ATLANTA -- Official game notes from the press box after the Falcons 31-27 victory over the St. Louis Rams on Dec. 28, 2008 at the Georgia Dome.
- With a 31-27 victory over the St. Louis Rams, the Falcons finished with an 11-5 record this season, the best mark for the franchise since 2004. Atlanta also finished the ’08 campaign with a 7-1 home record, the highest win total at the Georgia Dome since ‘04.
- Falcons wide receiver Roddy White finished the contest with three receptions for 48 yards, setting the franchise record for receiving yards in a season with 1,382. White topped the old mark held by Alfred Jenkins (1,358), which was set in 1981. White also recorded his seventh receiving touchdown of the season at the 12:20 mark in the third quarter to give Atlanta a 24-14 advantage. When White posts at least one touchdown grab in a game this season, the Falcons are 5-1.
- The Atlanta Falcons special teams unit recorded an NFL record for punt return yards allowed in a season. After holding the Rams to zero punt return yards, the Falcons finished with 49 yards this year, topping the old mark of 53 set by the Buffalo Bills in 1991.
- After logging 417 yards of net offense against St. Louis, the Falcons ended the regular season with a team record of 5,779 net yards. The total surpassed the previous record of 5,661 yards set in 1981.
- The Falcons offensive line set a franchise record allowing only 17 sacks in the regular season. The previous high was 25, which was set in 1982.
- Atlanta kicker Jason Elam totaled seven points against the Rams to give him 129 this season. Elam’s total is the second-highest scoring mark in a campaign in Falcons history and the highest total since 2002 (Jay Feely, 138).
- Running back Jerious Norwood sealed a Falcons 31-27 victory with a 45-yard touchdown run at the 3:41 mark in the fourth quarter. The rush is the fourth-longest of his career.
- In the second quarter, quarterback Matt Ryan completed a 41-yard strike to wide receiver Michael Jenkins to give Atlanta possession at the St. Louis four-yard line. The reception led to a Falcons touchdown and a 10-7 lead. The 41-yard catch is the second-longest reception for Jenkins this season and the fourth-longest of his career.
- Running back Michael Turner posted his eighth 100-yard rushing outing of the season, the 11th of his career and the second-highest rushing total in a game in his career after totaling 25 carries for 208 yards against St. Louis. The total marks the second time Turner went over the 200-yard mark this season and the second-highest rushing total in a single game in franchise history (besting Gerald Riggs, 202 yards in 1984). With his 208-yard game, Turner finished the regular season with 1,699 yards, which ranks third in a single-season in franchise history.
- After posting 25 carries against St. Louis, Turner finished the regular season with 376, which ranks second in club annals for a single-season.
- Turner posted his lone rushing touchdown of the game in the second quarter to give him 17 scores for the season. He set the franchise record with his 15th rushing touchdown against Tampa Bay in Week 15 en route to his record total.
- Running backs Turner and Norwood combined for three rushing touchdowns against the Rams, giving the Falcons 23 for the regular season. The 23 rushing touchdowns tie a team record, which was set in 2002.
- Turner finished the first half with 13 carries for 59 yards. This season when the fifth-year running back totals over 50 yards in the first half of play, Atlanta is 8-0.
- In the fourth quarter, Turner posted a 72-yard rushing, which marked the longest rush of the season for the Falcons and the fourth-longest in the team’s history.
- On the opening offensive possession for the St. Louis Rams, linebacker Stephen Nicholas dropped Rams quarterback Marc Bulger for a six-yard loss on a third down to force a punt. The sack was the second of Nicholas’ career and his first since the 2007 regular season final against Seattle (12/30).
- At the 7:11 mark in the second quarter, rookie defensive end Kroy Biermann dropped Bulger for an 11-yard loss on a fourth down to create the turnover on downs. The sack for Biermann was the second this season.
- Defensive end Chauncey Davis added the Falcons third sack of the game with the Rams driving on their final offensive possession of the game. The sack went for a loss of eight yards and led to a loss of downs. The sack for Davis is the fourth of the season for the four-year veteran and the eighth of his career.
- Following a St. Louis touchdown in the second quarter, Norwood returned the ensuing kickoff 92 yards, setting a career-high return and giving the Falcons possession at the Rams eight-yard line. After an incomplete pass, Norwood capped the scoring drive with an eight-yard touchdown. The 92-yard kickoff return is the sixth-longest in franchise history.
- Norwood returned five kickoffs for 192 yards against St. Louis marking the seventh-highest kickoff return yard total in a game in club annals.
- On the Falcons first offensive drive of the game, Ryan completed four of five passes for 51 yards including a 22-yard strike to Norwood, which led to a Elam field goal. This season when Atlanta scores first in a game, the team has posted an 8-0 record.
- Elam split the uprights on a 39-yard field goal on Atlanta’s first offensive possession of the game. The field goal placed Elam in a tie for third place in field goals made in a season (29).
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-RAMS GAME:
- GAME CENTER: Stats and more on the game from NFL.com
- GAME BLOG: Review the action from the game in the FalconsLIFE game blog
- GAME STORY: Falcons get past Rams, secure No. 5 seed in the playoffs
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Georgia Dome press box
- J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: More thoughts from the AF.com Managing Editor
- VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Ryan | Norwood | Davis | Foxworth | McClure
- NFL NETWORK: Michael Turner | Jerious Norwood | Matt Ryan | Highlights
- TRANSCRIPTS: Head Coach Mike Smith | Falcons | Rams
- FORUMS: Talk about the game -- and the playoffs -- with other fans
- 2009 OPPONENTS: Falcons opponents for next season
- INACTIVES: Inactives and starters from the Falcons-Rams game
- REVIEW AND RESPOND: Got a question about the game?
