FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. – Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was named the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year in an announcement by the Associated Press today.
This season, Ryan completed 265 of 434 passes for 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns and 11 interceptions for an 87.7 passer rating. He also contributed with 104 rushing yards and one rushing touchdown. His 3,440 passing yards ranks sixth in a single-season in Falcons annals as he became only the second rookie quarterback ever in the NFL to amass over 3,000 passing yards. Ryan became one of two rookie quarterbacks in the NFL since 2003 to start a regular season opener. He guided Atlanta to an 11-5 record, which made him the first rookie quarterback in franchise history to win 11 games. Ryan also became the first quarterback in club history to reach the 3,000-yard passing plateau. Along with Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, Ryan became the first rookie quarterback to start all 16 regular season games and lead his team to the playoffs.
On his first career NFL passing attempt against the Detroit Lions in Week 1, Ryan found wide receiver Michael Jenkins for a 62-yard touchdown to become the first quarterback in the NFL since 2000 to throw a TD on his first career passing attempt. He led Atlanta to a 7-1 record at the Georgia Dome and guided the Falcons to a 6-2 mark in games decided by one score or less this year.
For his performance in the month of October, Ryan earned NFC Rookie of the Month accolades, becoming the first player in franchise history to accomplish the feat. In October, Ryan and the Falcons defeated the Green Bay Packers at historic Lambeau Field in Week 5 and posted a victory against the Chicago Bears in Week 6. Against the Bears, Ryan tallied his first career 300-yard passing game (301) and completed a 26-yard pass to Jenkins with one second remaining to set up kicker Jason Elam’s game-winning field goal. During the month of October, Ryan completed 61 of 100 passes for 772 yards and five touchdowns.
One week after being named NFC Rookie of the Month, the Falcons posted a shutout over the Oakland Raiders (24-0) at Oakland Alameda County Coliseum. In that game, Ryan registered the ninth-highest NFL passer rating in a single game this season with a 138.4 mark. For his efforts, he was named NFC Offensive Player of the Week.
This season, Ryan totaled a streak of nine consecutive 200-yard passing games from Weeks 6-15 and notched eight contests with a 65.0 completion percentage or higher. He also ranked second in the league in yards per completion with a 12.98 average.
Ryan is the only player in franchise history to earn offensive rookie of the year honors. He joins linebacker Tommy Nobis (1966-76) and defensive end Claude Humphrey (1968-74, 76-78) as the only other Falcons to earn rookie of the year accolades (both defensive rookie of the year).
The Falcons will head out west to University of Phoenix Stadium for a NFC Wild Card meeting against the Arizona Cardinals on Saturday, January 3, 2009, at 4:30 p.m. EST. Atlanta earned the fifth seed in the NFC Playoff race following a victory against the St. Louis Rams, 31-27, in the season final at the Georgia Dome.
MORE ON THE FALCONS-CARDINALS GAME:
- NOTEBOOK: Special teams carry NFL record into playoffs
- PREVIEW PACK: More on the Falcons-Cardinals playoff game
- RELEASE: Ryan named Offensive Rookie of the Year | What They're Saying
- BLOGS: More Falcons news from the AF.com blog crew
- J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: News and comment from the Managing Editor | Birdseed
- TWIGS: Project Notes: Intro Video Visual Effects
- FLIPPING OUT: Cheerleader of the Game: Part 1 | Part 2
- VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Ryan | Jenkins | McClure | Abraham | Turner | Houston
- FOE AUDIO: Kurt Warner | Ken Whisenhunt
- NFL NETWORK: Anatomy of a Play | Birds of Flight
- VANTAGE POINT: Highlights from the Falcons victory over St. Louis
- RELEASE: Falcons365 store locations to close
- TRANSCRIPT: Smith, Falcons turn attention toward Cardinals
