ATLANTA -- News and notes from the Georgia Dome press box during Friday Night's Falcons-Ravens game.
- On Atlanta’s third offensive possession of the game, quarterback Chris Redman completed 6 of 6 passes and led the Falcons on a 74-yard scoring drive, culminating in a 16-yard touchdown pass to running back Jerious Norwood. The score was Norwood’s third of the preseason.
- Kicker Matt Prater booted a 45-yard field goal with 3:26 remaining in the fourth quarter, which proved to be the game-winner. Prater split the uprights on 2 of 3 of his field goal attempts on the night.
- Linebacker Travis Williams sacked quarterback Troy Smith with 1:22 remaining in the fourth quarter (14-yard loss) to take the Ravens out of field goal range. Coupled with a cornerback Chris Houston interception on fourth down, the two sealed a Falcons victory. Williams’ sack was the fifth of the night for the Falcons defense.
- Defensive end Josh Mallard logged his first sack of the preseason in the second quarter when he dropped Ravens quarterback Kyle Boller for a loss of two yards. The sack led to a Ravens punt. Last season, Mallard registered four sacks in the regular season for a loss of 23 yards.
- Mallard continued his impressive performance forcing a fumble at the Atlanta 35-yard line, which stalled a Ravens scoring drive. The fumble was recovered by Defensive end Chauncey Davis.
- Defensive end Paul Carrington, defensive tackleTommy Jackson and linebacker Marcus Wilkins notched Atlanta’s second, third and fourth sacks of the game. Carrington posted three sacks during the 2006 campaign while Jackson contributed with one.
- Atlanta’s defense shutout all four preseason opponents on their opening offensive possessions.
- Linebacker Jordan Beck led the Falcons with three special teams tackles.
- Rookie wide receiver Vincent Marshall led the team in receiving with three receptions for 73 yards and a long catch of 39 yards. Eric Weems’ 39-yard catch led to a Falcons 33-yard field goal converted by Prater.
- Rookies Weems, defensive lineman Renardo Foster and Marshall all started on the offensive side of the ball, while linebacker Tony Taylor, cornerback David Irons, Houston and defensive back Daren Stone started on defense.
- Head Coach Bobby Petrino won his only challenge of the preseason when he disputed a call regarding Ravens Smith being down by contact. The reversal also credited Wilkins with a sack.
- With a 13-10 victory over the Ravens, the Falcons have now won all eight of their preseason meetings against Baltimore (Ravens/Colts) on their home turf.
- The Falcons improved their streak of non-losing preseasons to four years after closing the 2007 preseason with a 3-1 record.
- BUMPS AND BRUISES: Rookie tight end Martrez Milner suffered what appeared to be a leg or knee injury with 0:34 remaining in the third quarter. He lay on the turf for several minutes before being assisted to the locker room by trainers. Milner was able to the game in the fourth quarter.
