FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was named NFC Rookie of the Month becoming the first player in franchise history to earn conference rookie of the month accolades.
In three games this October, Ryan completed 61 of 100 passes for 772 yards and five touchdowns while leading the Falcons to a 2-1 record. Atlanta defeated the Green Bay Packers by a 27-24 margin on October 5 as Ryan threw for 194 yards with two touchdown completions. The second victory of the month was an unprecedented comeback against the Chicago Bears with a 22-20 win. In that game, Ryan completed 22 of 30 (73.3 pct.) passes for 301 yards (his first career 300-yard passing outing) and a 116.1 passer rating. With 11 seconds remaining in the game, Ryan completed a 26-yard pass to wide receiver Michael Jenkins, setting up the game-winning field goal as time expired from kicker Jason Elam. Ryan also completed one touchdown pass to wide receiver Roddy White in the fourth quarter, which was his fifth scoring strike of the season and posted a new season-high in first half passing yards with 159 on 14 completions.
Last Sunday, the Falcons fell to the Philadelphia Eagles, however, Ryan totaled 277 passing yards in the outing while throwing two touchdown strikes to wide receiver Roddy White. It was the second game in the month that Ryan had thrown two touchdown passes in a game.
Currently, Ryan has completed 116 of 205 passes for 1,441 yards and seven touchdowns and is on pace to rank sixth on the Falcons top 10 list for passing yards in a season at the end of the 2008 campaign.
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