With Michael Vick in prison and Bobby Petrino fleeing town
early, the Atlanta Falcons dealt with more than their fair share of troubles
last season.
Even so, they never quite sank as low as they sent the Oakland Raiders on
Sunday.
Matt Ryan threw a pair of first-half touchdown passes to Michael Jenkins and the
Falcons held the Raiders to negative yards and no first downs in the first half
and their lowest yards total in 47 years in a 24-0 victory.
“During the week, we look like we’re a Super Bowl team, and we come out there
and we’re damn near the laughingstock of the league, and it’s ridiculous,” said
Raiders safety Gibril Wilson, who came to Oakland from the Super Bowl-champion
New York Giants in the offseason. “I’ve never been in a situation where it’s
been like this, and I don’t know what it is. …
“The people in this locker room have to look at themselves in the mirror and see
exactly what they’re bringing to the table, and if they’re not bringing anything
to the table, then get off the ship, period.”...more
Vidcap: Highlights of the Falcons 24-0 thrashing of the
Raiders
Scoring Summary
ATL - OAK
1st Quarter
8:56
ATL
TD
Matt Ryan passed to Michael Jenkins to the right for 37
yard gain (Jason Elam made PAT)
7 - 0
5:02
ATL
TD
Jerious Norwood rushed to the left for 12 yard gain
(Jason Elam made PAT)
14 - 0
2nd Quarter
12:54
ATL
TD
Matt Ryan passed to Michael Jenkins to the left for 27
yard gain (Jason Elam made PAT)
21 - 0
6:29
ATL
FG
Jason Elam kicked a 48-yard field goal
24 - 0
3rd Quarter
NONE
24 - 0
4th Quarter
NONE
24 - 0
Team Statistics
ATL
OAK
First Downs
29
3
Passing
11
0
Rushing
14
3
Penalty
4
0
Third Down Efficiency
9-17
1-9
Fourth Down Efficiency
1-2
0-1
TOTAL NET YARDS
453
77
Total Plays
82
34
Average Gain Per Play
5.5
2.3
NET YARDS RUSHING
252
67
Rushes
57
11
Average Per Rush
4.4
6.1
NET YARDS PASSING
201
10
Completions-Attempts
17-22
6-19
Yards Per Pass Play
8.0
0.4
Times Sacked
3
4
Yards Lost to Sacks
19
21
Had Intercepted
0
1
PUNTS
1
6
Average Punt
33.0
50.2
PENALTIES
4
7
Penalty Yards
40
55
FUMBLES
1
2
Fumbles Lost
1
1
TIME OF POSSESSION
45:15
14:45
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
With an inexperienced
quarterback, the Atlanta Falcons
recognize the importance of an
effective running game. They
also know they haven't been able
to carry that plan out recently.
The Falcons look to take
advantage of one of the NFL's
worst run defenses when they
host the Oakland Raiders on
Sunday. Despite a first-year
coach and a rookie quarterback,
Atlanta (4-3) is already one win
away from surpassing its total
from a tumultuous 2007. That
surprising success has the
Falcons in the mix in the NFC
South - sitting 1 1/2 games
behind first-place Carolina...more
Pick: Atlanta hasn't yet learned how to win away from home (1-3), and the
Falcons run defense is generous enough to make this a bad matchup for them as
Darren McFadden (turf toe) expects to play. Even if he doesn't, Justin Fargas is
averaging 98.5 yards rushing in his past five home games. Still Oakland seems to
always find a way to lose these games so we are going to go on the side of
history and take the Falcons Falcons 24 - Raiders 17
13.2
23.8