21 carries (5.4 ypc) with 1 TD run and he also caught 1 pass for 32 yards.  Rookie RB Jacquizz Rodgers looked solid as he carried the ball 3 times for 17 yards (5.7 ypc) in this game.  Fullback Ovie Mughelli had 1 carry for 1 yard he also caught 1 pass for 1 yard and it went for a TD.  TE Tony Gonzalez had an incredible game for the Falcons last night as he caught 7 passes for 83 yards (11.9 avg) with 2 TD grabs and they were both outstanding catches.  WR Roddy White only caught 3 passes for 23 yards (7.7 avg) but one of them went for a TD.  The Falcons finished up with 138 yards rushing on 29 carries (4.8 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 28 passes (60.7%) for 180 yards as they had possession of the ball for 29:57.

The defense didn’t play well as a whole in this game but they made big plays when they had to.  LBs Sean Weatherspoon (10 tackles) and Curtis Lofton (10 tackles and 2 passes defensed) led the way for the Falcons on D in this game.  CB Kelvin Hayden (interception), LB Stephen Nicolas (fumble recovery), DE Ray Edwards (fumble recovery) and DT Peria Jerry (forced fumble) all made big plays in this game for the Falcons.  The Eagles finished up with 133 yards on 30 carries (4.4 ypc) and they also completed 26 of 37 passes (70.3%) for 314 yards.  The Falcons are now 1-1 on the year.

The Atlanta Falcons must have thought that the NFL regular season started next week, because they sure didn’t show up in Chicago today.  It was a lousy effort on both sides of the ball that did them in today in the Windy City.  Matt Ryan’s final numbers don’t look too bad as he completed 31 of 49 passes with 0 TD passes and 1 INT.  But, he also lost a fumble that was returned 12-yards for a TD by Bears’ LB Brian Urlacher.  Ryan didn’t play too well despite the decent numbers as the Falcons were playing from behind pretty much the whole game.  Michael Turner looked great with 10 carries for 100 yards (10.0 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 40 yards (13.3 avg).  After the Falcons fell behind though, Turner was pretty absent.  TE Tony Gonzalez (5 rec, 72 yards), WR Julio Jones (5 rec,71 yards) and Roddy White (8 rec, 61 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Falcons today.  The Falcons finished up with 110 yards rushing on 14 carries (7.9 ypc) and they also completed 31 of 47 passes (66%) for 276 yards as they had possession of the ball for 26:41.

The defense did pretty solid work against the Bears’ running game, but Jay Cutler was throwing all over the secondary and linebackers today.  LBs Sean Weatherspoon (10 tackles, 2 tackles for a loss and 1 pass defensed) and Curtis Lofton (8 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss) led the way for the Falcons’ D in this game.  DE John Abraham was in the Bears’ backfield quite a bit today with 4 tackles, 2 sacks, 4 tackles for a loss, 1 pass defensed and 2 QB hits!  DE Kroy Biermann also had a solid game with 3 tackles, 1 sack, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 pass defensed, 1 QB hit and a interceptions that he returned 50 yards for a TD!  The Bears rushed for 88 yards on 27 carries (3.3 ypc) and they also completed 22 of 32 passes (68.8%) for 289 yards.  The Falcons have started off the 2011 season with a 0-1 record.

The Falcons got destroyed last night at the Georgia Dome.  The only facet of the game that the Falcons outplayed the Packers on was special teams as Eric Weems returned a kickoff 102 yards for a TD to give the Falcons a short lived 14-7 lead in this game.  It was all downhill for the Falcons from there.  They couldn’t get anything going on offense and they couldn’t stop Aaron Rodgers’ air attack.

Matt Ryan was under attack the whole game as he was sacked 5 times and hurried quite a bit on other throws.  Ryan completed 20 of 29 passes for 186 yards with 1 TD pass and 2 INTs (one of which was returned 70 yards for a TD by Packers’ CB Tramon Williams on the last play of the first half).  Ryan also lost a fumble as he will want to forget about this game as quickly as he can.  Michael Turner carried the ball 10 times for 39 yards (3.9 ypc) with a TD run.  When the Falcons fell too far behind they had to get away from the running game which took them out of their gameplan.  WRs Michael Jenkins (6 rec, 67 yards), Roddy White (6 rec, 57 yards, TD) and Brian Finneran (4 rec, 47 yards) led the way in the passing game for the Falcons last night. 

LB Curtis Lofton led the way for the Falcons’ D in this game with 9 tackles.  CBs Brent Grimes (7 tackles, 1 fumble recovery) and Chris Owens (7 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 QB hit) were also busy in this game for the Falcons.  The Packers finished up with 96 yards rushing on 31 carries (3.1 ypc) and they also completed 31 of 36 passes for 346 yards.  The Falcons will go back to the drawing board as their season has now ended with a gigantic thud!