ATLANTA -- Official game notes from the press box following the 24-20 loss to the Broncos at the Georgia Dome on November 16, 2008.
- Denver’s 24-20 win over the Falcons marked the first home loss for Atlanta this season. The Falcons 4-0 record in the Georgia Dome this year was the best start to the season on home turf dating back to 1998.
- Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan opened the contest having completed eight of 10 passes for 100 yards including a 35-yard strike to wide receiver Roddy White at the end of the first quarter. The pass led to a 36-yard field goal. Ryan connected again with White for a 37-yard strike in the second quarter, which led to a touchdown. The two passes of 30-plus yards to White marked this first time this season Ryan completed two passes of 30-plus yards in a game.
- For the seventh occasion this season, Ryan totaled 130-plus first half passing yards after logging 145 against Denver. Ryan’s highest total this season came at Oakland with a 184-yard first half performance.
- Ryan completed 20 of 33 passes for 250 yards against the Broncos. His 250 passing yards marked the third-highest total in a game for the rookie quarterback this season.
- Running back Michael Turner logged his eighth touchdown of the season on a nine-yard rush in the second quarter to give the Falcons a 13-7 lead. The touchdown marked the first time Turner posted back-to-back touchdowns in games this season. Turner tallied his second score (28 yards) at the 10:41 mark of the fourth quarter to give the Falcons a 20-17 lead.
- Turner’s two-touchdown game is the third multiple-touchdown game of his career with all three coming this season. The first was against Detroit in the season opener when he logged two scores. Turner accomplished the feat again two weeks later when his registered three touchdowns against Kansas City.
- Turner’s 28-yard touchdown run was his second-longest scoring rush of the season. His longest came against the Detroit Lions in the season opener with a 66-yard touchdown in a Falcons victory.
- Wide receiver Brian Finneran caught three passes for 31 yards against Denver, all of which set a new set of downs for the Falcons. In his career, the nine-year veteran has caught 126 of 186 receptions that have gone for a first down or touchdown (67.7 percent).
- White caught five passes for 102 yards, marking his fifth 100-yard game this season and the 12th of his career.
- Atlanta’s defense held the Broncos to eight rushing yards in the first quarter, which marked the ninth occasion this season a Falcons opponent was held to under 20 rushing yards in the first quarter of play. Denver’s eight first quarter rushing yards was the fifth lowest total for an Atlanta opponent this season in the opening 15 minutes of play.
- Following Denver’s touchdown on its opening possession of the game, the Falcons defense held the Broncos to four three-and-outs while allowing only 28 yards.
- Falcons defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux posted his second sack of the season and the 6.5th of his career with 15 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The sack stalled Denver’s fifth offensive possession of the game and forced a punt.
- On Atlanta’s second offensive possession, kicker Jason Elam split the uprights on his first attempt of the game from 46 yards. The kick marked his 14th consecutive kick from 40-49 yards. Elam later knocked a 36-yard field goal through the uprights at the 12:33 mark in the second quarter to cut the Denver lead to 7-6.
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-BRONCOS GAME:
- GAMEDAY LIVE: Complete coverage of the Falcons loss to the Broncos
- GAME CENTER: Stats and more from NFL.com
- GAME RECAP: Turner's touchdowns aren't enough to carry Falcons
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Georgia Dome press box
- GAME BLOG: Live notes and commentary in the official game blog
- RING OF HONOR: Vote for the next member of the Falcons Ring of Honor
- VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Ryan | Abraham | White | McClure
- HIGHLIGHTS: Game highlights from NFL Network | Michael Turner Highlights
- J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: News and more from the AF.com Managing Editor
- TRANSCRIPTS: Head Coach Mike Smith | Falcons | Broncos
- INACTIVES: Inactives and starters from the Falcons-Broncos Game
- REVIEW AND RESPOND: Ask your questions about the game with Voices Heard
- PHOTOS: Images from the Falcons 24-20 loss to the Denver Broncos
- DISCUSS: Talk about the game with other fans on FalconsLIFE
