FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Defensive tackle is Jonathan Babineaux is on the hook for much more than bragging rights when his brother, Jordan, a member of the Seattle Seahawks, visits the Georgia Dome Sunday for the final game of the regular season.
The siblings expect more than 45 friends and family to attend the game. Thus far, the Falcons' Babineaux has been working on all the tickets.
"It's in my hands right now but, as soon as he gets into town, I'm going to be asking for some money," the lineman said with a laugh. "I'm taking more of the hit on this end down here in the South. It's going to be a good experience for everyone to come out here and watch us play. Some people haven't seen us out on the field since high school."
The brothers attended separate universities and have only played against each other on the pro level once, in 2004. Jonathan is expecting a heated competition.
"It's going to be a good game," he said. "I'm pretty sure he's going to have his A-game and I'm definitely going to bring mine."
Jonathan leads Falcons defensive lineman with 48 tackles (two sacks) and entered the starting lineup after Rod Coleman was placed on injured reserve midway through the season. Jordan is a reserve in Seattle, but has played both cornerback and safety for the Seahawks.
"He has been a nickel and dime back for us and he has a nickname out here," Seattle head coach Mike Holmgren said Wednesday. "They call him 'Big Play.' He's been involved in some very important plays the last few years as far as the Seahawks are concerned. He's a good guy and a very athletic, good player."
INJURY REPORT: The Falcons held several injured players out of practice on Wednesday including rookie defensive end Jamaal Anderson, wide receiver Michael Jenkins and safety Lawyer Milloy.
Interim Head Coach Emmitt Thomas expects Milloy and Anderson to be ready for Sunday. The team also placed lineman Terrance Pennington (pectoral) on injured reserve Tuesday afternoon.
"Lawyer is a little bit (hurt) but he'll be starting and playing," Thomas said. "Jamaal Anderson just has a little nick -- a thigh and knee bruise. He'll be able to play. Pennington was injured. He's going to have surgery today or tomorrow so he's out for the year."
YOUTH MOVEMENT: Thomas fielded several questions about the team's younger players after Wednesday's practice about playing time given the team's 3-12 record. His answers were as no-nonsense as his personality.
Injuries alone will require some younger players to play more, but the team very much wants a victory in Week 17 no matter what the playoff-bound Seahawks decide to do in terms of resting players.
"We need a win and we're not in the playoff hunt," Thomas said. "So we're going to play our veteran guys."
The coach said fans could expect some younger players, including safety Daren Stone, running back Jason Snelling and cornerback Brent Grimes.
FAMILIAR FACE: Seattle defensive end Patrick Kerney, who leads the NFL with 14.5 sacks, said Wednesday that moving to the West Coast has been one of the biggest adjustments in switching from the Falcons to the Seahawks in the offseason.
"It's wild," he said. "I've been an East Coast guy my whole life," he said in a conference call with Atlanta media. "It's a huge change. I'm used to away trips being an hour-and-half or two hour flight. Now, as you can imagine, we have some long flights."
Kerney said he still watches the Falcons when he can and has been impressed with several of his old teammates in what has been a rough season for the Birds.
"You still see flashes of guys playing great," Kerney said. "Jerious Norwood is a very special player -- an explosive guy on offense. You watch John Abraham and he could be sitting with so many more sacks right now if quarterbacks would just hold the ball a fraction of a second longer. He's there every time."
Falcons players have also been watching Kerney.
"The last two years he wasn't fully healthy and this year he's out there like a gladiator," Babineaux said.
"He's always been a guy that's given it everything he's got," added center Todd McClure, who joined the team the same year as Kerney. "It's good to see guys you came in with and that you played with having success so I'm glad for him -- just as long as he doesn't have (success) this week."
BIG PLAY LAURENT: Rookie wide receiver Laurent Robinson got his first professional score last week at Arizona -- a 74-yard strike from Chris Redman.
A touchdown catch is a real icebreaker for a receiver, and Robinson would like to add at least one more before his first year comes to a close.
"I'm just glad I finally reached it," he said. "I've been waiting for it all season but it's over with now so I have to move on to next week. Once you've been there you constantly want to get back there. It's a stepping stone. I just have to keep moving forward and keep getting better each week."
Robinson ranks fourth on the team with 36 catches and third in receiving yards (426). He leads the Falcons with an 11.8-yard per catch average.
2008 OPPONENTS: With the last game of the season coming up, the Falcons' 2008 opponent list is starting to take shape. Only two opponents are based on previous-season finish, with one already locked.
At home next year the Falcons will play Tampa Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, Chicago, Detroit, Denver, Kansas City and St. Louis (the fourth-place finisher in the NFC West). On the road the team will face Tampa Bay, Carolina, New Orleans, San Diego, Oakland, Green Bay and Minnesota. The Falcons will also travel to the last-place finisher in the NFC East, which could be either Washington or Philadelphia depending on this week's games.
