Falcons-Buccaneers Game Notes

ATLANTA -- Official Falcons-Bucs game notes straight from the Georgia Dome press box after the Falcons' 13-10 overtime win over the division-rival Buccaneers at the Georgia Dome on Dec.14, 2008...

• With a 13-10 overtime win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Falcons improved their record to 6-1 at the Georgia Dome, split the season series with Tampa Bay for the first time since 2004 and have posted their highest win total in a season (nine) since 2004 (11-5) with two games remaining.
• Falcons kicker Jason Elam split the uprights on a game-winning 34-yard field goal attempt in overtime to earn a 13-10 Falcons victory. The field goal was the second game-winning kick for Elam this season (Week 6 vs. Chicago). The field goal was also set up by a running back Michael Turner 17-yard rush on a second down play to the Tampa Bay 18-yard line.
• The Falcons played in their first overtime contest since December 23, 2007 when they lost to the Arizona Cardinals 30-27. Atlanta’s last overtime victory prior to today’s game against Tampa Bay came in a home contest against the Carolina Panthers on December 18, 2004 (34-31).
• On his first reception of the game, wide receiver Roddy White caught a 30-yard pass and moved into ninth place in career receiving yards in team history, passing Stacey Bailey (3,422). White’s reception also led to a Falcons touchdown. The fourth-year receiver also led the team with four catches for 61 yards.
• Turner posted his 15th rushing touchdown of the season in the first quarter, setting a new franchise mark for rushing touchdowns in a season. Turner topped Jamal Anderson’s previous record of 14 in 1998.
• Turner tallied his seventh 100-yard game this season and the 10th of his career after finishing with 152 yards on 32 rushes against Tampa Bay. Turner’s total gives him 1,421 yards this season, which surpasses Warrick Dunn’s total of 1,416 yards for the fifth-most rushing yards in a season.
• Turner caught two passes for 30 yards, both of which went for his first two receiving first downs this season.
• Matt Ryan became the first Falcons rookie quarterback in franchise history to throw for over 3,000 yards in a season after finishing with 206 yards against Tampa Bay. Ryan’s passing total also makes him only the 10th quarterback in club annals to hit the 3,000-yard mark and the first since 1998 (Chris Chandler, 3,154).
• Ryan completed 15 of 23 passes for 206 yards and a 65.2 completion percentage. Ryan has now recorded seven consecutive games completing 60 percent or better of his passes and has totaled 11 games of 14 this season reaching the mark.
• With 206 passing yards against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Ryan has now posted nine consecutive games with over 200 passing yards.
• The Falcons outscored Tampa Bay 10-0 in the first quarter of play marking the 14th contest this season Atlanta has outscored an opponent in the opening 15 minutes of play. The Falcons have scored 104 first quarter points and have limited their opponent to 38. The Buccaneers zero points in the first quarter also marked the eighth time this year Atlanta’s defense has shut out an opponent in the opening period of play. Entering Sunday’s game, the Falcons 104 first quarter points led the NFL while their 38 first quarter points allowed ranked fourth.
• Atlanta’s defensive unit limited the Buccaneers to nine first quarter rushing yards. The total was the 12th game in 14 contests this season the defense held their opponent to under 20 first quarter rushing yards.
• Falcons defensive end John Abraham posted his 13.5th,14.5th and 15.5th sacks of the season when he dropped Buccaneers quarterback Brian Griese for a nine-yard loss in the second quarter, an 11-yard loss in the fourth quarter and a 13-yard loss in overtime. The game marked his third three-sack performance this season. The sacks were Abraham’s 15.5th, 16.5th and 17.5th in his last 15 games, his 23.5th, 24.5th and 25.5th in his last 29 contests and the 81st, 82nd and 83rd of his career. As a Falcon, Abraham has posted 29.5 sacks in 37 games played. His 15.5 sacks this season set a new-single season high for the nine-year veteran, topping his previous high of 13.0, which he set with the New York Jets in 2001. His 15.5 sacks also rank second in a season in Falcons annals.

• Falcons defensive tackle Grady Jackson logged his second sack of the season in the third quarter on a Tampa Bay third down play to force a punt. The sack was also the 35.5th of his career.
• Atlanta cornerback Domonique Foxworth intercepted his first career pass as an Atlanta Falcon in the third quarter, which was also the fourth of his career. The INT was the first for the Falcons in four weeks (November 9, 2008 vs. New Orleans).
• Safety Lawyer Milloy topped the 100-tackle plateau for the 11th season (sixth consecutive year) in his 13-year playing career. Safety Erik Coleman also reached the 100-tackle mark this season following his performance against Tampa Bay.
•  Elam posted his 26th field goal of the season (the first of the game) at the 6:50 mark in the first quarter to give Atlanta a 3-0. Elam added the overtime game-winning field goal and an extra point to give him seven points on the day. His total gives him 116 points on the season, which ranks fourth in the team’s history.

MORE FROM THE FALCONS-BUCS GAME:

• GAME CENTER: Stats and more on the game from NFL.com
• GAME RECAP: Turner, defensive stops key in overtime victory
• GAME NOTES: Falcons and Bucs game notes straight from the Georgia Dome press box
• GAME BLOG: Notes on the Falcons victory over the Bucs on FalconsLIFE
• J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: News and comment from the managing editor
• VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Ryan | White | Foxworth | Turner | Elam | Abraham
• NFL NETWORK: Falcons-Bucs Game Highlights
• TRANSCRIPTS: Head Coach Mike Smith | Falcons | Bucs
• INACTIVES: Inactives and starters from the Falcons-Bucs game
• FORUMS: Talk about the game with other fans on FalconsLIFE
• PHOTOS: Images from Falcons-Bucs games present and past