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2008 Atlanta Falcons season
2008 Atlanta Falcons season
2008 Atlanta Falcons season
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The 2008 Atlanta Falcons season was the 43rd season for the team in the National Football League (NFL). Overcoming a disappointing 4–12 record, quarterback Michael Vick's dog fighting scandal and head coach Bobby Petrino's abrupt resignation in 2007, the Falcons, who were expected to be in a rebuilding phase,[1] completed the regular season with a surprising 11–5 record and earned the #5 seed in the NFC playoffs under first-year head coach Mike Smith; however, the team fell to the eventual NFC champion Arizona Cardinals in the wild-card round of the playoffs.[2]

Key Information

Mike Smith was named 2008 NFL Coach of the Year, and quarterback Matt Ryan earned the Offensive Rookie of the Year Award.

Offseason

[edit]

NFL draft

[edit]
Matt Ryan was the Falcons first round pick in 2008 NFL draft.

On February 22, prior the start of the NFL Combine, the Falcons won a coin toss that gave them the 3rd overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft in a gathering with the Oakland Raiders and the Kansas City Chiefs to break a three-way-tie. Each team finished 2007 with a 4–12 record.[3] Some experts said that the Falcons should have used this selection to pick LSU Defensive Tackle Glenn Dorsey, but the Falcons used their first-round pick to draft Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan.[4] The Falcons also traded two of their second-round picks (No. 34 and No. 48) and a fourth-round pick (No. 103) with Washington Redskins to move to No. 21 overall and select USC tackle Sam Baker.[5][6]

Draft

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Main article: 2008 NFL draft
2008 Atlanta Falcons draft
Round Pick Player Position College Notes
1 3 Matt Ryan *  QB Boston College
1 21 Sam Baker  OT USC
2 37 Curtis Lofton  LB Oklahoma
3 68 Chevis Jackson  CB LSU
3 84 Harry Douglas  WR Louisville
3 98 Thomas DeCoud *  S California
5 138 Robert James  LB Arizona State
5 154 Kroy Biermann  DE. Montana
6 172 Thomas Brown  RB Georgia
7 212 Wilrey Fontenot  CB Arizona
7 232 Keith Zinger  TE LSU
      Made roster    †   Pro Football Hall of Fame    *   Made at least one Pro Bowl during career

Transactions

[edit]

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

Final cuts

[edit]

On August 30, the Falcons made 22 roster moves to reach the NFL's 53-player limit.[7]

Minicamp

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The Falcons opened the first mini camp of 2008 on Monday, April 14. The team had multiple "mini camp" sessions under new Head Coach Mike Smith before the start of training camp in late July. The team worked for three days before the NFL Draft and came back to Flowery Branch for another workout May 10–12.[8] During the minicamp, the Falcons signed tender offers to punter Michael Koenen and defensive end Chauncey Davis.

Training camp

[edit]

For the fourth consecutive year, the Falcons held Russell Falcons Training Camp at the team's Flowery Branch headquarters. Atlanta's 43rd training camp was held from July 25 to August 15, with select morning and afternoon practices open to the public. The Falcons held 30 practices, which included 13 two-a-day sessions. Atlanta traveled to Jacksonville on August 9 for its first preseason contest followed by two home preseason games against Indianapolis the day after training camp breaks (August 16) and Tennessee Titans on August 22. The Falcons concluded the 2008 preseason schedule with a meeting against the Baltimore Ravens on August 28 at M&T Bank Stadium. In 2007, Russell Athletic and the Atlanta Falcons announced an agreement that includes title sponsorship of the team's three-week preseason training camp at its in-season training facility in Flowery Branch, Ga. The four-year agreement designates Russell Athletic as an official sponsor of the Falcons.[9][10][11][12]

Staff

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2008 Atlanta Falcons staff

Front office

Head coaches

Offensive coaches

Defensive coaches

Special teams coaches

Strength and conditioning

Roster

[edit]
2008 Atlanta Falcons final roster
Quarterbacks (QB)

Running backs (RB)

Wide receivers (WR)

Tight ends (TE)

Offensive linemen (OL)

Defensive linemen (DL)

Linebackers (LB)

Defensive backs (DB)

Special teams (ST)

Practice squad

Reserve

Rookies in italics
53 active, 11 reserve, 9 practice squad

Preseason

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Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site TV NFL.com
recap
1[13][14] August 9 Jacksonville Jaguars L 17–20 0–1 Jacksonville Municipal Stadium Randy Waters, Brian Baldinger, Sam Crenshaw/Paul Burmeister, Tony Boselli Recap
2[15][16] August 16 Indianapolis Colts L 9–16 0–2 Georgia Dome Don Fischer, Mark Herrmann, Jeffrey Gorman/Randy Waters, Brian Baldinger, Sam Crenshaw Recap
3[17][18] August 22 Tennessee Titans W 17–3 1–2 Georgia Dome Cory Curtis, Eddie George, Joe Dubin/Randy Waters, Brian Baldinger, Sam Crenshaw Recap
4[19][20] August 28 Baltimore Ravens W 10–9 2–2 M&T Bank Stadium Randy Waters, Brian Baldinger, Sam Crenshaw/Gerry Sandusky, Stan White, Rob Burnett Recap

Regular season

[edit]

Schedule

[edit]
Week Date Opponent Result Record Game site NFL.com
recap
1 September 7 Detroit Lions W 34–21 1–0 Georgia Dome Recap
2 September 14 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers L 9–24 1–1 Raymond James Stadium Recap
3 September 21 Kansas City Chiefs W 38–14 2–1 Georgia Dome Recap
4 September 28 at Carolina Panthers L 9–24 2–2 Bank of America Stadium Recap
5 October 5 at Green Bay Packers W 27–24 3–2 Lambeau Field Recap
6 October 12 Chicago Bears W 22–20 4–2 Georgia Dome Recap
7 Bye
8 October 26 at Philadelphia Eagles L 14–27 4–3 Lincoln Financial Field Recap
9 November 2 at Oakland Raiders W 24–0 5–3 Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum Recap
10 November 9 New Orleans Saints W 34–20 6–3 Georgia Dome Recap
11 November 16 Denver Broncos L 20–24 6–4 Georgia Dome Recap
12 November 23 Carolina Panthers W 45–28 7–4 Georgia Dome Recap
13 November 30 at San Diego Chargers W 22–16 8–4 Qualcomm Stadium Recap
14 December 7 at New Orleans Saints L 25–29 8–5 Louisiana Superdome Recap
15 December 14 Tampa Bay Buccaneers W 13–10 (OT) 9–5 Georgia Dome Recap
16 December 21 at Minnesota Vikings W 24–17 10–5 Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Recap
17 December 28 St. Louis Rams W 31–27 11–5 Georgia Dome Recap

Standings

[edit]
NFC South
W L T PCT DIV CONF PF PA STK
(2) Carolina Panthers 12 4 0 .750 4–2 8–4 414 329 W1
(5) Atlanta Falcons 11 5 0 .688 3–3 8–4 391 325 W3
Tampa Bay Buccaneers 9 7 0 .563 3–3 8–4 361 323 L4
New Orleans Saints 8 8 0 .500 2–4 5–7 463 393 L1

Game summaries

[edit]

Week 1: vs. Detroit Lions

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Lions 0 14 7021
Falcons 21 0 10334

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta

The Falcons began their 2008 campaign at home against the Detroit Lions. In the first quarter, Atlanta immediately took flight at rookie quarterback Matt Ryan throws his first career NFL pass to WR Michael Jenkins for a 62-yard TD pass.[21] Afterwards, RB Michael Turner (acquired from the Chargers) made an immediate impact as he got a 66-yard TD run and a 5-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Lions responded with RB Kevin Smith getting a 5-yard TD run, while quarterback Jon Kitna completed a 21-yard TD pass to WR Roy Williams.[22] In the third quarter, the Falcons went back to work as kicker Jason Elam got a 50-yard field goal, while RB Jerious Norwood got a 10-yard TD run. Detroit tried to rally as Kitna completed a 1-yard TD pass to TE Casey FitzSimmons. Atlanta closed out their rout in the fourth quarter with Elam nailing a 25-yard field goal.

With the impressive win, the Falcons began their season at 1–0.

Quarterback Matt Ryan had a good rookie debut completing 9 of 13 passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. RB Michael Turner had an outstanding Falcon debut, setting a single-game franchise record with 220 rushing yards. 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. Game Notes.

  • With the 34–21 victory, Mike Smith earned his first win as a head coach in the NFL
  • Following a 44–41 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in the 2007 season finale, the Falcons posted back-to-back games with over 30 points.
  • The win gave the Falcons their first season opening victory since 2006 (20–6 vs. Carolina), their first season opening win at the Georgia Dome since 2005 (vs. Philadelphia, 14–10) and their first win against the Lions at home since 2002 (36–15).
  • By opening the game as a starter, LB Keith Brooking extended his consecutive games starting streak to 113 games dating back to 2000, which moved him past long-time C Jeff Van Note into second place in Falcons history. (Former T Bob Whitfield holds the record with 123 consecutive starts, from week 1, 1993 to week 11, 2000.)
  • Center Todd McClure also extended his consecutive games starting streak to 97-straight games to move past DE Patrick Kerney and WR Terance Mathis into fifth place all-time in that category.
  • The Falcons had 10 players earn opening day starts for the first time in their NFL careers. The players were QB Matt Ryan, LT Sam Baker, RB Michael Turner, TE Ben Hartsock, RG Harvey Dahl, RT Tyson Clabo, DT Jonathan Babineaux, MLB Curtis Lofton, CB Brent Grimes and CB Chris Houston.
  • Curtis Lofton became the first rookie to man the middle of the Falcons defense on opening day since linebacker Buddy Curry in 1980. It was exactly 28 years ago on this date, September 7, 1980, that Curry (the team's second round draft pick) started in the middle of the Falcons defense (at Minnesota, 8 tackles, 0.5 sack).
  • The Falcons broke a team rushing record with 318 yards and 7.4 avg. against Detroit. The previous record was set on September 17, 2006, against Tampa Bay with 306 yards. Atlanta's 318 yards marked the first game Atlanta totaled over 200 rushing yards since December 3, 2006, against Washington, with 256 yards.
  • On Atlanta's first offensive possession of the 2008 season, the Falcons recorded a three-play 74-yard drive that was capped off by WR Michael Jenkins 62-yard touchdown reception from rookie QB Matt Ryan, his first career NFL pass.
  • Matt Ryan became the first quarterback to throw a touchdown on his first career NFL pass since October 8, 2000, when Michael Bishop completed the feat as member of the New England Patriots.
  • Michael Jenkins 62-yard touchdown reception was the longest of his career and the longest touchdown pass recorded by the Falcons since December 23, 2007, when Chris Redman completed a 74-touchdown against Arizona.
  • Atlanta's 62-yard touchdown to WR Michael Jenkins on the first offensive possession of the game was the longest touchdown pass for the Falcons on opening day since September 3, 2000, when Chris Chandler completed a 48-yard touchdown in a 36–28 win.
  • The last time the Falcons scored a touchdown on their opening offensive possession of a game came against the Carolina Panthers on November 11, 2007. Atlanta won the game 20–13.
  • On Atlanta's second possession of the game, RB Michael Turner rushed for a 66-yard touchdown to give the Falcons a 14–0 lead. The 66-yard scamper was the fourth-longest rush in Turner's career and the seventh-longest rush in Falcons history.
  • Michael Turner's 117 rushing yards in the first quarter were the most in an opening quarter of a game for the Falcons in at least two decades.
  • Atlanta's 216 yards of total offense in the first quarter was also the highest total in over two decades. The previous high for the Falcons was on October 13, 1991, with 172 yards against San Francisco.
  • Michael Turner ran for 220 yards in his debut with the Falcons. This marked the highest single-game rushing record for the Falcons, formerly held by Gerald Riggs, who set the previous record of 202 rushing yards on September 2, 1984.

Week 2: at Tampa Bay Buccaneers

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 3 339
Buccaneers 7 10 0724

at Raymond James Stadium, Tampa, Florida

Following their outstanding home win over the Lions, the Falcons flew to Raymond James Stadium for a Week 2 NFC South duel with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.[23] In the first quarter, Atlanta trailed as Bucs QB Brian Griese completed a 5-yard TD pass to TE John Gilmore. In the second quarter, the Falcons continued to trail as former Falcons RB Warrick Dunn gave Tampa Bay a 17-yard TD run, along with kicker Matt Bryant getting a 33-yard field goal. Atlanta closed out the half with kicker Jason Elam getting a 32-yard field goal.[24] In the third quarter, the Falcons crept closer as Elam kicked a 27-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Atlanta tried to rally as Elam nailed a 24-yard field goal. However, the Buccaneers pulled away as RB Earnest Graham got a 68-yard TD run. With the loss, the Falcons fell to 1–1. With Michael Turner running for a franchise-record 220 yards in his Falcons debut, Ryan only threw the ball 13 times against Detroit. Sunday, he had more attempts than that in the first half alone. The Bucs limited Turner to 42 yards on 14 carries. WR Joey Galloway, who did not play in the preseason because of a sore groin, sprained an ankle in the fourth quarter. Falcons rookie LT Sam Baker was hit in the head in the first half and did not return. A week after beating Detroit in his pro debut, Matt Ryan threw incompletions on his first nine passes before settling down to keep Atlanta in the game with three field goal drives that trimmed a 17-point deficit to eight with five minutes to go.

  • The Falcons defense allowed Tampa Bay to rush for only two yards in the first quarter on six attempts. The Buccaneers two yards is the lowest total for a Falcons opponent in the first quarter of a game since December 14, 2003, when the Indianapolis Colts posted two rushing yards on seven carries. At the end of the first half, Tampa's rushing total was 36 yards, the lowest total for a Falcons opponent in the first half of play since December 31, 2006, when Philadelphia only managed 34 yards in the first two-quarters.
  • Matt Ryan led the Falcons on a 13-play, 75-yard scoring drive in the third quarter, which was capped by a Jason Elam 27-yard field goal. Ryan completed six of seven passes on the drive for 62 yards.
  • On his second career carry, wide receiver Harry Douglas took an end-around and rushed for 33 yards to give the Falcons their third first down of the game. The 33-yard scamper is the second longest rush for Atlanta in two games this season.
  • With two minutes remaining in the second quarter, wide receiver/punt returner Adam Jennings set a career-high with a 37-yard punt return topping his old mark of 23 yards set in 2007. The return was also the longest for the Falcons since Allen Rossum returned a punt 37 yards against Cleveland on November 12, 2006. Jennings’ punt return led to a Falcons 32-yard field goal by Elam, the first points of the game for Atlanta.
  • Elam notched three field goals of 32, 27 and 25 yards to extend his streak of splitting the uprights to 20 consecutive kicks.
  • Atlanta defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux dropped Buccaneers quarterback Brian Griese in the third quarter for his 5.5th career sack. The sack led to a Tampa Bay punt on its first offensive possession of the second half. Three of Babineaux's 5.5 career sacks have come in the first two games of a season (2.0 in 2007, 1.0 in 2008).
  • Falcons defensive end John Abraham posted his fourth sack of the season and his sixth in three consecutive games when he dropped Griese in the fourth quarter to stall a Buccaneers drive in the red zone. On the sack, Abraham forced a fumble which was recovered by defensive tackle Jason Jefferson. The sack was Abraham's 14th in the last 17 games and the 71.5th of his career. The fumble recovery by Jefferson was the first of his career.
  • Following Abraham's fourth quarter sack, the Falcons have now recorded three consecutive games with at least two sacks dating back to the 2007 season finale against the Seattle Seahawks.
  • Head Coach Mike Smith is one for one in challenges after challenging the spot of the ball on a Roddy White reception in the third quarter. After the review the officials determined White had reached the first down marker, which kept the Atlanta drive alive.

Week 3: vs. Kansas City Chiefs

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Chiefs 0 7 7014
Falcons 14 10 7738

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta[25]

Michael Turner ran for three touchdowns and the Atlanta Falcons scored the first 24 points to beat Kansas City 38–14, giving the Chiefs their 12th straight loss.[26]

Turner had scoring runs of 4, 1 and 2 yards, his first career game with three rushing touchdowns, while leading the Falcons with 104 yards rushing. Jerious Norwood added 75 yards rushing.[27] Turner dragged Chiefs linebacker Pat Thomas for a few steps before breaking free and running through other defenders for a 38-yard run from the Falcons 8. A 30-yard pass from Ryan to Norwood helped set up Turner first touchdown run. Turner 1-yard scoring run in the second quarter gave Atlanta a 24–0 lead. Turner determined run helped to soften the Kansas City defense. Ryan found Roddy White for a 70-yard touchdown pass on Atlanta's next possession, and the Falcons were on their way to a big early lead, ( Ryan 70-yard touchdown pass to White is the longest pass completion for the Falcons since 12/23/07 when wide receiver Laurent Robinson caught a 74-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Chris Redman against the Arizona Cardinals in a Week 16 meeting).

On Kansas City first offensive possession of the game, defensive end John Abraham logged his fifth sack of the season, which led to a Chiefs punt. Abraham tallied his second sack of the game at the end of the third quarter, which included a forced fumble. The two sacks gave Abraham eight in his last four games, 16 in his last 18 games and 73.5 for his career. Entering the Kansas City game, he led the NFL with four sacks after three games, the forced fumble was the 29th of his career, which ranks fourth in the NFL from 2000 to 2008. Turner sparked an Atlanta scoring drive when he posted a 38-yard rush in the first quarter, he capped the drive with a four-yard touchdown, his third of the season. The Falcons drove 92 yards in six plays and also received help from running back Jerious Norwood on the drive who contributed with 45 combined yards (two rushes for 15 yards and one 30-yard reception). Atlanta 92-yard scoring drive, the first of the game, is the longest scoring drive since 12/3/06 at Washington when the Falcons drove 98 yards on six plays capped by a Norwood touchdown run. Kicker Jason Elam was successful on his long field goal attempt of 27 yards against Kansas City, improving his streak of consecutive field goals to 27. Elam also added five extra points for an eight-point day.

Tyler Thigpen, the third starting quarterback in three weeks for Kansas City, threw three interceptions in his first career start. The third interception, by cornerback Chris Houston, was returned 10 yards for a touchdown with 1:01 left in the game.

Chiefs coach Herman Edwards said during the week he would turn to veteran Damon Huard if Thigpen struggled. Thigpen played the full game and was 14-for-36 passing for 128 yards with one touchdown. Down 24–0, Thigpen led a 13-play scoring drive capped by his 15-yard touchdown pass to Dwayne Bowe with three seconds left in the first half.

The Chiefs' 12th straight loss came 11 months to the day after their last win. They lost their last nine games in 2007 after a 12–10 win at Oakland on October 21, 2007. The Chiefs comeback continued when Larry Johnson's 48-yard run set up his 1-yard scoring plunge to open the second half, cutting Atlanta lead to 24–14. It was Johnson first rushing touchdown of the season. Johnson, who had 96 yards rushing in his first two games, had 24 carries for 121 yards and a touchdown. Johnson has 4,981 yards rushing for his career to pass Christian Okoye (4,897) for second place on the Chiefs all-time list.

The Falcons had a quick answer to Johnson touchdown. Ryan, making his third start, had a 15-yard run and a 17-yard pass to White to set up Turner third touchdown, a 2-yard run. The Chiefs were forced to punt on their first five possessions. Their next two drives ended with interceptions by Erik Coleman and Brent Grimes, Coleman intercepted his first career pass in a Falcons uniform, which also gave him the eighth of his career, it was Coleman first interception since 11/12/06 against the New England Patriots. Coleman pieced together a stellar performance against the Chiefs which included 10 tackles to lead the team and one forced fumble, and Grimes intercepted his first career pass when he stepped in front of a Tyler Thigpen pass in the second quarter. Grimes returned the interception 25 yards, which led to a Falcons touchdown. The Falcons defense allowed only 14 rushing yards in the first quarter against the Kansas City Chiefs, continuing their trend of holding opponents to under 15 rushing yards over the first three contests of the season. Against Tampa Bay in Week 2, Atlanta held the Bucs to two rushing yards in the opening 15 minutes of play, which was the lowest total in the first quarter of a game since for a Falcons opponent since 12/14/03 (vs. Colts, two rushing yards). Below is a look at Atlanta opponent rushing totals in the first quarter of each game this season.

The Falcons moved to 2–0 at the Georgia Dome on the season and gave Head Coach Mike Smith his second career win as a head coach.

Michael Turner became only the fifth Falcons running back in team history to register three or more touchdowns in a game, with the win over the Chiefs improved its record to 5–1 in its last six meetings against AFC West opponents.

Player Opponent Date Rushing TDs
T. J. Duckett Oakland Raiders 12/12/04 4
Michael Turner Kansas City Chiefs 9/21/08 3
Jamal Anderson Detroit Lions 10/6/96 3
Lynn Cain Los Angeles Rams 10/7/84 3
Gerald Riggs Los Angeles Rams 11/17/85 3

Week 4: at Carolina Panthers

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 3 6 009
Panthers 7 7 3724

at Bank of America Stadium, Charlotte, North Carolina[28]

Coming off their home win over the Chiefs, the Falcons flew to Bank of America Stadium for a Week 4 NFC South duel with the Carolina Panthers.[29] The Falcons found a way to stick around for three-quarters in Sunday 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. In the first quarter, Atlanta trailed early as Panthers RB Jonathan Stewart getting an 8-yard TD run. The Falcons responded with kicker Jason Elam getting a 33-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Falcons crept closer as Elam kicked a 44-yard field goal. However, Carolina answered with quarterback Jake Delhomme completing a 56-yard TD pass to WR Steve Smith. Atlanta closed out the half with Elam getting a 44-yard field goal. The Panthers (3–1, 1–0) 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. For the fourth consecutive game this season, the Falcons defense held their opponent to 16 rushing yards or less in the first quarter of play after the Panthers managed only 16 yards on six carries. John Abraham blocked his first career punt in the second quarter, which led to Elam second field goal of the day. The blocked punt was the first for Atlanta since the 2004 season finale when Demorrio Williams blocked Seattle first kick of the game at Qwest Field. Running back Jerious Norwood posted his second longest rush of the season with a 40-yard scamper in the second quarter. The rush was four yards shy of his season high (44), which he set against Kansas City in Week 3. Norwood has now posted five rushes of 40 yards or more in this three-year career, punter Michael Koenen booted his longest punt of the season with a 60-yard kick in the second quarter. The punt is the longest for Koenen since December 16, 2007, when he nailed a 63-yard punt against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, running back Jason Snelling earned his first career start while tight end Justin Peelle started his first game in a Falcons uniform. Brian Finneran caught his first pass of the 2008 campaign on a five-yard reception in the second quarter. The catch was the first for Finneran since the 2005 season finale when he caught four passes for 45 yards against the Carolina Panthers. Roddy White led the Falcons in receiving with seven catches for 90 yards. He continues to remain on pace for a 1,000-yard season. In his fourth career start, rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed passes to eight different receivers, a season-high for the Boston College graduate, Ryan finished the game having completed 21 of 41 passes for 158 yards and a 60.8 passer rating

In the third quarter, the Panthers increased their lead with kicker John Kasay nailing a 44-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Carolina sealed the win with Delhomme completing a 36-yard TD pass to WR Muhsin Muhammad. The first-year head coach Mike Smith made a concise list in explaining the problems that plagued his offense in Charlotte.

  • Third down conversions (the Falcons were 2-of-13)
  • Red zone penalties (two knocked the Birds outside the 10)
  • six dropped passes (three on third down)

With the loss, the Falcons fell to 2–2.

Week 5: at Green Bay Packers

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 10 7 01027
Packers 0 7 31424

at Lambeau Field, Green Bay, Wisconsin

Hoping to rebound from their divisional road loss to the Panthers, to Falcons flew to Lambeau Field for a Week 5 duel with the Green Bay Packers.[30][31] Entering Week 5, the Falcons led the league in first quarter scoring with 38 points. Atlanta added to that total with 10 points on a touchdown and field goal. The Falcons have also outscored their opponents in the first quarter by a 48–14 margin.

Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers hands off to Ryan Grant in Atlanta's week 5 encounter at Lambeau Field
Green Bay DB Patrick Lee#22 chases Atlanta wide receiver #84 Roddy White

Michael Turner posted his third 100-yard game of the season after finishing with 26 carries for 121 yards and one touchdown. Turner score came at the 3:35 mark in the fourth quarter to give Atlanta a two-possession lead (27–17) which sealed the victory. In the first quarter, Atlanta took flight as rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed a 1-yard TD pass to TE Justin Peelle, along with kicker Jason Elam getting a 42-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Packers responded with quarterback Aaron Rodgers completing a 44-yard TD pass to WR Donald Driver. The Falcons closed out the half with Ryan completing a 22-yard TD pass to WR Roddy Whiteto give the Falcons a 17–7 advantage. The catch was his sixth of the day giving White 115 yards in the first half at that point. White contributed with 67 first quarter receiving yards, falling three yards short of his career-high in the first 15 minutes of play (70), which he set on September 21, 2008, against Kansas City. White also finished the first half with 132 yards, which is the most in two-quarters of play for the four-year veteran in his career and the second highest total since Terance Mathis posted 136 on November 19, 1995. On Atlanta first play of the game, Quarterback Matt Ryan completed a 37-yard pass to White crossing into Packers territory. Ryan completed two more receptions to White on the drive for a total of 64 yards, the three completions led to an Atlanta touchdown, which marked the second occasion this season the Falcons scored on their first drive of the game (Week 1 vs. Detroit) and the first time they scored on their first possession of the game on the road, Ryan started the game having completed six of six passes for 72 yards and one touchdown pass, also compiled the best half of football in his rookie career thus far when he completed 13 of 18 passes for 154 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions for a 135.0 passer rating. Ryan finished the game with a season-high 194 passing yards. The Falcons posted a touchdown on their first offensive possession of the game when Ryan led the team 81 yards on 10 plays and completed a one-yard touchdown strike to tight end Justin Peelle, his first as an Atlanta Falcon and the eighth of his career. Center Ben Wilkerson saw his first action of the season at the center position when he briefly replaced Todd McClure on Atlanta first offensive drive of the game. Wilkerson was at center when the Falcons scored their first touchdown in the first quarter. Defensive tackle Grady Jackson logged his first sack of the season and the 34.5th of his career when he dropped Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on Green Bay first offensive play of the game, the sack led to a Green Bay punt. Following the first quarter of play the Falcons recorded eight first downs opposed to the Packers who finished the opening 15 minutes of play with zero. Atlanta also racked-up 147 net yards to Green Bay's 10 in the quarter.

At the 6:02 mark in the second quarter, Ryan tallied his second touchdown pass of the day when he found White in the end zone for a 22-yard strike to give the Falcons a 17–7 advantage. The catch was his sixth of the day giving White 115 yards in the first half at that point. White pieced together his second 100-yard receiving game of the season and the ninth of his career after catching eight passes for 132 yards and one touchdown. Following the two-minute mark in the second quarter, defensive end John Abraham notched his seventh sack of the season, dropping Rodgers. The sack was the ninth in his last six games, the 17th in his last 20 contests and the 74.5th of his career. The sack forced a Packers field goal attempt and following an offensive holding call on a converted attempt, Green Bay missed a re-kick.

In the third quarter, Green Bay answered with kicker Mason Crosby getting a 50-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, the Packers tied the game with Rodgers completing a 25-yard TD pass to WR Greg Jennings, Michael Boley intercepted his first pass of the season and the fifth of his career when he stepped in front of an Aaron Rodgers pass late in the fourth quarter. The INT led to the game-sealing touchdown by Turner, yet Atlanta replied with Elam nailing a 41-yard field goal and RB Michael Turner getting a 2-yard TD run. Fullback Ovie Mughelli carried the ball nine yards on his first rush of the season in the fourth quarter. Following a Packers touchdown to tie the game at 17, running back/kick returner Jerious Norwood returned the ensuing kickoff 54 yards into Green Bay territory, marking the second-longest kickoff return of his career, Norwood return set up a Falcons game-sealing touchdown. Green Bay tried to rally as Rodgers completed a 4-yard TD pass to TE Donald Lee, yet the Falcons' defense stiffened for the win.

With the win, Atlanta improved to 3–2.

Week 6: vs. Chicago Bears

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Bears 0 3 71020
Falcons 6 3 31022

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta

Coming off their road win over the Packers, the Falcons went home for a Week 6 duel with the Chicago Bears.[32] In the first quarter, Atlanta took flight as kicker Jason Elam got a 29-yard and a 48-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Falcons increased their lead as Elam kicked a 32-yard field goal.[33] The Bears responded with kicker Robbie Gould getting a 36-yard field goal. Entering Sunday game with the Bears, the Falcons led the NFL in first quarter scoring with 48 points. After posting two field goals for a 6–0 lead following the first 15 minutes of play against Chicago, Atlanta has now outscored its opponent in the first quarter by a 54–14 margin.

A chance at a touchdown came with 9:16 remaining in the first half after a curious turn of events near the goal line. A third-down run by Jerious Norwood came up short and ended with a fumble. Bears defensive tackle Tommie Harris recovered but lost the ball before he was touched down. Jason Snelling recovered the ball for the Falcons, who got a fresh set of downs. Following the first half of play, the Falcons defense held the Bears to 20 first half rushing yards. The 20 yards are the fewest given up in the first half of a game by Atlanta's defense since October 1, 2006, against Arizona (two yards).

In the third quarter, the Falcons continued to add onto their lead as Elam got a 41-yard field goal, yet Chicago answered with RB Matt Forté getting a 3-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, Atlanta replied with rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completing a 3-yard TD pass to WR Roddy White. Defensive end Jamaal Anderson paced a defense that fed off the crowd's energy. He finished with four tackles (two for loss) and the first sack of his two-year career. Anderson also had two pass deflections on the Bears' first drive of the second quarter. The Falcons offense started the second half with a no-huddle offense and added another Elam field goal to take a 12–3 lead. Chicago stuck with the running game and added a touchdown from Forte with 2:24 remaining in the third quarter. Chicago drove within inches of the end zone, but Matt Forte was stuffed on fourth down as he attempted to leap across the line. Michael Boley came in low to trip up the runner, then Lawyer Milloy and Keith Brooking finished him off. The Bears took the lead with Gould getting a 32-yard field goal, along with quarterback Kyle Orton completing a 17-yard TD pass to WR Rashied Davis. The Falcons got the last laugh as Elam nailed the game-winning 48-yard field goal. The 16-year veteran's celebration was interrupted by a swarm of teammates near midfield. It was his fifth successful kick of the day but just moments before, he missed a kick that could have iced the game. Chicago came off the miscue with a 77-yard touchdown drive to take a 20–19 lead with 11 seconds to play. But a 9-yard return off a short kickoff by Harry Douglas and a 26-yard strike from rookie quarterback Matt Ryan to Michael Jenkins set Elam up for the game-winner with 1 second left.

"I'm really happy that one went through", Elam said. "Our guys have been fighting so hard for so long. I hate to even mention what happened last year but to hear some of the stories I know the guys are really hungry to get some wins on the board and show our fans what we're all about." With time to throw Ryan thrived. The rookie found five different receivers and performed regular Houdini-like acts to find open players down the field for third-down conversions. Fellow rookie Douglas caught five passes for 96 yards including a 47-yard strike on third down that set up a 3-yard scoring toss to White with 13:25 remaining. Ryan opened the game 8-of-8 for 107 yards and captained nearly identical scoring drives in the first quarter, leading the team on 48- and 49-yard marches that ended with field goals. "I think everybody is excited with the win", Ryan said. "I thought we played a very good Chicago Bears team today. They played an entire 60 minutes and we did the same thing. We just had the last punch. We were able to make a couple big plays at the end of the game with Elam clutch kick being the biggest one. This win is a great story heading into the bye week." Bears CB Nathan Vasher (wrist) missed his second straight game, and the other starting corner, Charles Tillman, went out in the first half with a shoulder injury. Backup FS Danieal Manning left, too, with an injured hamstring., White went over 100 yards receiving for the second week in a row, Forte led the Bears with 76 yards rushing.

With the win, Atlanta entered their bye week at 4–2.

Not only did Matt Ryan (22/30 for 301 yards and a touchdown) pick up his first-ever 300-yard day, but he acquired the best record for a rookie quarterback in his first six games as a starter since 1998 (4–2), besting Kyle Orton in '05 and Kyle Boller in '03 (both with 3–3).

Week 8: at Philadelphia Eagles

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 7 0714
Eagles 0 10 71027

at Lincoln Financial Field, Philadelphia

Coming off their bye week, the Falcons flew to Lincoln Financial Field for a Week 8 duel with the Philadelphia Eagles,[34] as rookie quarterback Matt Ryan (a native of the Philly suburb of Exton, Pennsylvania) took on his hometown team.[35] Ryan threw for 277 yards in his seventh career start but also had a pair of interceptions. The defense held the Eagles after the first turnover but Ryan's second mistake came in the end zone, eliminating a red-zone scoring chance.

After a scoreless first quarter, Atlanta finally took flight in the second quarter as Ryan completed a 55-yard TD pass to WR Roddy White with 8:56 remaining in the first half when he threaded a pass between two Eagles defenders. White scampered toward the end zone for a 55-yard score and a 7–0 lead."We had worked on that fade pass all week in practice and Matt threw it up there and really I should have batted the ball down", said White, who had 113 receiving yards. "I think on that play, I had the responsibility to help him out. We thought we were going to put some points on the board and we let it get away from us. I put that play on myself, because I really should have knocked that down." White tallied his third consecutive 100-yard game after catching eight passes for 113 yards and two touchdowns. White has now posted four 100-yard games this season and 11 for his career, the 55-yard strike is the third longest pass for the rookie quarterback this season. The second score came on an eight-yard pass in the fourth quarter, Ryan returned to the sight of first collegiate touchdown pass at Lincoln Financial Field against the Temple Owls on November 20, 2004.

But Philadelphia responded with 20 unanswered points, including scoring drives of 60, 70 and 69 yards. Twice McNabb scrambled for key first downs. The Falcons did not record a sack in the second half. The Falcons run game sputtered and suffered from untimely penalties. Starting left tackle Sam Baker missed the game with a hip injury and was replaced by Todd Weiner. Weiner left with an injury and was replaced by Quinn Ojinnaka. Michael Turner rushed for 58 yards on 17 carries. The Eagles took the lead with quarterback Donovan McNabb getting a 3-yard TD run, along with kicker David Akers getting a 36-yard field goal. McNabb turned from prolific passer to game-manager as the afternoon progressed, finding openings in the Falcons zone defense for short to medium gains and handing the ball off to Westbrook, the All-Pro rushed for 63 yards on 10 carries in the first half and finished with 22 carries for 167 yards. He also had six catches for 42 yards, one of six Eagles receivers with two or more catches. The Falcons spent much of the first half keeping McNabb and the Eagles high-flying offense on the ground. Atlanta didn't allow a first-quarter-point for the fifth time this season and picked up two sacks, a forced fumble and a turnover in the first 30 minutes In the third quarter, the Falcons continued to trail as RB Brian Westbrook got a 16-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, Philadelphia increased its lead with Akers nailing an 18-yard field goal. Brian Finneran tied his season-high in receptions (three) and contributed with two catches on third down to convert a new set a downs for the Falcons on both occasions in the first half. Jerious Norwood posted his second-highest receiving total when he caught five passes for 55 yards, he set his career-high of 57 yards against the Saints last season Atlanta tried to rally as Ryan hooked up with White again on an 8-yard TD pass, but the Eagles flew away as Westbrook got a 39-yard TD run. A late goal-line stand held the Eagles to a field goal and kept it a two-possession game with 7:57 remaining. Ryan led a no-huddle offense into the red zone on the next series and found White with a second touchdown with less than four minutes to play. Trailing 20–14, the Falcons defense stepped up with a key three-and-out but an odd turn of events kept the Birds offense from getting a shot at the win. Return man Adam Jennings decided at the last second not to field the punt after the Eagles' three-and-out drive. Officials ruled Jennings touched the ball and the muffed punt was recovered by the Eagles. The Falcons did not have a timeout left and, by rule, could not challenge the play. Replays in the press box showed Jennings did not touch the ball. Three plays later Westbrook rushed over the left side for a 39-yard, game-clinching touchdown. Defensive end Jamaal Anderson posted his second sack of the season when he dropped Eagles quarterback Donovan McNabb for a six-yard loss in the first quarter, the sack stalled an Eagles drive, forcing a punt. Anderson has now totaled one sack in two consecutive games. Rookie Curtis Lofton earned his first career sack when he dropped McNabb for an eight-yard loss in the second quarter while forcing a fumble. The ball was recovered by defensive end Chauncey Davis. "It never felt like we were out of the game, even when we didn't get that touchdown when we needed it, it still felt like we stopped them to get a chance to put some more points on the board and that's what we did", defensive end John Abraham said. "Like I said, it's part of the game and everybody played well, it was a tough fought game. I think everybody got a lot of bumps and bruises from the game, but it definitely was a good game." With the loss, the Falcons fell to 4–3.

Week 9: at Oakland Raiders

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 14 10 0024
Raiders 0 0 000

at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum, Oakland, California

Ryan takes a snap against the Raiders on November 2.

Hoping to rebound from their road loss to the Eagles, the Falcons flew to the Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum for a Week 9 interconference duel with the Oakland Raiders.[36] In the first quarter, Atlanta took flight as rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed a 37-yard TD pass to WR Michael Jenkins, while RB Jerious Norwood got a 12-yard TD run. In the second quarter, the Falcons added onto their lead with Ryan hooking up with Jenkins again on a 27-yard TD pass, along with kicker Jason Elam nailing a 48-yard field goal. From there on out, Atlanta cruised towards its easy win, as they greatly outgained the Raiders in time of possession (45:15 to 14:45) and total offensive yards (453 to 77).[37]

With the easy win, the Falcons improved to 5–3.

Week 10: vs. New Orleans Saints

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Saints 3 3 01420
Falcons 7 10 31434

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta

Coming off their shutout road win over the Raiders, the Falcons went home for a Week 10 NFC South duel with the New Orleans Saints.[38] In the first quarter, Atlanta took flight as rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed a 16-yard TD pass to WR Roddy White. The Saints responded with kicker Garrett Hartley getting a 24-yard field goal. In the second quarter, the Falcons increased their lead as RB Michael Turner got a 2-yard TD run. New Orleans answered with Hartley making a 44-yard field goal. Atlanta closed out the half as kicker Jason Elam got a 22-yard field goal.[39]

In the third quarter, the Falcons got the period's only points as Elam nailed a 27-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Atlanta continued to soar as Ryan completed a 67-yard TD pass to RB Jerious Norwood. The Saints tried to rally as quarterback Drew Brees completed a 15-yard TD pass to RB Deuce McAllister, yet the Falcons flew away as rookie CB Chevis Jackson returned an interception 95 yards for a touchdown. New Orleans closed out the scoring with Brees completing a 32-yard TD pass to WR Lance Moore.

With the win, Atlanta improved to 6–3.

Week 11: vs. Denver Broncos

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Broncos 7 0 71024
Falcons 3 10 0720

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta

Coming off their win over the Saints, the Falcons stayed at home for a Week 11 interconference duel with the Denver Broncos.[40] In the first quarter, Atlanta trailed early as Broncos FB Peyton Hillis got a 7-yard TD run. The Falcons answered with kicker Jason Elam (a former Bronco) getting a 46-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Atlanta took the lead as Elam made a 36-yard field goal, while RB Michael Turner got a 9-yard TD run.[41]

In the third quarter, Denver retook the lead as Hillis got a 2-yard TD run. In the fourth quarter, the Broncos increased their lead as kicker Matt Prater nailed a 20-yard field goal. The Falcons tried to rally as Turner got a 28-yard field goal, yet Denver replied with quarterback Jay Cutler competing a 9-yard TD pass to TE Daniel Graham. From there on out, the Broncos' defense stopped any other possible comeback attempt.

With their first home loss of the year, Atlanta fell to 6–4. This was the first of only two home losses suffered by Matt Ryan in the NFL through December 27, 2010. The second was to the New Orleans Saints on December 27, 2010, the final Monday Night Football game of the 2010 season.

Week 12: vs. Carolina Panthers

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Panthers 0 3 101528
Falcons 10 7 02845

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta

Falcons offense against the Panthers in Georgia Dome

Hoping to rebound from their loss to the Broncos, the Falcons stayed at home, donned their alternate uniforms, and played a Week 12 NFC South rematch with the Carolina Panthers. In the first quarter, Atlanta took flight as kicker Jason Elam got a 23-yard field goal, while rookie WR Harry Douglas got a 7-yard TD run.[42] In the second quarter, the Falcons increased their lead as RB Michael Turner got a 1-yard TD run. The Panthers closed out the half as kicker John Kasay got a 23-yard field goal. On his third carry of the game, Turner rushed for a six-yard gain and eclipsed the 1,000-yard rushing plateau this season. He became the first Falcons running back to reach 1,000 yards in a campaign since 2006 when Warrick Dunn had 1,140 and the 20th running back in franchise history to reach 1,000 yards in a season. Turner's career day continued after he tied a team record with four rushing touchdowns of T. J. Duckett posted on December 12, 2004.[43] It was also the second career three-score game and the fourth multiple-touchdown game of his career. Turner first found the end zone on a one-yard rush in the second quarter, scored for the second occasion on a four-yard run in the fourth quarter, logged his third TD on a one-yard run with 7:13 remaining and tallied his last on a 16-yard scamper in the fourth quarter to seal a Falcons 45–28 victory. With four scores, Turner became the third player in Falcons history to post 13 or more rushing touchdowns in a season. Turner finished the game with 24 carries for 117 yards and four touchdowns, which marked his eighth career 100-yard game. Matt Ryan and the offense faced a quick third down on the next possession, but the quarterback found rookie wide receiver Harry Douglas on a 69-yard pass play to the Panthers 6. Four plays later Turner got his key, fourth-down touchdown.[44]

The Panthers faced an energized defense and a raucous crowd on the next possession. Chauncey Davis recorded his second sack of the day and back-to-back false start penalties backed Carolina into the shadow of its own goal line. The Panthers punted from the end zone, giving Douglas a chance for a big return. The rookie brought the kick back up the middle 61 yards for a touchdown. Delhomme found Muhsin Muhammad for a touchdown on the next series but the Falcons had already done plenty of damage. Still, Turner found the end zone for a final time with just 54 seconds to play. Eric Weems caught his first career pass in the first quarter for a four-yard gain. The reception led to a Falcons touchdown. Douglas scored his first two career touchdowns; he first found the end zone on a seven-yard end around in the first quarter to give the Falcons a 10–0 lead; Douglas then became the 10th player in Falcons history to return a punt for a touchdown and the first since 2004 when Allen Rossum returned a kick 61 yards in the fourth quarter. Douglas's return was the longest in his career, topping the previous mark of 33 yards against New Orleans in Week 10; along with a 61-yard punt return, Douglas totaled career-highs in offensive touches with six (two rushing, four receiving and all purpose yards 188, which included 3 rushing, 92 receiving and 93 yards on punt returns), he also became the Falcons' third rookie this season to account for a touchdown; along with Douglas's run and punt return, quarterback Matt Ryan has thrown 11 touchdown passes and cornerback Chevis Jackson returned an interception 95 yards for a score against New Orleans in Week 10, Douglas posted a career-long reception with a 69-yard catch in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with 92 receiving yards, which led the team and fell four yards short of his career high ( 96 yards vs. Chicago, October 12 ). Roddy White caught Ryan first pass of the game for a 30-yard gain, marking the 11th reception of 20-plus yards, White finished the game with four receptions for 70 yards and is 27 yards shy of a 1,000-yard season. Atlanta outscored Carolina in the first quarter by a 10–0 margin, marking the seventh time this season a Falcons opponent was held scoreless in the opening 15 minutes of play. Atlanta outscored its opponents in the first quarter by an 88–24 mark and led the NFL in first quarter scoring entering Sunday's game. Following the first quarter of play, the Falcons offense posted 162 net yards of offense compared to zero by the Panthers. Brian Finneran caught one pass for nine yards on a third down in the second quarter, giving the Falcons a new set of downs. In his career, the nine-year veteran has caught 127 of 187 receptions that have gone for a first down or touchdown (67.9 percent).

John Abraham logged his 12th sack of the season and stalled a Carolina two-minute drive at the end of the second quarter; the sack is the 14th in his last 12 games, his 22nd in his last 26 contests and has now recorded 79.5 for his career. In his tenure with the Falcons, Abraham has posted 26 sacks in 34 games played. Abraham's 12 sacks through 11 games this season already ranks tied for the fifth most in a single season in Falcons history. Atlanta defense held Carolina to three-consecutive three and outs to start the game while allowing only eight net yards; entering Sunday's game, the Falcons ranked fourth in the NFC and eighth in the NFL in opponent three and out drives. Jason Snelling caught a 27-yard pass in the first quarter and broke a tackle to take the ball into Carolina territory, the reception is a career-long for the second-year running back, topping his old mark of 18 yards, which he set earlier in the season at Philadelphia.

In the third quarter, Carolina began to claw their way back into the game as RB DeAngelo Williams got a 5-yard TD run, while Kasay nailed a 21-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, Atlanta answered with Turner getting a 4-yard TD run. The Panthers replied with quarterback Jake Delhomme getting a 12-yard TD run (along with Williams' 2-point conversion run), yet the Falcons struck right back with Turner getting a 1-yard TD run, while Douglas returned a punt 61-yard field goal. Carolina tried to rally as Delhomme completed a 16-yard TD pass to WR Muhsin Muhammad, yet Atlanta flew away as Turner got a 16-yard TD run. "It was great to get off to a good start and score 17 points", said Ryan, who managed the game with 259 passing yards on a 94.5 passer rating. "For the most part, we were able to maintain our ebb and flow on the offensive side of the ball. Our defense stepped up and did a heck of a job keeping Carolina from making big plays. I didn't think we would score 45 points, but I’ll take that any day."

With the win, the Falcons improved to 7–4.

Week 13: at San Diego Chargers

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 6 9 0722
Chargers 7 0 6316

at Qualcomm Stadium, San Diego

Coming off their divisional home win over the Panthers, the Falcons flew to Qualcomm Stadium for a Week 13 interconference duel with the San Diego Chargers.[45] In the first quarter, Atlanta took off as kicker Jason Elam got a 35-yard field goal. The Chargers responded with RB LaDainian Tomlinson getting a 3-yard TD run, yet the Falcons stayed close with Elam getting a 40-yard field goal. In the second quarter, Atlanta regained the lead as rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed an 18-yard TD pass to TE Justin Peelle, along with their defense forcing opposing quarterback Philip Rivers to commit intentional grounding from his own endzone, giving Atlanta a safety.

In the third quarter, San Diego answered with safety Eric Weddle returning a fumble 86 yards for a touchdown (with a failed two-point conversion). In the fourth quarter, the Falcons replied with Ryan completing a 5-yard TD pass to rookie WR Harry Douglas. The Chargers tried to come back, as kicker Nate Kaeding nailed a 28-yard field goal. Atlanta's defense stiffened for the victory.[46]

With the win, the Falcons improved to 8–4.

Week 14: at New Orleans Saints

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 14 3825
Saints 7 9 01329

at Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

Coming off their west coast win over the Chargers, the Falcons flew to the Louisiana Superdome for a Week 14 NFC South rematch with the New Orleans Saints.[47] Atlanta trailed fairly early in the first quarter as Saints quarterback Drew Brees completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to RB Reggie Bush. In the second quarter, the Falcons continued to trail as kicker Garrett Hartley got a 26-yard field goal. Atlanta responded RB Michael Turner getting a 5-yard TD run, yet Hartley gave New Orleans a 46-yard field goal. The Falcons struck back with rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completing a 2-yard TD pass to WR Brian Finneran, but the Saints closed out the half with Hartley's 25-yard field goal.

Atlanta got the third quarter's only points as kicker Jason Elam nailed a 23-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, New Orleans tried to pull away as Brees completed a 7-yard touchdown pass to RB Pierre Thomas, yet their 2-point conversion attempt failed. The Falcons then took the lead as Ryan got a 12-yard touchdown run, followed by a 2-point pass to wide receiver Michael Jenkins. However, the Saints got the last laugh as Thomas got a 5-yard TD run.[48]

With the loss, Atlanta fell to 8–5.

Week 15: vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34OTTotal
Buccaneers 0 7 03010
Falcons 10 0 00313

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta

Michael Turner rushed for 152 yards and a touchdown, and Jason Elam kicked the winning 34-yard field goad at 10:56 of overtime to give the Falcons (9–5–0) a much-needed division victory.[49] The Falcons overcame two Matt Ryan interceptions and some sloppy play. The victory over the Buccaneers (9–5–0) kept them in the hunt for a playoff spot, and guaranteed the Falcons first winning season since 2004. Also with the win, the Falcons managed to knock the Saints out of playoff contention. Turner's touchdown was his 15th for the Falcons this season, breaking the record of 14 set in 1998 by Jamal Anderson.[50]

Week 16: at Minnesota Vikings

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 7 10 7024
Vikings 7 0 01017

at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome, Minneapolis, Minnesota

Coming off their divisional home win over the Buccaneers, the Falcons flew to the Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome for a Week 16 battle with the Minnesota Vikings.[51] Atlanta got an early first quarter lead with running back Michael Turner getting a 1-yard touchdown run. The Vikings responded with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson completing a 21-yard touchdown pass to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. In the second quarter, the Falcons regained the lead as rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to running back Jerious Norwood, followed by kicker Jason Elam getting a 22-yard field goal.[52]

Atlanta added to their lead in the third quarter as Ryan tried to run into the endzone for a touchdown, fumbled the ball into the endzone, and offensive guard Justin Blalock recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown. In the fourth quarter, Minnesota tried to come back as kicker Ryan Longwell nailed a 29-yard field goal, along with Jackson hooking up with Shiancoe again on a 17-yard touchdown pass. The Falcon defense stiffened for the win.

With the win, not only did Atlanta improve to 10–5, but they also clinched a playoff berth for the first since 2004.

Week 17: vs. St. Louis Rams

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Rams 7 7 31027
Falcons 3 14 7731

at Georgia Dome, Atlanta

With the playoffs on the horizon, the Falcons closed out the regular season at home in a Week 17 duel with the St. Louis Rams. Atlanta took off in the first quarter with kicker Jason Elam making a 39-yard field goal, but the Rams responded with running back Steven Jackson getting a 4-yard touchdown run. The Falcons answered in the second quarter with a 9-yard touchdown run from running back Michael Turner. St. Louis answered with quarterback Marc Bulger completing a 16-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Donnie Avery, yet Atlanta took the halftime lead with running back Jerious Norwood's 8-yard touchdown run.

In the third quarter, the Falcons added to their lead with quarterback Matt Ryan completing an 18-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roddy White. The Rams closed out the period with kicker Josh Brown making a 31-yard field goal. In the fourth quarter, St. Louis got the lead again as Jackson got a 2-yard touchdown run, followed by Brown nailing a 27-yard field goal. Atlanta then took the lead for good as Norwood got a 45-yard touchdown run.

With the win, the Falcons closed out the regular season at 11–5 and due to Carolina's victory over New Orleans, earned the NFC's #5 seed.

Postseason

[edit]

NFC Wild Card Round: at Arizona Cardinals

[edit]
Quarter 1 2 34Total
Falcons 0 17 0724
Cardinals 7 7 14230

at University of Phoenix Stadium, Glendale, Arizona

Entering the playoffs as the NFC's fifth seed, the Falcons began their playoff run at the University of Phoenix Stadium against the #4 Arizona Cardinals. Atlanta trailed early in the first quarter as Cardinals quarterback Kurt Warner completed a 42-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald. The Falcons responded in the second quarter as kicker Jason Elam got a 30-yard field goal, but Arizona answered with Warner completing a 71-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Anquan Boldin. Afterwards, Atlanta took a halftime lead as running back Michael Turner got a 7-yard touchdown run, followed by rookie quarterback Matt Ryan's 2-yard touchdown pass to tight end Justin Peelle.

In the third quarter, the Cardinals retook the lead as safety Antrel Rolle returned a fumble 27 yards for a touchdown, followed by running back Tim Hightower's 4-yard touchdown run. The Falcons' postseason run was fading in the fourth quarter as Ryan was sacked in his endzone by defensive end Antonio Smith for a safety. Afterwards, Atlanta tried to rally as Ryan completed a 5-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Roddy White, but Arizona's offense ran out the clock for the win.

With the loss, the Falcons' season ended with an overall record of 11–6.

2009 Pro Bowl selections

[edit]
Roddy White was named to his first career Pro Bowl.

Michael Turner and Roddy White were named to the 2009 Pro Bowl NFC squad as reserves. It was his first trip to Hawaii.[53][54][55] White and Turner are the 112th and 113th Pro Bowl selections in team history, they are the second Falcons RB and WR duo to be voted to the Pro Bowl in the same year (first since 1980). White is the fourth Falcons wide receiver to earn Pro Bowl accolades and the first since Terance Mathis in 1995. Turner is the eighth different Falcons runningback to earn Pro Bowl honors. Matt Ryan finished second amongst rookies in fan Pro Bowl voting, Ryan[56] (416,468 votes) was the top rookie quarterback in the category but ranks behind Titans running back Chris Johnson (534,170 votes).[57]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

2008 Atlanta Falcons season

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
The 2008 Atlanta Falcons season represented a dramatic resurgence for the franchise, improving from a 4–12 record in 2007 to an 11–5 finish that earned a wild-card playoff spot in the NFC under first-year Mike Smith. The team, led by rookie quarterback Matt Ryan—selected third overall in the NFL Draft—started the year 4–0 and clinched a postseason berth with a 24–17 victory over the in Week 16, marking their first playoff appearance since 2004. Key contributors included running back Michael Turner, who rushed for 1,699 yards and a franchise-record 17 touchdowns after signing as a free agent—including breaking the team's single-game rushing record with 220 yards and two touchdowns in his debut against the Detroit Lions—and a defense that allowed just 20.3 points per game, ranking among the league's improved units. Despite the momentum, the Falcons' campaign ended with a 30–24 wild-card loss to the , highlighted by a late comeback attempt that fell short. Smith's leadership earned him NFL Coach of the Year honors, while Ryan captured Offensive Rookie of the Year, signaling the start of a competitive era built on aggressive roster rebuilding by new general manager .

Context and expectations

Aftermath of 2007 season

The Atlanta Falcons' 2007 season was marred by the federal indictment and guilty plea of quarterback Michael Vick for his role in operating an illegal dogfighting ring known as "Bad Newz Kennels," which involved training over 50 pit bull terriers, staging fights, and euthanizing underperforming dogs. Vick, the team's franchise player, was suspended indefinitely without pay by NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on August 24, 2007, following his plea agreement, depriving the Falcons of their starting quarterback just before the regular season began. This loss contributed to on-field instability, as the team cycled through three starting quarterbacks—Joey Harrington, Byron Leftwich, and Chris Redman—without establishing offensive consistency. The Falcons compiled a 4–12 record, finishing last in the NFC South and out of playoff contention by midseason, with a points differential reflecting offensive struggles (259 points scored, ranking 29th league-wide). Head coach , hired in January 2007 to implement a new scheme, guided the team to a 3–10 mark before abruptly resigning on December 11, 2007—the day after Vick's sentencing to 23 months in —to accept the head coaching position at the for a reported $2.75 million annually, less than his NFL salary. Defensive coordinator served as interim coach for the final three games, posting a 1–2 record amid widespread reports of player morale collapse and feelings of betrayal from Petrino's exit without addressing the team or front office. Owner described the departures of both Vick and Petrino as compounding blows in a "surreal year," prompting a comprehensive organizational reset, including the eventual dismissal of general manager and a search for new to rebuild roster and culture. The season's turmoil underscored systemic issues in talent evaluation and stability, setting low expectations for 2008 while highlighting the need for ethical and strategic realignment.

New front office and coaching hires

Following the tumultuous 2007 season, which ended with a 4-12 record amid the scandal and Bobby Petrino's abrupt resignation, the restructured their leadership to stabilize the franchise. , who had served as general manager since 2003, was removed from those duties and transitioned to the role of president and CEO, focusing on business operations rather than personnel decisions. On January 13, 2008, the Falcons hired as the new general manager; Dimitroff, previously the director of college scouting for the from 2003 to 2007, brought experience in player evaluation and draft preparation from a successful Patriots regime that had reached multiple Super Bowls. For the coaching position, the Falcons targeted defensive expertise to rebuild a defense that ranked 24th in points allowed in 2007. On January 23, 2008, they appointed Mike Smith as head coach; Smith came from the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he had been defensive coordinator since 2003, overseeing a unit that ranked among the NFL's top defenses in sacks and turnovers during that period. Smith's hire marked the Falcons' first head coaching selection under owner Arthur Blank's emphasis on long-term stability, with his 26 years of NFL assistant experience cited as key to implementing a disciplined, scheme-based system. These changes positioned Dimitroff and Smith to collaborate on roster overhaul, prioritizing draft capital and free-agent acquisitions aligned with Smith's defensive philosophy and Dimitroff's scouting acumen.

Offseason

2008 NFL Draft

The entered the with the third overall selection, stemming from their 4-12 record in 2007, and focused on addressing key positional needs under new general manager . Dimitroff prioritized acquiring a long-term solution and strengthening the lines on both sides of the ball, executing trades to optimize value. The draft class, ranked by as the fourth-best of the for producing multiple contributors, centered on high-character players with immediate starting potential. With the third pick, the Falcons selected Matt Ryan from , a 6-foot-4, 217-pound signal-caller noted for his poise, arm strength, and 59.9% completion rate in college, positioning him as the cornerstone to revitalize the offense. Later in the first round, to secure left tackle protection for Ryan, Dimitroff traded the team's second-round picks (Nos. 43 and 53 overall) and a fourth-round selection (No. 117) to the Washington Redskins, moving up from the 22nd to the 21st spot to draft Sam Baker from USC, a versatile lineman with 38 career starts at tackle and guard. In the second round, the Falcons picked inside linebacker from at No. 37 overall, a 5-foot-10, 236-pound tackler who led the in tackles and brought sideline-to-sideline speed to the defense. The third round yielded cornerback Chevis Jackson from LSU (No. 68) for secondary depth and wide receiver from Louisville (No. 84), adding speed and return ability to the receiving corps. Subsequent picks included running back Thomas Brown from Georgia (No. 102, fourth round), defensive end from (No. 140, fifth round), and cornerback Robert Gill from (No. 195, sixth round), rounding out a nine-player class aimed at infusing youth and versatility.
RoundSelectionPlayerPositionCollege
13Matt RyanQB
121Sam BakerOTUSC
237Curtis LoftonLB
368Chevis JacksonCBLSU
384Harry DouglasWRLouisville
4102Thomas BrownRBGeorgia
5140Kroy BiermannDE
6195Robert GillCB
7230Keith ZingerTEMichigan State

Key transactions and free agency

The , under new general manager , entered the 2008 free agency period following a 4-12 record marred by the dogfighting and subsequent roster upheaval, prioritizing immediate contributors to complement the upcoming draft class. Dimitroff targeted proven veterans for impact roles, allocating significant cap space to secure a ground-game foundation and special teams reliability, while addressing secondary depth depleted by prior departures. The marquee acquisition was Michael Turner, formerly a backup to with the , who signed a six-year, $34.5 million contract on March 2, 2008, including $15 million in guarantees. Turner, a fourth-round pick out of in 2004, had amassed 680 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns over three seasons behind Tomlinson, providing the Falcons with a power back capable of handling a lead role absent since Warrick Dunn's tenure. This move, executed early in free agency, signaled a shift toward a run-heavy offense under incoming Mike Smith. To bolster the secondary, the Falcons signed safety Erik Coleman, a former New York Jets starter, on March 1, 2008, to a four-year, $9.5 million deal. Coleman, drafted in the fifth round out of Washington in 2004, brought seven career interceptions and 338 tackles, filling a void after the release of aging or underperforming defensive backs. Concurrently, on March 2, they added Von Hutchins as a depth piece. Later, on March 21, 2008, kicker Jason Elam joined from the on a four-year, $9 million contract with $3.3 million guaranteed; Elam, a 15-year Broncos veteran and two-time Pro Bowler, offered accuracy with a career 82.2% rate, replacing the inconsistent Phil Dawson-era holdovers. Additional signings included Ben Hartsock for blocking support and Grady Jackson, re-acquired on July 28, 2008, after his 2007 stint elsewhere, to anchor the nose tackle position in Smith's 3-4 scheme. The Falcons also re-signed Joey Harrington and Tim Anderson for depth, while parting ways with veterans like Warrick Dunn and Alge Crumpler to clear cap space and roster spots. No major trades occurred during this window, with emphasis on unrestricted free agents to accelerate competitiveness.

Roster adjustments and training camp

In the weeks following the , the executed targeted roster adjustments to accommodate high-profile acquisitions and draft picks while shedding underperforming or high-salary veterans. On February 15, 2008, the team released Alge Crumpler, Byron Leftwich, defensive tackle Rod Coleman, offensive tackle Wayne Gandy, cornerback Lewis Sanders, wide receiver Daryl Jones, and linebacker Daryl Blackstock, moves that freed approximately $20 million in space amid the ongoing rebuild after the scandal. These cuts targeted players with injury histories or declining production, such as Crumpler (who had 25 receptions for 252 yards in 2007) and Leftwich (limited to four starts due to injuries). Key additions included running back Michael Turner, signed on March 2 to anchor the ground game after rushing for 1,429 yards as a with the in 2007, kicker for long-range reliability following his 24-of-27 performance the prior season with , and Erik Coleman to deepen the secondary after his 69 tackles with in 2007. The Falcons also re-signed defensive tackle Tim Anderson, quarterbacks and as backups, and pursued undrafted free agents to fill depth needs across the lines. These changes shifted the roster toward youth and athleticism, with Turner projected as the lead back (replacing the departed , who signed with ) and draft selections like quarterback Matt Ryan slotted for immediate evaluation. Training camp opened on July 25, 2008, at the team's facility in Flowery Branch, Georgia, under first-year head coach Mike Smith, who installed a pro-style scheme emphasizing run-heavy offense and aggressive defense. Practices focused on installing fundamentals without major disruptions, contrasting the prior year's turmoil, and featured intense conditioning to build stamina for Turner's power-running approach. Rookie Matt Ryan emerged as the frontrunner for the starting role, outpacing veterans Redman and Harrington through precise passing in drills and preseason outings, culminating in his official naming to the position on August 25 by Smith, who cited Ryan's command and decision-making. The camp proceeded without significant injuries, allowing full participation and fostering early chemistry between Ryan, Turner, and receivers like , setting a tone of disciplined preparation for the regular season.

Personnel

Coaching staff

The 2008 Atlanta Falcons coaching staff was headed by Mike Smith in his first season as head coach, a position he assumed on January 23, 2008, following his role as defensive coordinator with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2003 to 2007. Smith's defensive background emphasized aggressive schemes, which helped transform the Falcons' defense into a top-10 unit in points allowed (17.1 per game). Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, hired prior to the season, brought experience from prior head coaching stints with the (2004–2005) and (1999), focusing on a balanced attack that supported rookie quarterback Matt Ryan's development and ranked the offense 18th in points scored (24.4 per game). Defensive coordinator , who joined from the Falcons' linebackers coach role in 2007, implemented Smith's Tampa-2 influenced system, contributing to the team's runner-up finish and wild card playoff berth. Emmitt Thomas served as assistant head coach and secondary coach, retained from the 2007 staff where he had briefly acted as interim ; his expertise aided a secondary that intercepted 19 passes, third in the . Special teams coordinator Keith Armstrong managed coverage and return units that ranked mid-pack in field position metrics. Other key assistants included running backs coach Gerald Brown, hired in January 2008 to develop a ground game led by Michael Turner (1,699 rushing yards), and wide receivers coach Paul Robiskie, who supported Roddy White's season (83 receptions, 1,382 yards).

Roster overview

The 2008 Atlanta Falcons roster centered on a rebuilt offense under new head coach Mike Smith, featuring Matt Ryan as the starter after being selected third overall in the NFL Draft. Ryan, the first to start all 16 games for the franchise, completed 265 of 434 passes for 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions, earning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors. The running game relied heavily on free-agent signee Michael Turner, who led the team with 1,340 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns on 376 carries, supported by fullback and backups and Jason Snelling. Wide receiver Roddy White emerged as the primary target, recording 83 receptions for 1,412 yards and 7 touchdowns, while Michael Jenkins provided complementary production with 50 catches for 503 yards. The offensive line included rookie left tackle Sam Baker, a first-round pick, alongside veterans Todd McClure at center, Justin Blalock at left guard, Harvey Dahl at right guard, and Tyson Clabo at right tackle, forming a unit that allowed 40 sacks. Tight end Justin Peelle handled blocking duties primarily, with Alge Crumpler as a secondary option. Defensively, the roster blended veterans like defensive end , who recorded 15.5 sacks, safety , and cornerback —acquired via trade—with rookies such as linebacker , who started all 16 games and tallied 128 tackles. The defensive line featured Jamaal Anderson and inside, with and Chauncey Davis on the edge, while the secondary included at cornerback and Erik Coleman at strong safety. Linebacker Michael Boley contributed 86 tackles before being traded midseason. Overall, the 53-man roster incorporated six rookies who became starters, contributing to an 11-5 record and title. Special teams were led by kicker , who converted 30 of 37 field goals, and punter Michael Koenen.

Preseason

Schedule and results

The Atlanta Falcons' 2008 preseason schedule consisted of four games, resulting in a 2–2 record with 53 points scored and 48 allowed.
WeekDateOpponentResultLocation
1August 9at L 17–20Jacksonville, FL
2August 16vs. L 9–16, GA
3August 22vs. W 17–3, GA
4August 28at W 10–9Baltimore, MD

Regular season

Schedule

The Atlanta Falcons played a 16-game regular season schedule in 2008, including eight home games at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta and a Week 7 bye.
WeekDateOpponentResultScoreRecordVenue
1Sep 7Detroit LionsW34–211–0Georgia Dome (H)
2Sep 14at Tampa Bay BuccaneersL9–241–1Raymond James Stadium (A)
3Sep 21Kansas City ChiefsW38–142–1Georgia Dome (H)
4Sep 28at Carolina PanthersL9–242–2Bank of America Stadium (A)
5Oct 5at Green Bay PackersW27–243–2Lambeau Field (A)
6Oct 12Chicago BearsW22–204–2Georgia Dome (H)
7—Bye——4–2—
8Oct 26at Philadelphia EaglesL14–274–3Lincoln Financial Field (A)
9Nov 2at Oakland RaidersW24–05–3Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum (A)
10Nov 9New Orleans SaintsW34–206–3Georgia Dome (H)
11Nov 16Denver BroncosL20–246–4Georgia Dome (H)
12Nov 23Carolina PanthersW45–287–4Georgia Dome (H)
13Nov 30at San Diego ChargersW22–168–4Qualcomm Stadium (A)
14Dec 7at New Orleans SaintsL25–298–5Louisiana Superdome (A)
15Dec 14Tampa Bay BuccaneersW (OT)13–109–5Georgia Dome (H)
16Dec 21at Minnesota VikingsW24–1710–5Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome (A)
17Dec 28St. Louis RamsW31–2711–5Georgia Dome (H)

Standings

The compiled an 11–5 regular season record in 2008, securing second place in the division behind the . This performance marked a significant turnaround from their 4–12 finish in , qualifying the Falcons for the playoffs as the NFC's No. 5 seed via the wild card. The division standings, determined primarily by win-loss records with tiebreakers applied per NFL rules (including head-to-head results, division record, and conference record), are summarized below.
TeamWLTPctPFPA
1240.750414329
(x) 1150.688391325
970.563361338
880.500463398
The Falcons swept the season series against the Saints (wins on October 19 and November 16) and split with the Buccaneers and Panthers, contributing to their divisional tiebreaker edge over Tampa Bay. Their overall NFC record of 9–3 further supported their wild card positioning ahead of teams like the Minnesota Vikings (10–6).

Week 1: vs.

The Atlanta Falcons opened the 2008 regular season by hosting the on September 7 at the in , with an attendance of 62,310. This game marked the NFL debut of rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, selected third overall in the 2008 draft, who started under new head coach Mike Smith following the team's 4–12 record in 2007. The Falcons secured a 34–21 , propelled by a dominant rushing attack that amassed 337 yards on 38 carries. Atlanta jumped to a 21–0 lead in the first quarter, beginning with Ryan's first career pass attempt—a 62-yard to Michael Jenkins at the 13:33 mark. Running back Michael Turner then scored on a 66-yard run at 7:33 and a 5-yard run at 3:20, both followed by extra points from kicker . The Lions responded in the second quarter with a 3-yard run by at 4:06 and a 21-yard pass from to Roy Williams at 0:16, narrowing the deficit to 21–14 at halftime. In the third quarter, added a 50-yard at 9:45, and capped a drive with a 10-yard run at 5:57, extending the lead to 31–14. Detroit's Kitna connected with Casey Fitzsimmons for a 1-yard at 1:40, but the Falcons sealed the win with 's 25-yard in the fourth quarter at 10:23. Ryan completed 9 of 13 passes for 161 yards and one with no interceptions, while Turner rushed for 220 yards and two s on 22 carries, and Norwood added 93 yards and one on 14 carries. For the Lions, Kitna went 24 of 33 for 262 yards, two s, and one interception, with Smith managing 48 rushing yards and one on 16 carries.

Week 2: at

The played the on September 14, 2008, at in , in a divisional matchup during Week 2 of the . secured a 24–9 victory, capitalizing on defensive turnovers and a strong ground game to hand the Falcons their first loss after an opening-week win. The Buccaneers struck first in the opening quarter when cornerback intercepted a pass from Matt Ryan on his third attempt of the game, setting up a short field that led to a 5-yard pass from to tight end John Gilmore, giving a 7–0 lead. In the second quarter, safety Sabby Piscitelli's interception of Ryan fueled another scoring drive, culminating in a 17-yard run by , extending the advantage to 14–0. added a 33-yard later in the half, while managed a 32-yard by just before halftime to narrow the gap to 17–3. The Falcons' offense struggled throughout, limited to three field goals—Elam's kicks of 32, 40, and 37 yards in the second, third, and fourth quarters, respectively—while failing to reach the end zone. Ryan completed 13 of 33 passes for 158 yards but threw two interceptions and was sacked four times, including two by defensive end Gaines Adams, contributing to three total turnovers for Atlanta including a lost fumble. Running back Michael Turner was held to 42 yards on 14 carries, as the Buccaneers defense restricted Atlanta to 105 rushing yards overall. Tampa Bay controlled the ground game, amassing 164 rushing yards led by Earnest Graham's 116 yards on 15 carries, capped by his 68-yard run in the fourth quarter that sealed the win at 24–9. Griese finished 18 of 31 for 160 yards with one and no interceptions, while turned over the ball only once on a fumble. The victory improved Tampa Bay to 1–1, while Atlanta fell to 1–1, exposing early-season vulnerabilities in pass protection and turnover management for the young Falcons squad.

Week 3: vs.

The hosted the on September 21, 2008, at the in , defeating them 38–14 to improve to 3–0 for the first time since 2002. Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed 12 of 18 passes for 192 yards and 1 with no interceptions, while Michael Turner rushed 23 times for 104 yards and 3 . The Falcons jumped to a 24–0 halftime lead, capitalizing on an early 4-yard run by Turner and a 70-yard pass from Ryan to wide receiver , who finished with 5 receptions for 119 yards and the score. added a 27-yard in the second quarter. The Chiefs, starting Tyler Thigpen at quarterback in place of injured Brodie Croyle, managed 301 total yards but committed four turnovers, including three interceptions by Thigpen, who went 14 of 36 for 128 yards and 1 touchdown. Kansas City scored on a 15-yard pass from Thigpen to Dwayne Bowe late in the second quarter and a 1-yard rush by Larry Johnson in the third, but the Falcons responded with Turner's third touchdown on a 2-yard run to extend the lead to 31–14. Atlanta's defense sealed the victory with a 10-yard interception return for a touchdown by cornerback Chris Houston with 1:01 remaining. The Falcons held possession advantages in key drives and avoided turnovers entirely, contributing to their offensive efficiency of 378 total yards on 54 plays. This win highlighted the Falcons' balanced attack under new head coach Mike Smith and first-round draft pick Ryan, building momentum after opening victories over the and . For the Chiefs, the loss extended their skid to 11 games dating back to 2007 and dropped them to 0–3, en route to a 2–14 finish amid broader team struggles including injuries and offensive line issues. Turner's dominant ground performance, powering through for three short-yardage scores, underscored Atlanta's emphasis on a physical rushing attack that averaged over 140 yards per game through the early season.

Week 4: at

The faced the on September 28, 2008, at in , in Week 4 of the . The Falcons, entering with a 2-1 record after victories over the , , and , lost to the Panthers 24–9, dropping to 2-2. The Panthers, led by quarterback , controlled the game with a balanced offense, accumulating 389 total yards compared to the Falcons' 230. In the first quarter, the Panthers took a 7–0 lead on an 8-yard rushing touchdown by Jonathan Stewart, capped by an 11-play, 78-yard drive. The Falcons responded late in the quarter with a 33-yard field goal by Jason Elam, narrowing the score to 7–3. The second quarter saw Elam add two more field goals from 44 yards each, giving Atlanta a brief 9–7 lead midway through the period. However, Delhomme connected with Steve Smith Sr. for a 56-yard touchdown pass, restoring Carolina's advantage at 14–9 before halftime. The Panthers extended their lead in the third quarter with a 44-yard by , making it 17–9. In the fourth, Delhomme threw a 36-yard pass to , sealing the 24–9 victory. Falcons Matt Ryan completed 21 of 41 passes for 158 yards but struggled to generate scoring opportunities beyond , with no or interceptions recorded—though an interception returned for a was nullified by a Panthers penalty. Delhomme excelled, going 20-for-29 for 294 yards and two . Carolina's rushing attack featured 109 yards from Stewart and combined, while Atlanta's Michael Turner managed 56 yards on 18 carries. Roddy led the Falcons with seven receptions for 90 yards. Neither team committed turnovers, but the Panthers' efficiency in the passing game proved decisive.

Week 5: at

The defeated the 27–24 on October 5, 2008, at in , improving to 4–1 on the season in a game marked by a late comeback attempt by the Packers. The Falcons built a 17–7 halftime lead behind quarterback Matt Ryan's two touchdown passes, then held off Green Bay's rally in the fourth quarter with a field goal and a rushing score. outrushed Green Bay 176–104 yards, controlling the ground game with running back Michael Turner's 121 yards and a touchdown on 26 carries, while the Packers relied more on passing with 304 aerial yards. The Falcons struck first in the opening quarter with Ryan's 1-yard pass to tight end , followed by kicker Jason Elam's 42-yard field goal to make it 10–0. Green Bay responded in the second quarter on ' 44-yard strike to , narrowing the gap to 10–7, but Ryan connected with for a 22-yard pass moments later, extending Atlanta's lead to 17–7 at . White finished with eight receptions for 132 yards and the score, providing a key deep threat.
QuarterTimeScoring PlayScore (ATL–GB)
19:53ATL: 1 yd pass from Matt Ryan ( kick)7–0
14:15ATL: 42 yd FG10–0
29:42GB: 44 yd pass from ( kick)10–7
26:02ATL: 22 yd pass from Matt Ryan ( kick)17–7
30:27GB: 50 yd FG17–10
410:08GB: 25 yd pass from ( kick)17–17
47:19ATL: 41 yd FG20–17
43:35ATL: Michael Turner 2 yd rush ( kick)27–17
41:56GB: Donald Lee 4 yd pass from ( kick)27–24
Rodgers led the Packers' offense with 313 passing yards and three touchdowns on 25-of-37 completions, including a 25-yard score to that tied the game at 17–17 early in the fourth. However, Atlanta regained the lead with Elam's 41-yard and Turner's 2-yard touchdown run, pushing the margin to 27–17. Green Bay closed with Rodgers' 4-yard touchdown pass to Donald Lee, but the Falcons' defense prevented a potential game-tying drive. Ryan completed 16 of 26 passes for 194 yards, two touchdowns, and one for Atlanta, which committed one but recovered it, while Green Bay had one . The Falcons possessed the ball for 28:43, generating 370 total yards and 22 first downs against Green Bay's 408 yards, 21 first downs, and 31:17 time of possession.

Week 6: vs.

The hosted the on October 12, 2008, at the in for their Week 6 matchup, securing a 22–20 victory on a 48-yard by as time expired. The game featured a low-scoring first half dominated by s, with leading 9–3 at halftime after Elam connected from 29, 48, and 32 yards, countered only by Robbie Gould's 36-yard kick for . In the third quarter, Elam's 41-yard field goal extended the Falcons' lead to 12–3, but Bears running back capped a drive with a 3-yard run, narrowing the margin to 12–10. Early in the fourth, Falcons Matt Ryan threw a 3-yard pass to , pushing the score to 19–10. Chicago mounted a comeback with Gould's 32-yard at the 4:00 mark, making it 19–13, followed by a 17-yard pass from to Rashied Davis with 11 seconds left, giving the Bears a temporary 20–19 advantage. Atlanta's offense responded swiftly on the ensuing drive, advancing into range for Elam's decisive boot. The Falcons turned the ball over once on a fumble by , while both teams managed 376 total yards for Atlanta and 361 for Chicago, with Atlanta holding a slight edge in first downs (18–22). Ryan completed 22 of 30 passes for 301 yards and one touchdown, relying heavily on the aerial attack after Michael Turner was limited to 54 rushing yards on 25 carries. led Atlanta's receivers with nine catches for 112 yards and the touchdown. Orton went 26-for-43 for 286 yards and one score for , with Forte adding 76 rushing yards and his touchdown on 20 attempts, plus Devin Hester's six receptions for 87 yards. The win improved Atlanta's record to 4–2, highlighting their resilience despite a ground game hampered by Chicago's defense.

Week 8: at

The traveled to face the on October 26, 2008, at in , , resulting in a 14–27 defeat that dropped the Falcons' record to 4–3. Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed 23 of 44 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns but threw two interceptions and was sacked twice for a loss of 19 yards, contributing to the Falcons' inefficient offensive output of 354 total yards, including just 77 rushing yards. Atlanta struck first in the second quarter with a 55-yard touchdown pass from Ryan to wide receiver Roddy White, capping a drive that gave the Falcons a 7–0 lead at the 8:56 mark. The Eagles tied the game later in the quarter on a 3-yard touchdown run by Donovan McNabb and added a 36-yard field goal by David Akers just before halftime for a 10–7 advantage. In the third quarter, Philadelphia extended the lead to 17–7 on a 16-yard touchdown run by Brian Westbrook, exploiting the Falcons' defense that struggled against the Eagles' rushing attack. The Falcons managed only seven points in the fourth quarter, narrowing the gap to 20–14 on an 8-yard touchdown reception by from Ryan at the 3:55 mark, but sealed the victory with Westbrook's 39-yard touchdown run at 1:51. Michael Turner led Atlanta's ground game with 17 carries for 58 yards, while White finished with eight receptions for 113 yards and both touchdowns; Michael Jenkins added three catches for 50 yards, and had five receptions for 55 yards. The Falcons lost one fumble and failed to force turnovers, underscoring defensive lapses in containing Westbrook, who amassed significant rushing yards including his two scores. This loss highlighted early-season road challenges for the Falcons under new head coach Mike Smith, despite Ryan's promising aerial production.

Week 9: at

The shut out the 24–0 on November 2, 2008, at Oakland–Alameda County Coliseum in , improving their record to 6–3 while dropping the Raiders to 2–7. The Falcons scored on their first four possessions, building a 24–0 halftime lead that held as the final margin, with their defense preventing any Raider points or significant offensive production. In the first quarter, rookie quarterback Matt Ryan connected with wide receiver Michael Jenkins for a 37-yard touchdown pass at the 8:56 mark, capping a 10-play, 88-yard drive and giving Atlanta a 7–0 lead. Running back Jerious Norwood followed with a 12-yard rushing touchdown at 5:02, extending the advantage to 14–0 after another sustained drive. The second quarter saw Ryan find Jenkins again for a 27-yard touchdown pass at 12:54, pushing the score to 21–0. Kicker Jason Elam added a 48-yard field goal at 6:29 to make it 24–0 before halftime. Atlanta dominated statistically, outgaining Oakland 453–77 in total yards and controlling the ball for approximately 45 minutes compared to the Raiders' 15 minutes. ran 82 plays to Oakland's 34, converting drives efficiently while limiting the Raiders to just three first downs. Ryan completed 17 of 22 passes for 220 yards and two s with no interceptions, though he lost one . Michael Turner led the ground game with 30 carries for 139 yards, while Norwood added 63 rushing yards and his , plus 20 receiving yards. Jenkins' two receptions for 64 yards both resulted in scores, highlighting the passing attack's efficiency against Oakland's secondary. Defensively, the Falcons preserved the shutout by forcing turnovers and containing Raider quarterback , who threw one and fumbled twice (one lost), contributing to Oakland's meager output. The Raiders managed only 67 rushing yards and 31 passing yards, underscoring Atlanta's control of the and coverage. This performance marked a decisive road win, bolstering the Falcons' momentum under head coach Mike Smith in his inaugural season.

Week 10: vs.

The defeated the 34–20 on November 9, 2008, at the in Atlanta, securing a divisional victory in Week 10 of the . Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed 16 of 23 passes for 248 yards and two touchdowns without an interception, while the Falcons' defense forced three interceptions from Saints quarterback , who threw for 422 yards but struggled with accuracy on 31 of 58 attempts. In the first quarter, the Falcons struck first with Ryan's 16-yard touchdown pass to running back , who finished with two receptions for 88 yards and the score. The Saints responded with a to trail 7–3 at the end of the period. The second quarter saw both teams exchange s, followed by another Falcons , extending their lead to 17–6 at halftime. The third quarter remained low-scoring, with Atlanta adding a for a 20–6 advantage entering the fourth. The final quarter featured a back-and-forth battle, as the Saints scored two s to narrow the gap to 20–14 before Michael Turner's 2-yard rushing pushed ahead 27–14. Brees connected with , who had seven catches for 140 yards, for a Saints , but Chevis Jackson sealed the win with a 95-yard return for a with 1:17 remaining. The Saints added a late score, but held on for the 34–20 victory, improving to 6–3 while New Orleans fell to 4–5. Turner's 27 carries for 96 yards anchored the ground game, contributing to the ' balanced offensive output of 344 total yards.

Week 11: vs.

The hosted the on November 16, 2008, at the in , falling 20–24 in a close Week 11 contest that snapped their five-game . Entering with a 6–3 record, the Falcons sought to maintain momentum in the , but defensive lapses and a late turnover allowed Denver to rally for the victory. Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed 20 of 33 passes for 250 yards with no touchdowns and one interception, while Michael Turner rushed 25 times for 81 yards and two scores. The Broncos struck first in the opening quarter with Peyton Hillis's 7-yard run, capping a drive aided by Atlanta penalties, giving a 7–0 lead. Falcons kicker , formerly of , responded with a 46-yard to narrow the gap to 7–3 before halftime approached. In the second quarter, Atlanta's offense gained traction: Elam added a 36-yard for a 7–6 deficit, followed by Turner's 9-yard run that put ahead 13–7 at the break, as managed no points in the period despite Jay Cutler's efforts. The third quarter saw Denver regain the edge when Hillis powered in from 2 yards, extending the Broncos' lead to 14–13 after Atlanta failed to sustain drives. In the fourth, Matt Prater's 20-yard pushed Denver to 17–13, but Turner answered with a crucial 28-yard burst at the 10:41 mark, giving Atlanta a brief 20–17 advantage. However, Cutler connected with for a 9-yard pass with 5:35 remaining, securing the 24–20 win for the Broncos after the Falcons' final drive stalled, highlighted by Ryan's earlier that shifted momentum. Statistically, Atlanta outgained in total yards (361–278) and first downs (21–14) but struggled on third-down conversions (11-of-18) and committed the game's lone turnover. led the Falcons with five receptions for 102 yards, underscoring the passing attack's potential despite the loss. The defeat dropped to 6–4, yet their balanced offense—bolstered by Turner's ground game—kept playoff hopes alive heading into the next matchup.

Week 12: vs.

The hosted the on November 23, 2008, at the in , securing a 45–28 victory in their rematch. This win improved the Falcons' record to 8–4, avenging a 24–9 loss to Carolina in Week 4. Michael Turner dominated on the ground for Atlanta with 117 rushing yards and four touchdowns, while contributed offensively and on special teams. The Falcons struck first in the opening quarter with a 23-yard by at 11:16, followed by a 7-yard rushing by Douglas at 5:03 to lead 10–0. In the second quarter, Turner's 1-yard run extended the advantage to 17–0 before halftime, though Carolina responded with a 23-yard by to make it 17–3. The Panthers mounted a comeback in the third, closing the gap to 17–13 on ' 5-yard rushing and another Kasay from 21 yards. Atlanta pulled away in the fourth quarter, as Turner scored on runs of 4 yards and 1 yard to push the lead to 31–21 after Jake Delhomme's 12-yard scrambling for Carolina. Douglas then sealed momentum with a 61-yard punt return , increasing the margin to 38–21. The Panthers added a late 16-yard pass from Delhomme to , but Turner's final 16-yard run capped the scoring at 45–28.
CategoryFalconsPanthers
Rushing Yards133134
Passing Yards259295
Total Yards392429
Turnovers10
Rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed 17 of 27 passes for 259 yards without a or , managing the game efficiently. Douglas led Atlanta receivers with 4 catches for 92 yards, in addition to his two scores. For Carolina, Delhomme went 21-for-35 for 295 yards and one , while Williams rushed 19 times for 101 yards and a score; Steve Smith caught 8 passes for 168 yards. The Falcons' balanced attack and special teams play proved decisive against a Panthers team that controlled the ball but faltered in red-zone efficiency.

Week 13: at

The defeated the 22–16 on November 30, 2008, at Qualcomm Stadium in , , improving their record to 8–4 while dropping the Chargers to 4–8. Rookie Matt Ryan completed 17 of 23 passes for 207 yards and two touchdowns with no interceptions, directing an offense that controlled the ground game through Michael Turner, a former Charger who rushed 31 times for 120 yards in his sixth 100-yard performance of the season. The Falcons' defense forced a and limited Chargers to 17 of 30 completions for 149 yards, sacking him three times while the team committed two fumbles, one of which was returned 86 yards for a touchdown. The Falcons opened scoring with a 35-yard field goal by Jason Elam, but the Chargers responded with a 3-yard rushing by LaDainian Tomlinson to take a 7–3 lead. Elam added a 40-yard to narrow the gap to 7–6 before halftime. In the second quarter, Ryan connected with Justin Peelle for an 18-yard pass, followed by a when Rivers was tackled in the end zone, extending Atlanta's advantage to 15–7. The Chargers narrowed the deficit to 15–13 in the third quarter on safety Eric Weddle's 86-yard fumble return off a Falcons turnover. Atlanta sealed the victory in the fourth with Ryan's 5-yard pass to Harry Douglas, while Chargers kicker Nate Kaeding's 28-yard accounted for the final margin. Wide receiver led Falcons receivers with six catches for 112 yards, while Tomlinson managed only 14 carries for 24 yards beyond his against Atlanta's front. The win highlighted the Falcons' balanced attack and defensive resilience, contributing to their playoff push despite the Chargers' struggles with inefficiency and limited production from their offense.

Week 14: at New Orleans Saints

The Atlanta Falcons traveled to face the New Orleans Saints on December 7, 2008, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, resulting in a 25–29 loss that dropped their record to 9–4. Both teams amassed exactly 414 total yards, with the Falcons generating 315 through the air and 99 on the ground, while the Saints balanced 230 passing yards against 184 rushing yards; Atlanta committed the game's lone turnover via interception, committing no fumbles. The Saints struck first in the opening quarter with a 5-yard touchdown pass from to , followed by a 26-yard from Garrett Hartley early in the second to lead 10–0. responded with a 5-yard rushing by Michael Turner, narrowing the gap to 10–7, but Hartley added a 46-yard to restore a Saints lead of 13–7. The Falcons then tied the score at 14–13 on a 2-yard reception by from Matt Ryan, though Hartley closed the half with a 25-yard for a 16–14 Saints advantage. In the third quarter, booted a 23-yard to give a brief 17–16 lead. The fourth quarter featured the game's decisive swings: Brees connected with Pierre Thomas for a 7-yard touchdown, though a failed two-point conversion left New Orleans ahead 22–17. Ryan then scrambled for a 12-yard touchdown run and successfully converted the two-point attempt with a pass to Michael Jenkins, putting the Falcons up 25–22 with under eight minutes remaining. Thomas sealed the Saints' victory with a 5-yard rushing touchdown, providing the final margin. Ryan completed 24 of 33 passes for 315 yards, one , and one , while adding the crucial rushing score; Turner carried 18 times for 61 yards and his . led Atlanta's receivers with 10 catches for 164 yards. For the Saints, Brees went 18-for-32 for 230 yards and two , with excelling via 102 rushing yards, one rushing , and one receiving score on 16 carries. The Saints' defense secured the lone by Jason David, returning it 23 yards. Despite the defeat, the Falcons remained in playoff contention within the .

Week 15: vs.

The hosted the on December 14, 2008, at the in Atlanta, Georgia, for their Week 15 matchup. Rookie Matt Ryan completed 15 of 23 passes for 206 yards, while Michael Turner rushed for 82 yards and a on 20 carries. Falcons kicker converted both attempts, including the game-winner. Atlanta took a 10–0 lead in the first quarter on a 1-yard run by Turner (followed by an extra point) and a 39-yard by Elam. narrowed the gap to 10–7 in the second quarter with a 20-yard pass from to . After a scoreless third quarter, the Buccaneers tied the score at 10–10 in the fourth on a 42-yard by . In , Elam's 48-yard at the 11:13 mark secured a 13–10 victory for the Falcons, who improved to 9–5 and maintained their position in the NFC playoff race. Griese finished 26 of 37 for 269 yards, one , and one for , which fell to 9–5.

Week 16: at Minnesota Vikings

The secured a 24–17 road victory over the Minnesota Vikings on December 21, 2008, at the in , improving their record to 10–5 and clinching their first playoff appearance since 2002. The win was propelled by the Falcons' opportunistic defense, which capitalized on Minnesota's turnover-prone performance, including multiple fumbles that led to scoring opportunities. Atlanta struck first in the opening quarter with a 1-yard run by Michael Turner at the 8:47 mark, followed by a successful extra point from , giving a 7–0 lead. The Vikings responded late in the first quarter, tying the game at 7–7 on a 21-yard pass from to Visanthe Shiancoe with 2:00 remaining. In the second quarter, Matt Ryan connected with for an 8-yard pass at 14:06, extending Atlanta's advantage to 14–7, and Elam added a 22-yard just before halftime to make it 17–7. The Falcons' defense provided a crucial spark in the third quarter when offensive lineman Justin Blalock returned a fumble 4 yards for a at 2:38, pushing the lead to 24–7 after Elam's extra point. The mounted a comeback attempt in the fourth, narrowing the gap to 24–10 on a 29-yard by at 11:32, then pulling within 7 on another Shiancoe reception from Jackson (17 yards) at 2:44. Atlanta's defense held firm in the final minutes, preventing further scoring despite 's edge in total yards (394–230). Ryan completed 13 of 24 passes for 134 yards and 1 touchdown with no interceptions, while Turner led the rushing attack with 19 carries for 70 yards and his touchdown. For the Vikings, Jackson went 22 of 36 for 233 yards and 2 touchdowns, and rushed 22 times for 76 yards, but committed seven fumbles (four lost), severely hampering their efforts. Shiancoe was the game's top receiver with 7 catches for 136 yards and both Vikings touchdowns. The victory solidified Atlanta's momentum under first-year head coach Mike Smith, setting up a winner-take-all finale for the title.

Week 17: vs.

The defeated the 31–27 on December 28, 2008, at the in Atlanta, concluding their regular season with an 11–5 record and securing the No. 5 seed in the NFC . The game, attended by 64,617 spectators, featured a defensive struggle marked by Atlanta's three turnovers—including two interceptions by Matt Ryan—and 11 penalties for 99 yards, contrasted with the Rams' penalty-free turnovers and a 35:13 advantage in time of possession. Despite these disadvantages, the Falcons capitalized on explosive rushing plays to overcome a late deficit and extend St. Louis's to 10 games, dropping the Rams to 2–14. Atlanta opened the scoring with a 39-yard by at the 10:02 mark of the first quarter, but the responded with a 4-yard rushing by , taking a 7–3 lead. In the second quarter, Michael Turner tied the game at 10–10 with a 9-yard run, only for to connect with for a 16-yard pass, putting ahead 14–10. answered immediately with an 8-yard rushing score, giving the Falcons a 17–14 halftime edge. The third quarter saw Ryan throw an 18-yard to , extending Atlanta's lead to 24–14, before Josh Brown narrowed it with a 31-yard . The fourth quarter turned decisive as Jackson's 2-yard touchdown run evened the score at 24–24, followed by Brown's 27-yard for a 27–24 Rams lead with 6:39 remaining. Norwood sealed the victory with a 45-yard rushing at 3:41, providing the final margin. Turner's 208 rushing yards on 25 carries anchored Atlanta's ground attack, complemented by Norwood's two scores on just three attempts for 56 yards. Jackson countered with 161 yards and two on 30 carries for St. Louis, while Bulger completed 19 of 32 passes for 230 yards and one without interceptions. Ryan finished 10 of 21 for 160 yards, one , and two interceptions, highlighting the Falcons' reliance on the run game amid passing inefficiencies.

Statistical summary

The recorded an 11–5 regular season mark in 2008, securing second place in the division behind the division-winning . The averaged 24.4 points scored per game, totaling 391 points and ranking tenth league-wide, while conceding 20.3 points per game for 325 points allowed, eleventh overall. Offensively, generated 5,779 total yards, sixth in the , with a ground game that produced 2,443 rushing yards and 23 rushing touchdowns, second in rushing output; passing yards reached 3,440 for 16 touchdowns, fourteenth in the category. The Falcons committed 21 turnovers during the season. Defensively, the unit surrendered 5,572 total yards, twenty-fourth in the league, but recorded 37 sacks and limited opponents to 38 touchdowns overall.
CategoryLeaderStats
PassingMatt Ryan3,440 yards, 16 TD, 11 INT (265/434, 61.1% completion)
RushingMichael Turner1,699 yards, 17 TD (376 carries, 4.5 avg)
ReceivingRoddy White1,382 yards, 7 TD (88 receptions)
Atlanta converted 95 of 219 third-down attempts (43.4%) and succeeded on 6 of 13 fourth-down tries, while opponents managed 79 of 208 third downs (38.0%) and 10 of 20 fourth downs. The Falcons attempted 31 field goals, making 29 (93.5% accuracy), compared to opponents' 20 of 25 (80.0%). Turnover differential stood at minus-3, with Atlanta forcing 18 opponent turnovers against 21 lost.

Postseason

NFC Wild Card Round: at Arizona Cardinals

The NFC Wild Card playoff pitted the fifth-seeded , who compiled an 11-5 regular-season record as a wild card entrant, against the fourth-seeded , 9-7 division winners of the . Held on January 3, 2009, at University of Phoenix Stadium in , the matchup featured rookie quarterback Matt Ryan making his postseason debut for Atlanta against veteran leading Arizona's high-powered offense. The Cardinals prevailed 30-24, ending Atlanta's season and propelling Arizona toward an unlikely run. Arizona struck first in the opening quarter with Warner connecting to for a 42-yard touchdown pass, capping a drive that showcased the Cardinals' aerial attack. The Falcons responded in the second quarter via a 30-yard by , but Arizona extended its lead moments later on a 71-yard touchdown strike from Warner to , who had returned from a injury sustained late in the regular season. Atlanta narrowed the gap before halftime with a 7-yard rushing by Michael Turner and a 2-yard scoring pass from Ryan to , seizing a 17-14 lead. The third quarter proved pivotal, as Arizona capitalized on a Falcons fumble—forced in the backfield and returned 27 yards for a touchdown by cornerback Antrel Rolle—to regain the advantage at 21-17. Running back Tim Hightower then plunged in from 4 yards out, pushing the Cardinals' lead to 28-17 and underscoring Arizona's balanced ground game with 96 rushing yards in the contest. In the fourth, defensive tackle Darnell Dockett sacked Ryan in the end zone for a safety, extending Arizona's cushion to 30-17. The Falcons mounted a late rally, capped by Ryan's 5-yard touchdown pass to Roddy White, but time expired after Atlanta reached the red zone without scoring again. Statistically, Warner completed 19 of 32 passes for 271 yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, while Ryan went 26 of 40 for 199 yards, two touchdowns, and two interceptions amid Atlanta's two turnovers overall. Fitzgerald hauled in six receptions for 101 yards and a score, with Boldin adding 72 yards on two catches including his long touchdown; White led the Falcons with 11 catches for 84 yards and a touchdown, though Turner's 42 rushing yards on 18 carries reflected Arizona's defensive containment of Atlanta's run game. The Cardinals' opportunistic defense and Warner's efficiency proved decisive in overcoming the Falcons' halftime edge.
QuarterTimeScoring PlayATLARI
110:28Fitzgerald 42 yd. pass from Warner (kick)07
210:00Elam 30 yd. 37
28:58Boldin 71 yd. pass from Warner (kick)314
22:55Turner 7 yd. run (kick)1014
20:23Peelle 2 yd. pass from Ryan (kick)1714
314:08 27 yd. fumble return (kick)1721
32:48Hightower 4 yd. run (kick)1728
412:37 (Ryan sacked in end zone)1730
44:15White 5 yd. pass from Ryan (kick)2430

Legacy

Player awards and Pro Bowl selections

Running back Michael Turner earned his first selection and first-team honors after leading the with 17 rushing touchdowns and accumulating 1,702 rushing yards on 376 carries during the regular season. Defensive end John Abraham received the Falcons' other nod, recognizing his contributions with 6.5 sacks and 16 quarterback hits. Quarterback Matt Ryan, the team's first-round draft pick, was awarded the Associated Press Offensive Rookie of the Year after completing 265 of 434 passes for 3,440 yards, 16 touchdowns, and 11 interceptions while starting all 16 games and guiding Atlanta to an 11-5 record. No other Falcons players received major individual awards or Pro Bowl recognition for the 2008 season.

Long-term impact of the season

The 2008 Atlanta Falcons season initiated a 14-year tenure for Matt Ryan, who started all 16 games as a rookie and threw for 3,426 yards with 16 touchdowns, earning NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year honors and anchoring an 11-5 record that secured the franchise's first playoff berth since 2004. This performance provided stability absent since the mid-2000s, enabling five consecutive winning seasons from 2008 to 2012 under head coach Mike Smith, a franchise first. Ryan's immediate efficacy, including a 115.6 in his debut, contrasted with prior instability following Michael Vick's 2007 indictment and Bobby Petrino's abrupt , fostering a foundation for six division titles between 2010 and 2017. From 2008 through Ryan's final season with Atlanta in 2021, the Falcons compiled a 120-105 regular-season record, elevating their winning percentage above the pre-2008 historical average of approximately 40.5 percent and yielding six playoff appearances, including a Super Bowl LI run in 2016. The season's defensive overhaul under Smith, which led the NFL in points allowed (16.9 per game), influenced subsequent coaching emphases on physicality and coverage, though Smith's dismissal after the 2012 campaign marked a transition point. Running back Michael Turner's league-leading 1,699 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns exemplified an offensive line improvement that reduced sacks from 47 in 2007 to 17 in 2008, setting precedents for run-heavy schemes in later years. While the 2008 turnaround restored credibility after consecutive losing seasons, long-term outcomes included persistent postseason shortcomings, with only one NFC Championship victory () and no titles despite Ryan's franchise records in passing yards (59,735) and touchdowns (367) through 2021. The era's contention masked underlying issues, such as defensive regression post-Smith and offensive line inconsistencies, contributing to a return to sub-.500 records after amid roster overhauls and coaching changes. Nonetheless, the season recalibrated fan and league perceptions, positioning as a perennial NFC contender rather than a post-scandal afterthought.

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