EDITOR'S NOTE: Over the next two weeks AtlantaFalcons.com will review the Falcons 2008 season four games at a time. Today we look at games one through four. Check back Thursday for games five through eight. Click here to recap the Falcons entire season.
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Falcons made a statement from the opening plays of the 2008 season, notching a long touchdown run and a scoring toss on rookie quarterback Matt Ryan's first professional pass. That was followed by a tough road loss, which was followed by a return home and a big win, which was followed by another tough loss. It was four games of ups and downs for the Birds but the opening quarter did show the team would be competitive in 2008.
Atlanta Falcons 34, Detroit Lions 21
The Georgia Dome
Week 1
Michael Turner rushed for a franchise-record 220 yards and scored two touchdowns as the Falcons defeated the Detroit Lions 34-21 in the 2008 opener.
Atlanta exploded out of the gate, scoring on the first three offensive possessions and racking up 216 yards of total offense in the opening period. Quarterback Matt Ryan's first pass attempt of the season -- and his career -- was a 62-yard scoring strike to Michael Jenkins. That was followed by 66- and 5-yard touchdown runs by Turner.
A 21-0 lead -- and a season-opening victory also seemed to breathe new life into a fan base that witnessed just four 'W's' in a tumultuous 2007. Each score in the Falcons first-quarter barrage met with boisterous approval from the 62,310 inside the refurbished Georgia Dome. Ryan, who became the first rookie to start a season for the Falcons since Steve Bartkowski in 1975, finished with a solid 161 passing yards and 137.0 quarterback rating. Turner led a ground game that picked up a franchise-record 318 rushing yards (7.6 yards per carry). The amount of big plays resulted in plenty of big celebrations, as Falcons players danced around the field almost nonstop during the game.
The defense surrendered 14-second quarter points, but reasserted itself on the Lions opening drive of the third quarter with a Lawyer Milloy interception. The 13-year veteran returned the ball 38 yards back to the lions 49. Four plays later, Jason Elam kicked a 50-yard field goal to open a 24-14 lead.
Turner and Jerious Norwood were nothing short of dominant in the second half (158 rushing yards) as they darted through holes in the middle of the defense and delivered hits to tiring Lions defenders. The Falcons talked throughout the offseason and training camp about establishing an identity based on toughness and a punishing run game.
“It was a great win for our team," Milloy said. "I know that there are not a lot of people that have high expectations for our team, but we have expectations for ourselves and I thought that we showed that effort.”
QUOTABLE: “We’ve said from the very beginning that we are going to be a team that runs the football," Head Coach Mike Smith said. "When you run the football, you can dictate to a defense. Prior to the draft, we spoke about being a physical football team and on both sides of the line of scrimmage. We pretty much set a statement in training camp that that’s what we wanted to do. We rushed for 100 yards in all four of our preseason games. We really did a nice job today. Michael Turner and Jerious (Norwood) both ran extremely well.”
FROM THE BLOG: Everyone knew Turner had the ability to be a game breaker but his time chasing the spotlight of an All-Pro running back left just enough doubt to make him a league-wide curiosity. I guess we got answers to those questions.
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-LIONS GAME:
- GAME CENTER: Stats and more in the NFL.com Game Center
- GAME RECAP: Turner leads Falcons to opening victory
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Georgia Dome press box
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24, Atlanta Falcons 9
Raymond James Stadium
Week 2
Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan threw the first interceptions of his career into an aggressive Buccaneers defense as the Falcons fell to their division rival 24-9 at Raymond James Stadium.
Ryan rebounded and the Birds showed incredible heart in the second half, but didn't overcome first-half miscues. He misfired on his first nine pass attempts as the offense struggled to get into the powerful groove it established in a Week 1 victory over Detroit.
The Falcons defense held the Bucs to 36 net rushing yards in the first half -- the lowest total in a half since the 2006 season finale -- but Tampa Bay did just enough in the run game to stay on the move. Former Falcon Warrick Dunn rushed for 49 yards on 12 carries in the game including a 17-yard touchdown. The score -- a gutsy draw play on third-and-goal from the 17 -- gave his team a 14-0 lead midway through the second quarter.
Jason Elam kicked a 32-yard field goal to get the Falcons on the scoreboard and the team scored again with 6:43 remaining in the third quarter with a 27-yard field goal. Defensive end John Abraham sacked Griese and forced a fumble in the red zone that was recovered by Jason Jefferson. Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux also had a sack in the game.
The play kicked off a key drive for the Birds, who drove into Bucs territory and took two cracks at the end zone with Ryan's arm. The quarterback was forced to throw it away on both attempts, however, bringing in Elam for a 25-yard field goal which made the score 17-9 with 5:12 remaining.
Bucs running back Earnest Graham notched a 68-yard touchdown run on the next series to put the game away.
QUOTABLE: “It was tough man, they came out to a good start at the beginning of the game and we couldn’t battle back and get it close enough," Abraham said. "They showed what good defense should play like and they played very good. We can take notes on this, just personally, and try to see if we want to be good, that’s what we have to play through.”
FROM THE BLOG: "In retrospect, close to everything went right for the Falcons in a big Week 1 win. Now they have the tape showing some things that went wrong."
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-BUCS GAME:
- GAME CENTER: Stats and more in the NFL.com Game Center
- GAME RECAP: Falcons fall to Bucs, 24-9
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from Raymond James Stadium
Atlanta Falcons 28, Kansas City Chiefs 14
The Georgia Dome
Week 3
Five touchdowns, 378 yards on offense, three interceptions, a defensive score and a tie for the NFC South lead. Welcome home, Falcons.
The Birds improved to 2-0 at the Georgia Dome with an impressive 38-14 win over the Kansas City Chiefs..
Running back Michael Turner rushed for 104 yards and a career-high three touchdowns while rookie quarterback Matt Ryan found Roddy White on a 70-yard touchdown as the offense recovered from a rough outing in Week 2. Defensive backs Erik Coleman, Brent Grimes and Chris Houston each recorded an interception off second-year quarterback Tyler Thigpen, who was starting his first NFL game. Houston returned his for a touchdown late in the game and the defense opened the game by forcing five straight three-and-outs.
Turner's three rushing touchdowns tied for the second-most in franchise history while Ryan's big completion to White set the team mark for longest scoring pass by a rookie. It also marked the longest reception of White's career. White finished the day with five catches for 119 yards and a touchdown. Ryan didn't throw an interception for the second time this season and completed 12-of-18 passes for 192 yards (120.6 passer rating).
The defense held the Chiefs to just 7 yards and zero first downs in the first quarter while Coleman and Grimes interceptions led to a Jason Elam field goal and the second of Turner's touchdowns. Defensive end John Abraham chipped in with two sacks and a forced fumble.
Kansas City managed consecutive touchdown drives to pull within 14 points with 9:42 remaining in the third quarter but Turner and the offense responded, putting together a 60-yard drive that ended with a third-quarter touchdown effectively putting the game away.
QUOTABLE: “I thought it came down to execution," Ryan said. "Coming into the game, we had a good game plan and we were able to stick to it. The coaches put us in good position all week long in practice. Our job was then to apply today on the field, which we were able to do. It’s that plain and simple. The offensive line did their job by anchoring the front and creating holes for Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood. It is great to have guys pushing the holes and also guys that can hit them fast. It makes for a good rushing game. It was fun as a quarterback to see all of the guys chip in.”
FROM THE BLOG: "When the updated NFL statistics roll out Tuesday morning the Falcons will likely see themselves in a place unheard of just a season ago: the top 10 in scoring."
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-CHIEFS GAME:
- GAME RECAP: Big performances help down Chiefs, 28-14
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Georgia Dome press box
- GAME CENTER: Stats and play-by-play on NFL.com game center
Carolina Panthers 24, Atlanta Falcons 9
Bank of America Stadium
Week 4
The Falcons hit the road this week determined to correct the mistakes that plagued them in their first division game. Unfortunately a 24-9 loss to the Carolina Panthers included some eerie -- and frustrating -- similarities to a Week 2 defeat at Tampa Bay.
The Falcons found a way to stick around for three quarters in Sunday's game at Bank of America Stadium but injuries, dropped passes and untimely penalties filled the afternoon. Atlanta lost starting strong safety Lawyer Milloy in the first half after he took a shot to the ribs and played the entire game without starting left tackle Sam Baker.
Holding calls extended the field on offense while six dropped passes kept the team from picking up momentum. The Falcons finished the day 2-of-13 on third down.
Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme finished the day 20-of-29 for 294 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He worked heavily against Falcons cornerback Brent Grimes with wide receiver Mushin Muhammad (eight catches for 147 yards and a score). Later in the game Delhomme worked the middle of the field attacking safeties Erik Coleman and Jamaal Fudge, who replaced Milloy.
Wide receiver Steve Smith, in his second game back after a two-game suspension, ran through the Falcons secondary to get open on a 56-yard touchdown play.
The Panthers lost starting offensive tackles Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah in the game to injury and also went several series without starting cornerback Ken Lucas. But that didn't stop the NFC South leaders from imposing their will on both sides of the ball and put up more than 400 yards of total offense.
The Falcons defense did not record a sack in the game and the Birds didn't convert a third down in the first half, but a no-huddle offense kept the Panthers off balance enough to create scoring opportunities. Unfortunately those scores came from the foot of Jason Elam. The Falcons stalled in the red zone as Michael Turner was held to 56 yards on the ground.
Elam connected on field goals of 33, 44 and 44 yards in the opening half to keep it a one-score game into the third quarter. The Panthers responded, however, with two scores in the second half -- a field goal and the game-clinching touchdown pass to Muhammad.
QUOTABLE: "We were not very good," Head Coach Mike Smith said. "I think we were 2-of-13 on third downs. Any time you are not converting on third down, you are going to put your defense back out there on the field, and your offense is going back over to the sidelines. I think it’s very important that we get better in our third down efficiency."
FROM THE BLOG: "For the first time this season defensive end John Abraham will go home after a game without recording a quarterback sack. He did block the first punt of his career but he and his teammates are upset that no one got to the quarterback."
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-PANTHERS GAME:
- GAME RECAP: Falcons "drop" division game in Charlotte
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Bank of America Stadium press box
- GAME CENTER: Stats and play-by-play on NFL.com game center
