Falcons-Panthers Game Notes

ATLANTA -- Notes and milestones straight from the Georgia Dome press box...

• Quarterback Joey Harrington finished with 262 passing yards in the first half against the Panthers, which marked the first time he logged over 200 yards in a first half in his career. Harrington’s previous high in a first half was 193 yards against Minnesota on November 19, 2006. He finished the game with 361 passing yards, his first game over 300 yards since October 22, 2006 vs. Green Bay (414).
• Harrington completed his first touchdown pass of the season on a 69-yard reception to wide receiver Roddy White. The touchdown reception was the longest of White’s career, topping a 55-yard TD catch he tallied against Cleveland last season (11/12/06). Harrington struck again in the third quarter, finding tight end Alge Crumpler on a 13-yard touchdown completion to put the Falcons ahead 17-10.
• Harrington notched his first touchdown pass as a Falcon in the second quarter on a 69-yard completion to White. It was Harrington’s first touchdown pass since Dec. 10, 2006 (vs. New England).
• Harrington finished the game with two touchdown passes, the most in a game since he posted three at Detroit on Nov. 23, 2006.
• White set career-highs in receptions (7) and receiving yards (127). White’s previous high of five receptions came against Cleveland in 2006 (11/12) and his 108 yards were recorded against Tampa Bay in 2005 (11/20). With seven catches against Carolina, White has caught at least four catches in three consecutive games for the first time in his career.
• White’s 112 receiving yards in the first half was the fifth highest total for any Falcons receiver in the first half of play in franchise history.

• The Falcons totaled 278 yards of total offense in the first half against the Panthers, which is the sixth-most in franchise history for a first half of play.

• Wide receiver Michael Jenkins set a new career-high with six receptions against Carolina. He logged his previous career-high of five catches twice in the 2005 season (11/6 at Miami and 1/1/06 vs. Carolina).
• Running back Jerious Norwood posted the longest rush of the season thus far on a 26-yard carry in the third quarter.
• Kicker Morten Andersen logged his field goal of the season after being signed by the Falcons on Sept. 18, 2007. Andersen split the uprights on a 24-yard attempt to tie the game 10-10 at halftime. He finished the game with two field goal conversions and two extra points for eight points.
• Tight end Martrez Milner caught his first pass as an Atlanta Falcon in the second quarter.
• Defensive end John Abraham sacked Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme for an eight-yard loss in the first quarter and dropped him again in the third quarter (nine-yard loss), marking his second and third sacks of the season. The sacks also note the second time in his career that he posted three sacks in the first three games of a season. It was also Abraham’s first multiple-sack game since the 2006 season opener at Carolina (9/10).
• Safety Chris Crocker notched his first sack of the season and first since Oct. 29, 2006 when he dropped Panthers quarterback David Carr in the fourth quarter.
• Punter Michael Koenen booted three kickoffs for touchbacks tying a career game-high which he set against Cincinnati on Oct. 29, 2006.
• Linebacker Keith Brooking topped 500 assisted tackles for his career.
• Atlanta’s defense has held their opponent scoreless on their first offensive possession in each of the first three games of the season. The Falcons defense also shutout the Panthers in the first quarter, which was the second occasion this season the defense has accomplished the feat (Jacksonville, Week 2).
• BUMPS AND BRUISES: Falcons starting cornerback Lewis Sanders suffered a blow to the head early in the fourth quarter and did not return to the game. He was replaced by rookie cornerback Chris Houston.
• Cornerback DeAngelo Hall, matched up on All-Pro Panthers wide receiver Steve Smith, did not allow Smith a reception until 9:02 remaining in the game.

MORE FROM THE FALCONS-PANTHERS GAME:

• GAMEDAY: All the coverage from the Panthers-Falcons game
• STATS AND PLAY-BY-PLAY: NFL.com Game Center
• GAME NOTES: Updates and injury news from the Georgia Dome press box
• INACTIVES: Inactives from Week 3
• QUOTABLE: Thoughts on the game from Falcons players and coaches
• VIDEO: Head Coach Bobby Petrino
• VIDEO: Quarterback Joey Harrington
• VIDEO: Safety Lawyer Milloy
• VIDEO: Cornerback DeAngelo Hall
• VIDEO: Wide receiver Roddy White
• HIGHLIGHTS: Game highlights from NFL Network