J. Mike's Missives

Fourth Quarter Notes

11:52: You get the sense that the crowd needs a little excitement. Well, it just happened. Casey Bramlet just found wide receiver Vincent Marshall over the middle for a 39-yard gain into the red zone. If that wasn't enough, Marhsall juggled the ball as he went to the ground... a few breathless seconds, but a catch nonetheless.

9:47: Newly-acquired kicker Matt Prater connects on a 33-yard field goal to tie the game.

3:26: Prater strikes again, this time from 45-yards out to give the Falcons a 13-10 lead. That's it for now as I close in on postgame. Check the website early and often to learn more about the game.

3:17: OK, I'm back because the Falcons just made the biggest play of the game -- a fumble recovery by Jimmy Williams at the Ravens 31 gives the Falcons a first down as the clock rolls toward three minutes. The possesion ended with a missed field goal.

10:18 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

Third Quarter Notes

14:05: Defensive end Paul Carrington just picked up his first sack of the preseason, dropping Troy Smith for a 3-yard loss on the first possesion of the second half.

12:40: Running back Jason Snelling has officially taken over as the primary ball carrier and he just ran for a gain of 10 on fourth-and-1. That's the fullback power coaches have talked about all through the preseason.

10:48: George Cooper, who caught the game-winning touchdown from Redman against Buffalo just got on the big screen with a deep catch over the middle. The play was cut, however, when the Falcons were called for a face mask. That brought up third-and-39 and led to an Atlanta punt. Redman looked for Cooper again on the next play, but the tight end was held up over the middle. Fans and Alge Crumpler (who is his usually animated self on the sideline) wanted a penalty, but the flag did not fly.

5:19: Defensive tackle Tommy Jackson now has a sack in the preseason as well. The second-year player out of Auburn dropped Smith with help from rookie Trey Lewis. Josh Mallard picked up a tackle for loss on the next play.

4:15: I normally don't write about the opposing team much, but a field goal by Rhys Lloyd just went from 55 yards. As fellow AF.comer Dan Levak noted, "That could have been good from 70!" Indeed, the line-drive kick made it through the uprights before most players along the line had time to turn around.

1:46: A little more action now as Head Coach Bobby Petrino is challenging a ruling on the field that Smith was able to get the ball out before linebacker Marcus Wilkins took him to the turf on second-and-1 from the Baltimore 48 (cue the Jeopardy music)... Referee Jeff Triplette: "After reviewing the play, the quarterback's knee was down at the 40-yard line..." You know the drill. No time out charged. Third-and-9 from the 40. An incompletion then brings a punt.

0:35: Rookie tight end Martrez Milner is down at his own 12 yard line after an Arlen Harris run. He is able to get to his feet, but gingerly makes his way back to the locker room with the help of two trainers. Also, Casey Bramlet is in at quarterback.

9:46 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

Second Quarter Notes

14:24: Corey McIntyre just rumbled for 21 yards after catching a pass from Redman in the flat. Redman had to fight off a Ravens defender to make the completion. McIntyre did the rest with a side step and 244 pounds of straight-ahead running.

13:23: The fourth bobbled snap of the night results in a Falcons turnover. Redman and center Ben Wilkerson couldn't complete the exchange and the Ravens recovered at their own 35.

9:46: I've never seen a sand wedge used for a punt... Well, that might be a little extreme. Sam Koch just launched a punt straight up, sending Falcons return man Otis Amey sprinting a good 30 yards through traffic just to make the catch.

6:39: Helped by a personal foul penalty along the sideline, the Falcons are driving. But, an illegal formation penalty has backed the team up to the 45 yard line, third-and-15.

3:35: Kyle Boller has been able to escape from many sticky situations this evening, but the passes he's throwing up are getting less and less lonely. Jimmy Williams just tipped a pass on third down to force a Ravens punt, which was downed at the 1.

3:14: The Falcons are working to pound the ball out of the shadow of their goal line. The play goes up the middle for 2 yards. A pass on second down falls incomplete. Snelling gets the ball again on third down and runs over left tackle but short of the first down.

1:35: The Falcons have the ball back. The Ravens were driving into Falcons territory before Josh Mallard forced a fumble that was recovered by Chauncey Davis. Atlanta takes over first-and-10 at its own 29, but doesn't pick up a first down.

0:08: Boller takes a knee to get us to halftime. Now for some of the famous Georgia Dome press box cheesecake. They got peach cobbler, too (of course).

8:26 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

First Quarter Notes

12:19:Hello, Corey McIntyre! The reserve fullback got his first start of the preseason just a few moments ago and now he got his first big hit (and it wasn't on offense). McIntyre just leveled Ravens return man B.J. Sams.

9:27: Tony Taylor isn't a name that we've heard a lot in the preseason, but it's blasted across the P.A. twice this series -- once on a race-car like chase and tackle of running back Willis McGahee and a near interception on the next play that forced a punt.

7:52: A high snap just ended a drive for the Falcons. Luckily, running back Jerious Norwood was on hand to scoop up the ball after it slid past Chris Redman's hands. The play forced Michael Koenen to punt from his own end zone, which he made look easy with a bomb all the way back to the Ravens 35.

7:03: The field position must not have meant much to Kyle Boller and the Ravens. The quarterback just found wide receiver Demetrius Williams with a 59-yard touchdown pass down the far side: 7-0 Baltimore.

3:15: Redman wrangles in a low snap to find tight end Dwayne Blakley for a 6-yard gain and a first down at the Ravens 32. It's Redman's seventh completion of the night, the second for Blakley who has found a home over the middle of the field thus far. Norwood has also shown toughness between the tackles, balancing his cutting ability and north-south running for 11 rushing yards to this point.

1:15: No game note here except a comment on the speed of this game. For a team playing it's second night game in a week, there's nothing wrong with a fast-moving contest.

1:06: Redman had a Ravens defensive end running straight for him after the shotgun snap, but Norwood got in the way long enough for the quarterback to side step the rush and find the running back in the flat. A few steps later Norwood was in the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown. Tie game.

8:05 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

And Away We Go!

Let's start the blog off by saying I got my first taste of Atlanta traffic getting to the Georgia Dome today -- about two hours for a 30-minute drive. But, I must say the fire and fireworks that are part of the Falcons intro are always well worth the wait.

Sit back, relax and get ready for the preseason finale for your Atlanta Falcons.

Also, Matt Moore and I officially have a Falconcast tradition. Check out our special pregame podcast.

7:29 p.m.
J. Michael Moore

The Final Countdown

OK, so it's really just the beginning.

In a few hours the Falcons will take the field for the second time this week and for the final time in the 2007 preseason. It's an end, but it's also a beginning. Within hours after the game against the Ravens the team will make final roster moves to get down to 53 players. Dreams will come true for some and others will have to pack up their locker and look for another home.

It's an exciting, yet bittersweet time of year for people in my position.

You get to know these guys during training camp, when everyone is sharing meals and waiving hello over an early-morning cup of coffee. But, life in the NFL is ever-changing and it slows down for no one.

Tonight's game will likely have less fireworks than others in the preseason but don't think it's any less important -- especially to the players on the field looking to make final impressions.