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Falcons win in Buffalo

Late score lifts team to first preseason win 

AF.com's J. Michael Moore recaps the Falcons 13-10 preseason victory at Buffalo.»

 

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Postgame Quotes

Falcons players and coaches react to the first preseason win and the team's play against the Bills in Buffalo.

Friday Aug. 17, 2007

Russell Falcons Training Camp Coverage

Day One -- Thursday, July 26
3 p.m. Practice


Day Two -- Friday, July 27
8:30 a.m. Practice (Closed to Public)
6:00 p.m. Practice


Day Three -- Saturday, July 28
3 p.m. Practice (Youth Football/Cheerleader Day)


Day Four -- Sunday, July 29
8:30 a.m. Practice
6:00 p.m. Practice


Day Five -- Monday, July 30
3:00 practice


Day Six -- Tuesday, July 31
8:30 practice


Day Seven -- Wednesday, Aug. 1
3:00 practice


Day Eight -- Thursday, Aug. 2
8:30 a.m. Practice (Closed to Public)
6:00 p.m. Practice


Day Nine -- Friday, Aug. 3
3:00 p.m. Practice


 Day 10 -- Saturday, Aug. 4
Midtown Touchdown
Piedmont Park/Grady High School


Day 11 -- Sunday, Aug. 5
No Practice


Day 12 -- Monday, Aug. 6
8:30 a.m. Practice (Closed to Public)
6:00 p.m. Practice


Day 13 -- Tuesday, Aug. 7
3:00 p.m. Practice


Day 14 -- Wednesday, Aug. 8
8:30 a.m. Practice (Closed to Public)
6:00 p.m. Practice


Day 15 -- Thursday, Aug. 9
No Practice


Day 16 -- Friday, Aug. 10
Preseason Game at New York Jets
7:00 p.m.


Day 17 -- Saturday, Aug. 11
No Practice

Day 18 -- Sunday, Aug. 12
No Practice


Day 20 -- Monday, Aug. 13
8:30 a.m. Practice (Closed to Public)
6:00 p.m. Practice


Day 21 -- Tuesday, Aug. 14
3:00 p.m. Practice (Last Practice Day Open to Public)


Day 22 -- Wednesday, Aug. 15
8:30 a.m. Practice (Closed to Public)


Day 23 -- Thursday, Aug. 16
No Practice


Day 24 -- Friday, Aug. 17
Preseaon Game at Buffalo Bills
7:00 p.m.


J. Mike's Missives


Fourth Quarter Notes


1:28: A massive hit by Trey Lewis on fourth down forced an incompletion and a turnover on downs by the Bills. That's all for me as the Falcons look to run out the clock and I make it to the bus. Good night.

2:38: Redman finds tight end George Cooper in the back corner of the end zone for a touchdown. Cundiff's extra point gives the team a 13-10 lead.

4:04: Shockley is down after his third big scramble of the night. Shockley broke out of the pocket and picked up a first down in the red zone (the 14-yard line). The quarterback went down awkwardly when his knee gave way on a cutback... The cart is out on the 10 yard line and Shockley is being helped on in the midst of a huddle of Falcons. More to come on the injury postgame...

7:02: The offense is on the move with help from Shockley's legs. The quarterback just scrambled for the second straight play and set up fourth-and-2 at the Bills 38. The team works now from the shotgun and finds Vincent Marshall for a first down at the Bills 29.

9:48: D.J. Shockley checks into the game at quarterback.

10:06: Wide receiver Jaimen Elliot has been taken off the field with an injury and is not expected to return.

11:31: Sometimes you can't get a break. Bills halfback Fred Jackson just caught a batted ball near the sideline that went for 3 yards and a first down. The Bills have made the game methodical now, chewing up clock in the game's final quarter.

9:33 p.m.
J. Michael Moore


Third Quarter Notes


1:39: The Falcons try to pull out a little trickery on a reverse but Harris never got control of the pitch from the quarterback and the team had to fall on the ball to prevent a turnover.

5:57: The Falcons just notched their third sack of the night, this one came courtesy linebacker Travis Williams. The hit goes for a 7-yard loss and sets up third-and-19. As a whole, the Falcons defense hasn't given up as many big plays as last week, especially against the run. To this point, the Bills only have two first downs on the ground.

9:58: Edwards has the Bills on the board with the first touchdown of the night (and a 10-6 lead), finding Roscoe Parish for a touchdown in the back corner of the end zone. Rookie cornerback Chris Houston almost knocked the ball away but his diving attempt came up just short.

11:16: Redman is still in at quarterback and is feeling some heat. Anthony Hargrove just sacked the signal-caller for a loss of 1-yard. He fumbled on the play, but the Falcons recovered. The team wasn't so lucky the next play as a screen pass intended for Arlen Harris was intercepted by Hargrove and returned 5 yards to the Falcons 10.

12:39: Trent Edwards has checked in at quarterback for the Bills and is moving the Bills toward midfield with the no-huddle offense. The but the team now faces a third-and-long after a sack by Jimmy Williams, who started the second half at safety.

9:14 p.m.
J. Michael Moore


Second Quarter Notes


0:05: Cundiff just ended the half with a missed 54-yard field goal attempt.

0:27: The Falcons may have that final-second drive just yet. The Falcons have the ball back after another defensive stop (this one by the No. 2 defense). Redman just scampered up the middle for 12 yards to get the team toward midfield. Also, Snelling has returned to the game.

2:31: Turns out this drive ended just like the Falcons final drive of the first half last week. Cundiff is now 5-of-5 after a nailing a 46-yard field goal to give the Falcons a 6-3 lead.

3:42: I'm getting flashbacks to last week when Redman led a drive in the closing moments of the second quarter that ended in a field goal. Well, the defense just forced a punt and -- while it's not as late in the half as last week -- Redman just hit Robinson on a crossing route that, with some nifty moves, went for 32-yards to the Buffalo 38.

As an aside Robinson, who has three catches for 48 yards, is showing the moves and ability the coaching staff has been talking about all through training camp.

5:27: Cundiff just tied the game with a 32-yard field goal. We're also getting conflicting reports from the stat system as to what Harrington's final numbers were -- the final word is 4-of-7 for 31 yards and an interceptions.

8:56: Mughelli continues to make news now as tailback. The veteran hauled in a low pass from Chris Redman on fourth down and spun away from a tackle to give the Falcons first-and-10 at the Bills 44.

11:16: Mughelli threw a block to free Adam Jennings for a 48-yard kickoff return to the Bills 47.

11:30: The defense just recorded another stop but Lindell doesn't miss on a 48-yard try. The Bills lead 3-0.

12:49: Joey Harrington is still in the game for the Falcons first drive of the second quarter and just showed some quick thinking by moving out of the pocket before hitting Snelling with a shovel pass. The rookie was hit by Coy Wire right as he turned up field and the ball popped right into the hands of John McCargo.

Snelling stayed on the field for several moments before slowly walking to the Falcons sideline. Officially the play goes as a completed pass and a fumble and recovery at the Atlanta 37.

8:27
J. Michael Moore


First Quarter Notes


1:36: The Falcons next drive may have ended in a punt into the wind, but Michael Koenen must have rubbed his rabbit's foot before taking the field. The kick just hit a wall of wind and dropped nearly 90 degrees down, but a bounce pushed the pigskin all the way to the Bills 2, where Losman and Co. will now take over.

3:08: A bad snap goes for a loss of 20 with Losman lucky he was able to fall on the ball amongst a gaggle of Falcons defenders giving chase. The play sabotages the Bills again, who bring in Rian Lindell for a 55-yard field goal attempt that he pushes wide to the left.

3:53: Buffalo has the ball back. Harrington just threw his first interception of the preseason on a pass intended for Roddy White. Terrence McGee was the culprit, picking the ball just shy of the 50 and spinning out of a hit by Kynan Forney on the return down to the Falcons 23. It should be noted the throw was into the wind.

4:34: The Bills are getting ready to punt. A holding penalty and a big hit on Marshawn Lynch by John Abraham pushed Buffalo out of first-down range. Brian Moorman's punt bounds into the end zone, so the Falcons offense is taking the field again -- this time from the 20.

Listening to Wes Durham on the DAVE FM radio call and he's described the windy conditions the best: "A two-club wind."

6:57: Third-and-6 from the Buffalo 17 and J.P. Losman goes to the shotgun. He sees one-on-one coverage by Lewis Sanders on Lee Evans and a high-arching pass lands complete for 36 yards into Falcons territory.

8:48: I notice a big addition to the Falcons defense as they take the field... defensive tackle Grady Jackson.

9:00: Snelling gets a second chance at the goal line, but is thrown for a loss by Donte Whitner. The Falcons turn it over on downs after a 10-play drive.

10:10: Fullback Ovie Mughelli, who has started to get a few more carries in the offense, takes the ball after Snelling splits to the outside. Mughelli gets tripped up inside the 1-yard line. Snelling got stood up on the next play -- third down -- but the offense stays on the field.

12:18: Rookie Laurent Robinson hauls in a pass, Harrington's third straight completion, on a quick slant. Robinson took a big shot on the play, but leaped to his feat as if only the stiff wind had knocked him around.

13:30: Snelling got the start and wastes little time showing some of his ability. The rookie, with power and speed on the game's fourth play, bust out a 22-yard run to give the Falcons a first down inside Bills territory.

15:00: For the second-straight week the Falcons win the toss and elect to receive. Allen Rossum handles the honors, takes it 2-yards deep in the end zone and brings it out to the 22. Rossum slipped on the field turf, limiting the return.

7:50 p.m.
J. Michael Moore


Pregame Notes


The wind has died down slightly, but there is still a plastic bag dancing around the front of the press box glass, a la American Beauty. A marching band has begun tapping rhythms to the crowd, which strikes an odd resemblance to the less-than-capacity audience from last week in New York.

It's nice to see the Bills bring back the marching band, a tradition that -- at least for the past decade -- hasn't really carried into all cities around professional football.

Anyway...

The Falcons declared a few players out for this evening's game -- none a surprise change from Head Coach Bobby Petrino's comments from earlier in the week. Norwood, running back Warrick Dunn, cornerback Omare Lowe, linebacker Demorrio Williams, defensive tackle Rod Coleman and tight end Alge Crumpler will not suit up tonight.

Rookie running back Jason Snelling will get the start.

6:47 p.m.
J. Michael Moore


Setting up Shop


One and one-half hour before kickoff and I'm starting to wonder if the bus ride over hear included a shot through a wormhole and dropped us off in Chicago. Either that, or Orchard Park, N.Y. should take the title as the nation's new "Windy City."

I feel sufficiently wind-beaten from the walk up to the press box here at Ralph Wilson Stadium -- so much so that a glass of water and a recliner sounds much better than press box food at the moment.

Need more examples of how windy it is?

I noticed during a jaunt on the sideline about 30 minutes ago that cooling fan blades were spinning just from the wind, not the power. The clouds are scooting across the sky as fast, if not faster, than Jerious Norwood darting into the open field.

Punters and kickers are on the field now for warmups and I can see their frustration.

If this were a regular season game I'd make a comment about the kicking game and how the outcome could ride on mother nature and not Billy Cundiff's foot. Now it's just funny to watch as team staffers struggle to keep their ties in their suits and khaki pants get plastered to the thighs like some sort of weird, formal pair of tights.

More to come just before kickoff.

5:35 p.m.
J. Michael Moore


A Mighty Fine Wing


The Falcons have landed in Buffalo, N.Y.

It is my second visit to the city, the last coming in December 2005 when I was an employee of the Denver Broncos. You can say what you want about Buffalo weather but I must say the city is much nicer on an August afternoon (even a windy, overcast one) than it is covered in two feet of snow -- the way it appeared on my last visit.

I will soon embark a journey taken by many a visitor to this area of New York. That, of course, is the search for a good "Buffalo Wing."

Tomorrow, the Falcons will continue a quest that began the moment the 2006 season ended.

In an interview yesterday, Joe Horn made a point of saying that every practice in training camp -- every workout of the offseason for that matter -- comes with one common goal.

"This football team has been through some things but we've worked hard," Horn said. "We've worked hard and we've grasped the system that Coach Petrino has given us and we care about him as our head coach. We're all in for it -- to win the Super Bowl.

"That's what we're trying to do here. We're not trying to win six games. We're not trying to win 10 games and luckily get in the playoffs. We're fighting and practicing every day to win a Super Bowl."

Several eyebrows raised as Super Bowl escaped from Horn's lips. It's early in the year, yes, but don't tell that to Horn and his teammates.

Sensing a chance to delve into the receiver's veteran psyche, a reporter jumped in with a question that, paraphrased, sounded something like: "When people criticize the team's chances, how does that make you feel?"

Horn saw the question coming, and spoke with the same enthusiasm.

"They're always going to say that," Horn said. "There's always going to be other expectations from other people that don't know (anything) about football. We have to respect that, know that we're professional and get our jobs done. Talent doesn't always win you a Super Bowl... You have to have a team. You have to have chemistry... Trust me, we'll win a lot of football games like that."

The Falcons (0-1 in the preseason) may be searching for their first win of the preseason tomorrow against the Bills, but Horn's words fit with the mood of training camp and the college camaraderie that seemed to hit Flowery Branch the moment Petrino arrived from his previous post at the University of Louisville.

It's something interesting to ponder the night before the second preseason game. Something I'll add to the list to chew on once I find a good stack of wings.

Aug. 16, 5:09 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

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Wallpapers

NEW Falcons-Bills wallpapers from the game!

Abraham
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Hall/Milloy
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Harrington
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Snelling
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White
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