BALTIMORE – Tonight’s preseason game between the Falcons and Ravens offered little in the way of fireworks or big plays. But it was one of the most important games on record for the 22 players fighting to continue their NFL dream.
The Falcons must get down to a 53-man active roster by 6 p.m. Saturday evening, parting ways with many faces that have become familiar through the preseason.
The 10-9 preseason victory Thursday evening will mean little as the 2008 season progresses. But it meant everything for those players in search of a final audition.
That included former Georgia star D.J. Shockley, who entered the night in the middle of a high-profile battle for a position behind starting quarterback Matt Ryan.
He played well in his most extensive work of the preseason, completing 7-of-14 passes for 98 yards and a touchdown.
It was a promising finish after a rough start.
Shockley entered the game with 12:38 remaining in the first half with his back less than 10 yards from his own end zone. A 46-yard kickoff return by rookie Thomas Brown was nullified by a holding call and an offside penalty on tight end Jason Rader gave Shockley a quick third-and-13 from his own 7. A long pass for Laurent Robinson flew high forcing a punt.
"We played the entire second quarter inside our 20-yard line," Head Coach Mike Smith said. "That's tough. It's tough to work when you're backed up toward your end zone."
The Falcons finished the night with 11 penalties for 83 yards.
Rookie free safety Thomas DeCoud changed momentum with his first professional interception on the next defensive series, but the offense suffered another key penalty and punted the ball away.
The Falcons were forced to punt again on a third series with Shockley at the helm before the Ravens went on a second field-goal drive and kicked back to the Falcons with 1 minute remaining in the half.
Shockley then led the Falcons on a five-play, 76-yard drive that ended with a 20-yard dart to Brian Finneran for a touchdown and a 7-6 halftime lead.
Shockley and the offense kept the ball moving into the second half, driving deep into Ravens territory and leaving with a field goal and a 10-6 lead. He was relieved by Joey Harrington with 6:21 remaining in the third quarter. He led the team the rest of the way with help from running back Jason Snelling, who continued his solid preseason with 15 rushes for 88 yards.
"I thought Jason Snelling had another solid game," Smith said. "When he's had an opportunity to run the football I think he's performed and ran the ball very efficiently.
"There are four or five positions that I think there will be tough decisions we have to make."
The Ravens started rookie quarterback Joe Flacco in the face of injuries to both Troy Smith and Kyle Boller. He lasted through the first quarter before giving control to Casey Bramlet, who official joined the team earlier in the day.
Bramlet played the rest of the game and led all three Ravens scoring drives in the face of an aggressive Falcons defense. Of course, each drive ended in a field goal, giving the Falcons (2-2 preseason) 13 straight quarters without allowing a touchdown.
Young players continued to step up as second-year linebacker Stephen Nicholas provided some pop over the middle and rookie Glenn Sharpe came away with his first interception of the preseason.
The Falcons held the Ravens to 2-of-9 on first down in the opening half. Baltimore was 0-of-3 in the red zone.
"I was pleased again with our defense," Smith said. "We were able to keep that football team out of the end zone. It's the fourth-straight game we were also able to rush for more than 100 yards. We were able to run the football effectively and I think that's very important."
“I love to see the young linebackers come out and hit guys in the mouth, added starting outside linebacker Michael Boley. “They have done an outstanding job all preseason.”
Select members of the Falcons starting defense remained on the field well into the first half while the starting offense vacated the field after three series of work. Rookie Kroy Biermann also saw action the entire game and registered his third sack of the preseason in the fourth quarter. Biermann finishes the exhibition season with three sacks, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and a pass defensed.
Ryan finished his first night as the team’s official starter 2-of-7 for 17 yards. More importantly, the first-team offensive line did not allow a sack.
“I thought the offensive line did a great job this preseason,” Ryan said. “I was really excited about playing with them and they did a great job with protection. I think that group has built some great chemistry.”
Now Ryan and the first-team offense can turn attention to a Week 1 visit from the Detroit Lions. Others on the depth chart must wait to see what Saturday will bring.
“It’s good to get this preseason over with and now we are looking on to Detroit,” center Todd McClure said. “We are getting into the real season where everything counts. I’m really excited about our running game and we are going to show what we can do with it next week.”
INJURY REPORT: Brown left the game in the third quarter after linebacker Gary Stills took him down with a horse collar tackle. The rookie suffered a groin injury and did not return. Linebacker Coy Wire left the game in the first half with a left ankle injury. He also did not return.
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-RAVENS GAME:
- GAME CENTER: Click here for the NFL.com Game Center
- GAME RECAP: Reserves lead the way in 10-9 victory
- QUOTES: Click here for Falcons halftime quotes
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the M&T Bank Stadium press box
- GAME BLOG: Live updates and notes from the Falcons-Ravens game
- J. MIKE'S BLOG: Additional news and commentary from AF.com's managing editor
- VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith
- HIGHLIGHTS: Clips from the Falcons preseason win over Baltimore
