ATLANTA -- Running back Michael Turner rushed for two touchdowns, including a 28-yard score to give the Falcons a fourth-quarter lead, but it wasn't enough as the Denver Broncos left the Georgia Dome Sunday afternoon with a 24-20 win.
Turner's last score of the day put the Falcons up 20-17 with 10:41 remaining. That brought a sold-out crowd to life but they could do nothing but watch as Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler piloted his team on a 10-play, 86-yard drive into the red zone.
Cutler hit tight end Daniel Graham with a 9-yard pass for a touchdown with 5:35 remaining. The Falcons moved the ball to the Denver 45 and took a shot to the end zone, but Matt Ryan's last-chance pass on fourth-and-18 flew over the head of wide receiver Michael Jenkins.
“It was a tough game out there today," Head Coach Mike Smith said. "We faced a really good out-of-conference opponent. My hat goes off to Coach (Mike) Shanahan and his staff. They won the football game. They were the better team. Watching the game in person, I felt like we played hard. We have a lot of things that we have to clean up. We’ve got to be more consistent for 60 minutes."
Atlanta trailed twice in the game but fought back with gritty running from Turner, who finished with 81 rushing yards, and clutch plays from Ryan and his receivers. The team was 11-of-18 on third down (61 percent) but didn't stay on the field when it mattered most.
The defense also played well in spurts, closing out the first half by forcing four-straight three-and-outs.
Denver (6-4) started the game with a score on the opening drive when reserve fullback Peyton Hillis slammed into the end zone from 7 yards out. Atlanta (6-4) tried to catch a banged-up Broncos defense off guard in the passing game but struggled out of the gate. The Falcons managed a pair of Jason Elam field goals to open the game and trailed 7-6 in the second quarter.
But, after a missed field goal by Broncos kicker Matt Prater, the Falcons went on the move.
Seven plays after the Denver miscue Turner was in the end zone for his first touchdown, a 9-yard run through the middle of the defense. The drive included a key, third-down completion to Roddy White that went for 37 yards into the red zone.
White finished with game-high 102 yards on five catches. He said Sunday's loss would be tough to swallow and took blame for an incompletion in the end zone with 1:16 left that could have given the Falcons a win.
Ryan, who threw for 250 yards and an interception in the game, rolled out of the pocket and found White but the ball slipped through his hands as he fell toward the ground.
"I have to go out there and make those plays," White said. "I feel responsible for the loss today. I had an opportunity and I didn’t take advantage of it... When they expect me to go out there and make plays for us to win, I have to go out there and make those. It’s a tough one. We should be celebrating right now, but we have to bounce back and play hard next week.”
Denver took a 14-13 lead in the third quarter with a 2-yard touchdown run by Hillis -- a rookie that started the season as a fullback. A goal-line stand by the Falcons defense forced a Prater field goal that pushed the lead to four with 14:56 to play in the game.
The Broncos converted every third down they faced in the final period as momentum shifted. Cutler threw for 70 yards in the fourth quarter and wrapped up the game with 216 yards through the air, a touchdown and a 106.4 passer rating.
"I felt the energy during the game and on the sidelines," Falcons linebacker Keith Brooking said. "In this league you have to bring your 'A' game each and every week. We came out with great energy, but during a couple of plays we just couldn’t stop their momentum. It was not a lack of focus, energy, or intensity. They were just the better team today.”
The loss is tough to accept when victory was so close. But the Falcons must regroup quickly with the NFC South-leading Carolina Panthers set to visit the Dome next week.
“We can’t afford to waste time thinking about this loss," said wide receiver Brian Finneran, who had four catches (all for first downs). "We have to go right back to work. You have to have a short-term memory playing in the NFL. You just have to keep fighting in this league. We have a lot of good players on this squad and I know we’ll do that. We have to watch film tomorrow, make the necessary adjustments and figure out how to attack Carolina. Hopefully, we’ll bounce back, and get a win next week.”
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
