Falcons-Lions Game Notes

ATLANTA -- Official game notes following the 34-21 Falcons season-opening win over the Lions.

• With a 34-21 victory, Mike Smith earned his first win as a Head Coach in the National Football League.
• Following a 44-41 victory over the Seattle Seahawks in the 2007 season finale, the Falcons opened the 2008 campaign with 34 points en route to a victory, posting back-to-back games with over 30 points.
• Matt Ryan became the first Falcons rookie quarterback to start a season opener since Steve Bartkowski in 1975. Ryan finished his first start having completed nine of 13 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown for a 137.0 passer rating.
• The win over Detroit gave the Falcons their first season opening win 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 moves him past long-time C Jeff Van Note into second place all-time in Falcons history. Former T Bob Whitfield holds the record with 123 consecutive starts (from Wk 1, 1993 – Wk 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 lining up as starters for the first time today included: QB Matt Ryan, LT Sam Baker, RB Michael Turner, TE Ben Hartsock, RG Harvey Dahl, RT Tyson Clabo, DT Jonathan Babineaux, MLB Curtis Lofton, LCB Brent Grimes and RCB 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. Ironically, it was exactly 28 years ago to 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).
• RB Michael Turner set a Falcons single-game rushing record after posting 220 yards against Detroit. Not only are the 220 yards a career-high for Turner, but he eclipsed Atlanta’s old record held by Gerald Riggs which was previously set on September 2, 1984 (202 yards). Turner’s rushing total is also tied for the 26th most in a game in NFL history.

Falcons Highest Rushing Yards in a Game in Franchise History

• RB Michael Turner finished the game with 22 carries for 220 yards and two touchdowns, his first career-multiple touchdown game.
• The Falcons broke a team rushing record with 318 yards (7.4 avg.) against Detroit. The previous record was set on September 17, 2006 against Tampa Bay (306 yards). Atlanta’s 318 yards marked the first game Atlanta totaled over 200 rushing yards since December 3, 2006 against Washington (256).

Falcons Highest Team Rushing Yards in a Game in Franchise History

• On Atlanta’s first offensive possession of the 2008 season, the Falcons recorded a three-play 74-yard drive that was capped off by a 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 is 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 are 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 is also the highest total in over two decades. The previous high for the Falcons came on October 13, 1991 with 172 yards against San Francisco.
• The Falcons 21 points in the first quarter marked the fifth time in team history Atlanta posted that total in the opening period. The last time it happened came on November 23, 2003 against Tennessee.
• On Atlanta’s second offensive possession of the second half, the Falcons drove 68 yards on five plays for their fourth touchdown of the game. The drive was highlighted by a Matt Ryan’s 46-yard pass to WR Roddy White and a 10-yard touchdown run by RB Jerious Norwood.
• RB Jerious Norwood finished the day with 14 carries for 93 yards while logging his first touchdown since October 15, 2007. Norwood’s 93 rushing yards are the most in a game for the three-year veteran since December 2, 2007 at St. Louis.
• In the last two seasons, the Falcons scored a combined total of 16 rushing touchdowns. Against the Lions, Atlanta posted three rushing scores.
• DE John Abraham posted his first three-sack day since 2004 after dropping Lions QB Jon Kitna once in the first quarter and twice in the final period of play. Abraham now has 70.5 career sacks, 11 of which have come on opening day. Abraham’s last three-sack day came on October 10, 2004 as a member of the New York Jets.
• S Lawyer Milloy halted Detroit’s first offensive drive of the second half when he recorded his 25th career interception. Milloy returned the pick 38 yards inside Lions territory, which led to a Falcons field goal and a 24-14 lead.
• K Jason Elam split the uprights on both of his field goal attempts, his first two in a Falcons uniform. The 16-year veteran extended his streak of consecutive field goals to 17 and also notched his 38th field goal of 50-plus yards at the 9:45 mark in the third quarter.

MORE FROM THE FALCONS-LIONS GAME:

• GAME CENTER: Stats and more in the NFL.com Game Center
• GAME RECAP: Turner leads Falcons to opening victory
• GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Georgia Dome press box
• GAME BLOG: Live notes from Mod's FalconsLIFE blog
• J. MIKE'S BLOG: More coverage and thoughts from the AF.com managing editor
• TRANSCRIPTS: Head Coach Mike Smith | Falcons | Lions
• INACTIVES: Game inactives and starters from Falcons-Lions
• VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Michael Turner | Matt Ryan | Lawyer Milloy
• VIDEO: John Abraham | Sam Baker | Michael Jenkins
• NFL NETWORK: Ryan Highlights | Turner Highlights
• TAILGATE TOUR: Falcon Al tours the tailgates before the game