ATLANTA -- Official game notes following the thrilling 22-20 Falcons victory over the Chicago Bears on October 12, 2008.
- With a 22-20 victory over the Chicago Bears, the Falcons improved to 4-2 on the season and 3-0 at the Georgia Dome.
- K icker Jason Elam split the uprights on five of six field goal attempts from 29, 48, 32, 41 and 48 yards. His last kick of 48 yards was converted with one second remaining in the game to clinch a Falcons victory. Along with adding one PAT, Elam accounted for 16 points, which sets a season-high and ties his career-high (last vs. Miami on October 13, 2002). His two kicks of 48 yards are also tied for the second-longest this season. Elam missed a kick from 33 yards in the fourth quarter, which ended a streak of 29-consecutive field goals dating back to the 2007 season. His five field goals made, six field goals attempted and 16 points all tied career-highs.
- Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan completed 22 of 30 passes for 301 yards and one touchdown. The 301 yards are a career-best for the rookie through his first six games and it’s also the highest total for the Falcons as a team since Chris Redman posted 315 yards last season against Arizona in Week 17. Ryan also completed one touchdown pass to WR Roddy White which is his fifth scoring strike of the season.
- On Atlanta’s first offensive drive,Ryan completed all five of his passing attempts for 57 yards en route to a Falcons field goal and a 3-0 lead. Atlanta’s field goal marked the third occasion this season the team scored on its opening drive of the game (Detroit – touchdown, Green Bay – touchdown, Chicago – field goal).
- Ryan completed his first eight passing attempts of the game while tallying 107 yards. Ryan posted a new season-high in first half passing yards with 159 on 14 completions.
- Ryan marched the Falcons 76 yards in 3:59 in the third quarter and found wide receiver Roddy White in the end zone for a three-yard touchdown. The score was Atlanta’s first touchdown of the day, which also gave the Falcons a 19-10 lead.
- After finishing the game with nine receptions for 112 yards and one touchdown, White posted his second consecutive 100-yard game which is also his third of the season and the 10th of his career. His nine receptions also marked a season-high. White is on pace for his second-consecutive 1,000-yard season after logging 566 receiving yards through six contests in 2008.
- White tallied seven receptions for 83 yards in the first half against the Bears. The four-year veteran fell one reception shy of his career first half high, which he set the previous week at Green Bay (8).
- Wide receiver Harry Douglas caught a 47-yard reception on a third down in the third quarter, which marked a season-long catch. Douglas finished the day with season-highs in receptions (five) and receiving yards (96).
- The Falcons defense continued their trend of holding opponents to under 16 yards of rushing in the first quarter. Against the Bears, Atlanta held Matt Forte to six yards on four carries, marking the second lowest total for an opponent in the opening period this season (vs. Tampa Bay, two yards).
- 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).
- Entering Sunday’s 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.
- Defensive end Jamaal Anderson logged his first career sack as an Atlanta Falcon when he dropped Bears QB Kyle Orton in the second quarter. The sack led to a Bears punt. Anderson also finished the day with two passes defensed, both of which came on Chicago’s opening possession of the third quarter to force a punt.
- Jerious Norwood posted an 85-yard kickoff return, a career-high, in the fourth quarter to give the Falcons field position at the Chicago 17-yard line. Norwood finished the game with four returns for a 44.0 yards per return average.
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-BEARS GAME:
- GAMEDAY LIVE: Complete game coverage from AF.com
- GAME RECAP: Late field goal lifts Falcons to victory
- GAME CENTER: Stats and more from the NFL.com Game Center
- GAME BLOG: Follow the action in the live game blog
- J. MIKE'S BLOG: News and more from the Managing Editor
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Georgia Dome press box
- TRANSCRIPTS: Head Coach Mike Smith | Falcons | Bears
- CNN VOTE: CNN polls Falcons fans on presidential race in game
- HIGHLIGHTS: Game highlights from NFL Network
- PRESS CONFERENCE: Head Coach Mike Smith | Ryan | Elam
- FROM THE LOCKER ROOM: Milloy | Anderson | Jenkins | White | Abraham | Norwood
- TAILGATES: Falcon Al checks out new features at Touchdown Tailgate | Blog
