J. Mike's Missives

Fourth Quarter Notes

2:00 --We've reached the two-minute warning and, baring any strange events, that's all for me. I'm off to get a game story wrapped up for your reading pleasure. Take care and goodnight.

2:21 -- The paid crowd of 65,525 may be dwindling here at the Georgia Dome, but there are enough fans left to create a deep "Ohh!" when linebacker Travis Williams lowered his shoulder into running back Quincy Wilson as he tried to haul in a pass over the middle. Pressure on the next play forced a Bengals punt, giving the Falcons the ball as the two-minute warning approaches.

4:49 -- Adam Anderson drops a 49-yard punt to the Bengals 3-yard line in another solid special teams play by the Falcons.

6:46 -- Nic Clemons gets an interception and gives the ball back to Atlanta in Bengals territory. When the offense takes the field, it's led by No. 16, Casey Bramlet, who is getting his first game action since leading the Hamburg Sea Devils to the NFL Europa championship.

8:13 -- Another long field goal attempt by Michael Koenen is no good.

9:48 -- Redman is sacked for an 8-yard loss, bringing up second-and-18 from the Bengals 31-yard line.

10:44 -- The Falcons are back on the field and eating up clock. Four first downs already on this drive that's inching toward the red zone.

14:50 -- Doug Johnson finds Chris Henry on a slant pattern for a 58-yard touchdown. The Bengals go for two because of an earlier injury to kicker Shayne Graham. The attempt fails and the Falcons still lead 24-19.

11:09 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

Third Quarter Notes

0:16 -- Michael Koenen misses a 54-yard field goal attempt.

4:15 -- Touchdown. Fullback Ovie Mughelli finds the end zone on the team's second crack. Falcons lead 24-13. Interesting stat alert: In two scoring drives in the second half the Falcons have gone 19 plays, 104 yards and more than nine minutes of possesion.

4:59 -- Pass interference on a Bengals defender Marvin White in the end zone. A collision with wide receiver Michael Jenkins drew the call and gave the Falcons first-and-goal from the 1.

5:54 -- The Falcons are knocking on the door -- first-and-10 at the Cincinnati 14.

9:32 -- The Falcons pick up another sack, again by rookie defensive end Jamaal Anderson. This also forces a punt and quarterback Chris Redman takes over on offense.

10:19 -- Starting middle linebacker Keith Brooking has a calf strain and will not return to the game.

10:29 -- A short run and an incompletion brings on Billy Cundiff for a 37-yard field goal attempt, which he connects on to extend the Falcons lead to 17-13.

11:45 --Showing his mobility, Harrington scrambles away from pressure and fires a dart to Michael Jenkins for a gain of 18 yards and a first down at the Bengals 23. The quarterback nearly had Roddy White on the next play, but a pass on a fade route went through the receivers hands in the end zone.

15:00 -- Japanese wide receiver Noriaki Kinoshita gets his first action as a return man this preseason, returning the ball 23 yards to the 40.

10:27 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

Second Quarter Notes

0:38 -- Harrington fires while getting taken to the ground for Roddy White, who makes the catch but gets knocked out of bounds for an incompletion. Jerious Norwood runs for 5 yards on the next play, but a sack on the next play leaves hopes of a pre-halftime score in jeopardy. But, a late timeout by Cincinnati gives the Falcons one more shot from their own 39 with six seconds remaining. A screen pass to Norwood officially ends the half.

1:37 -- A tipped ball at the line of scrimmage ends the Falcons drive with three incompletions, including a close call on the sideline on a ball intended for Michael Jenkins. Atlanta punts back to Cincinnati, who gets first-and-10 at their own 31. The Bengals end up going three-and-out.

1:56 -- Palmer finds tight end Daniel Coats for a touchdown. A two-point attempt fails and the Falcons still lead, 14-13.

2:48 --Palmer finds a wide open Johnson down the near sideline for a first down at the Falcons 9 (a gain of 31 yards).

3:10 -- The Falcons are forced to punt after two runs totalling 2 yards and a Harrington sack. Michael Koenen misfires on the punt, which goes for 29 yards and goes out of bounds at the Falcons 40.

4:43 -- The Falcons defensive line puts on trds on the he heat on third-and-5 and forces Carson Palmer into a quick throw that falls at Chad Johnson's feet. The visitors are flagged for an illegal formation, but the penalty is declined bringing up a punting situation. Allen Rossum makes the fair catch at the Falcons 18.

5:54 -- Moments after a 10-yard run by Rudi Johnson, Michael Boley wraps up the running back single-handedly in the backfield for a 4-yard loss.

7:42 -- Next play, Harrington backs away from the pressure and hits Jerious Norwood on a screen pass. Norwood somehow escapes the grasp of a Bengals defender and tight-ropes the sideline and makes it into the end zone for a touchdown. The extra point gives the Falcons the lead again, 14-7. The drive? Three plays, 41 yards, 43 seconds.

8:13 -- Two plays in Joey Harrington finds Dwayne Blakely for a 29-yard gain down to the Bengals 12. The tight end broke free on a crossing route.

8:25 -- The third phase makes its appearance as Allen Rossum returns the following kickoff 59 yards to the Cincinnati 41-yard line.

8:35 -- Carson Palmer and Chad Johnson get Cincinnati on the board with an 8-yard toss and catch to the back of the end zone. The Bengals kick the extra point and tie the game at 7.

10:30 --Like the waters of the Red Sea, the Bengals offensive line opens up a hole for running back Kenny Watson who sprints ahead into the secondary for a gain of 13 yards. The play sets up a Bengals first down at the Falcons 12.

10:58 --Safety Chris Crocker has a "left knee strain." The press box announcer informs us his return to the game is "questionable."

12:24 -- The crowd comes alive as the Bengals face fourth-and-5 but it doesn't phase the visitors as Palmer finds Houshmandzadeh for 6 yards and a first down.

12:31 -- DeAngelo Hall breaks up a pass for the end zone intended for T.J. Houshmandzadeh. An extra step and Hall might have come down with an interception as he had position on the receiver sprinting into the end zone. The stop brings up third down and, one incompletion later, The Bengals face fourth down from the Atlanta 35.

13:50 -- Palmer finds Chad Johnson for a 22-yard gain for a first down at the Falcons 40.

14:33 -- The Bengals line up third-and-8 from the 43. Shotgun snap and Palmer is in trouble. He's flushed out of the pocket by John Abraham... But, no play. False start on Bengals offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth (now third-and-13 from the 38).

9:39 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

First Quarter Notes

0:00 --The first quarter ends with the Bengals facing second down at their own 34. Time of the opening quarter? Almost 45 minutes. Welcome to nationally-televised football.

3:28 --Joey Harrington stands tall in the pocket and finds No. 81 Adam Jennings for a 28-yard touchdown. The extra point gives the Bengals a 7-0 lead. It's the first touchdown of the preseason for Harrington and Jennings and it came on a pure pass play (shotgun formation with five receivers wide). Impressive about the play? Jennings was not the first, second or third read. Harrington scanned the field and found Jennings, who broke free from zone coverage at the last moment.

4:15 --An animated Alge Crumpler celebrates and illegal contact penalty on Bengals safety Madieu Williams. The flag pushes the Falcons to the 23 and gives them a first down as the clock stops.

4:42 --On third-and-1 Warrick Dunn rushes for 5 yards on a stretch play for a first down at the Bengals 28.

6:32 --Joey Harrington finds Alge Crumpler for a first down to keep the drive alive. Crumpler, in old form, lowers his head and forges ahead for 13 yards. In the process, the tight end removes Dexter Jackson from his helmet. It was soon announced Jackson would not return to the game.

9:08 -- A 51-yard punt does no favors for the Falcons and Allen Rossum is left to shake and bake his way for a minimal gain. Atlanta takes over on offense again, this time at its own 20.

9:41 -- Another first for the Falcons... Jamaal Anderson gets into the backfield and drops Carson Palmer for a 7-yard loss on third down. The play caps a three-and-out stand for the Falcons defense.

12:07 -- The second play goes for a short gain to tight end Alge Crumpler. An illegal substitution penalty follows, backing the team up another 5 yards. A draw play to Warrick Dunn falls well short, bringing in Michael Koenen for a 36-yard punt to the Bengals 41.

13:02 -- Quarterback Joey Harrington takes his first home snap as a starting quarterback for the Falcons and takes a 2-yard sack. That brings up second-and-12 at the Falcons 19. That is the first sack on Harrington this preseason.

13:10 -- Cincinnati's drive ends on an incomplete pass on third-and-9. The Falcons defense, after giving up two big plays stands strong with help from a big tackle from John Abraham on Rudi Johnson that went for a 4-yard loss.

14:12 -- Running back Rudi Johnson breaks a 33-yard run down to the Falcons 46.

14:39 -- Palmer finds T.J. Houshmandzadeh for 16 yards and a first down.

14:53 -- A penalty on the Bengals return unit backs the visitors up to their own 6 after the opening kickoff.

8:45 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

Now I've Seen Everything

We just got the biggest crowd ovation thus far in the season... and the game hasn't even started.

The giant Falcons flag -- manned by dozens of America's finest -- made its way on to the field right on cue and, in the process, pushed the entire Bengals team out of its way.

This was, perhaps, just a mis-communication in timing but it got the crowd sufficiently hyped as the Falcons defense is introduced to the Georgia Dome.

Check that... new big ovation. Keith Brooking was just introduced.

8:01 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

From Wes and Dave

If you're listening to the game broadcast with Wes Durham and Dave Archer on DAVE FM you're hearing a great interview with President and General Manager Rich McKay.

McKay and Blank talked at length today regarding "moving on" to football.

A big part of that has been the dedication of Head Coach Bobby Petrino.

"He has done a really good job of balancing is not trying to pretend the issue isn't there because that doesn't work..." McKay said of the coach. "He's addressed the issue and addressed it in a very direct way in terms of how it affects us and how we're going to overcome it."

About today's press conference?

"This is it," McKay said. "Take your best shot because -- after this -- we're going to focus on football."

7:57 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

More Pregame Notes

The pseudo "inactive" list just slid across my already cluttered work space and spilt some notes on the keyboard.

Running back Jerious Norwood is not on the "will not dress" list. Norwood has been slowed by a stomach infection over the past week, but made it back on the practice field just in time to be ready for the game.

The only Falcons expected not to dress include wide receiver Laurent Robinson, cornerback Omare Lowe, safety Nick Turnbull and defense tackle Rod Coleman.

There are no changes on the Falcons starting lineups.

7:21 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

Pregame Notes

The sidelines are starting to fill up here at the Georgia Dome as guests, players and equipment handlers are going through their normal pregame ballet. The energy isn't quite the same as a regular season Monday Night Football game, but we still have an hour to go before kickoff.

The news from the Arthur M. Blank Family Office from earlier this afternoon seems to have subsided as football readies itself for a spot as prime time's main course. Falcons players and coaches, however, have long prescribed to the fact that football rules the days of August.

The season is approaching fast.

"That’s why it’s an important week for us to do a good job of preparation," Head Coach Bobby Petrino said. "Everybody has to know and understand the routine on how to prepare. We may still have to tweak and adjust as the season goes on, but that’s just part of it. We have everything introduced and we will utilize certain packages each week. We will have to get better as the week goes on."

7:16 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

LIVE and On the Air

Just wrapped up Falconcast with Matt Moore a few moments ago... be sure to check it out here. We're planning on making it a pregame tradition, so listen for the sound of our voices around an hour before kickoff each week.

6:43 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

Monday Night Countdown

Well Falcons fans, the time has arrived. The preseason home opener is here.

I’m looking forward to this game for two reasons.

For starters, it’s my first game at the Georgia Dome and I’m ready to get a good look at some indoor football with some of the multi-million dollar improvements the Falcons have made to the facility.

Second, I’m excited to see the Falcons starters get some work into the second half. The third preseason game is always the best in that regard.

It’s nice to see the No. 1 offense and defense stay on the field a little longer, but be sure to keep in mind this is still a preseason game with learning to be done.

For that matter, Perhaps the most important part of the night will be the one or two series the groups get in the second half. Why? To see how they took halftime adjustments.

Even more important than that, perhaps, was the routine leading up to the game.

It was a week-long learning experience for the Falcons as they continue to prepare for Week 1.

"It is important because we are going through the process of preparing for the game," Head Coach Bobby Petrino said Friday. "We are making sure we cover all of the details in the meetings just like we will in the Minnesota week. It has been the same week we want for Minnesota as far as meeting time, walk-throughs, and game preparation. After practice today we will come back and meet again. Special teams we’ll meet for 15 minutes and the offense and defense for 45 minutes. Then we let them go. It is a good trial run for us and a good way for them to get them in the routine."

Now I’ll settle into my game day routine. More before kickoff.

9:07 a.m.
J. Michael Moore