Falcons-Raiders Game Notes

OAKLAND  -- Official game notes from Oakland Coliseum following the Falcons' 24-0 victory over the Raiders on November 2, 2008.

•  The Falcons 24-0 victory over the Oakland Raiders was their second victory on the road this season and their second win against an AFC West opponent in two meetings. The shutout for the Falcons is the first since October 20, 2002 in a home meeting against the Carolina Panthers (30-0). The last shutout on the road came against the same opponent in the same year with a 41-0 outcome at Carolina on November 24.
• The Atlanta Falcons defense held the Oakland Raiders to -2 net yards in the first half marking the first time a team has held an opponent to negative net yardage in the first half of a game since November 1, 1992 when the San Diego Chargers defense held the Indianapolis Colts to negative net yardage in the first half.
• Quarterback Matt Ryan connected on a 37-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Michael Jenkins on the team’s first offensive possession of the game marking the fourth occasion this season, Atlanta scored on its first offensive drive of the contest. The Falcons scored touchdowns against Detroit (Week 1), Green Bay (Week 5) and today against Oakland. The Falcons also recorded a field goal on its first drive against the Chicago Bears (Week 6).
• Ryan finished his first game out west having completed 17 of 22 passes (77.3 pct.) for 220 yards, two touchdowns and a 138.4 quarterback rating. For Ryan, the contest was his third multiple touchdown game (at Green Bay, at Philadelphia). Ryan also completed 13 of 16 passes in the first half for 184 yards and two touchdowns. His first half passing yardage, completion percentage (81.3) and passer rating (154.2) are all career highs for a half and his two touchdowns tie a first half high. Ryan’s final completion percentage of 77.3 is a career-high along with his passer rating of 138.4.
• Jenkins caught his second touchdown pass of the season when Ryan found him for a 37-yard strike in the end zone in the first quarter. The 37-yard grab was the second-longest reception for Jenkins this season. Jenkins posted his second touchdown of the game when Ryan completed a 27-yard strike to the fifth-year receiver in the second quarter. For Jenkins, his two-touchdown game is the second of his career (September 30, 2007 vs. Houston).
• Running back Michael Turner posted 22 carries in the first half against Oakland, setting a new career-high in attempts for the first half of a game. He finished the game with his seventh-career 100-yard game and the fourth of the season with 31 carries for 139 yards. Turner’s 31 careers are a new career-high while his 139 yards rank as his second highest career total.
• Atlanta scored its second touchdown of the game with a 12-yard scamper from running back Jerious Norwood to give the Falcons a 14-0 lead. The score marked back-to-back touchdowns on offensive possessions for Atlanta. Norwood’s touchdown was his second this season and the fifth of his career.
• The Falcons scored a rushing and receiving touchdown in the first quarter marking the third time this season the team accomplished the feat. Atlanta posted first quarter rushing and receiving TDs against Detroit in Week 1 and Kansas City in Week 3 as well.
• In the first half of the game, the Falcons offense posted 309 of total yards of offense compared to Oakland’s -2. Atlanta also totaled 20 first downs to the Raiders zero. Ryan’s first half passing total of 184 yards is the highest for his career and the most in a first half of a game since September 23, 2007 against Carolina (252 first half yards).
• Atlanta’s 24 points in the first half against the Raiders ranked tied for the fifth most in franchise history since 1991. The first half point total is also the most in a game since October 2, 2005 against Minnesota.
• Atlanta posted its second-highest rushing total in a first quarter of a game this season with 81 yards against the Raiders. Turner contributed with 10 carries for 42 yards while Norwood posted six carries for 39 yards and one touchdown. The Falcons finished the game with 252 net rushing yards, which is the second-highest total in a game this year (318 against Detroit in Week 1).
• The Falcons outscored the Raiders 14-0 in the first quarter marking the sixth occasion this season Atlanta’s defense has shutout their opponent in the opening 15 minutes of play (Detroit, Kansas City, Green Bay, Chicago and Philadelphia). The Falcons have now outscored their opponent 68-14 in the first quarter and entering Sunday’s game, led the NFL in first quarter points.
• Atlanta’s defense held the Raiders to two rushing yards in the first quarter, matching their best performance of the season against Tampa Bay in Week 2. In every game this season, the Falcons have limited their opponent to fewer than 20 rushing yards in the first quarter of a game.
• Defensive end John Abraham logged his eighth, ninth and 10th sacks of the season when he dropped Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell on all three plays. On his first sack, Abraham forced a fumble on the play, which caused a Raiders punt on the next play. Minutes later, Abraham struck again for his second sack of the game at the six-minute mark in the second quarter. Finally, Abraham ended the first half when he dropped Russell on Oakland’s final offensive play. The sacks are the 10th, 11th and 12th in his last eight games, the 18th, 19th and 20th in his last 23 contests and the three bring his career total to 77.5. The forced fumble was the third of the year for Abraham, the 30th of his career and the 25 which has come on a sack. Abraham’s last three-sack game came in the season opener against the Detroit Lions in a Falcons victory. Abraham’s total of 10 sacks this season is the earliest he has reached double-digit sack totals in a campaign since Week 11 of 2001.
• Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux posted his fourth-career fumble recovery at the 8:08 mark in the third quarter, giving the Falcons possession at the Oakland 33-yard line.
• Falcons safety Erik Coleman intercepted his second pass of the season and the ninth of his career at the 7:27 mark in the fourth quarter to stall a Raiders offensive drive in their red zone.
• Kicker Jason Elam posted his 17th field goal of the season with a 48-yard boot in the second quarter to give the Falcons a 24-0 lead. The kick was the 13th consecutive conversion from 40-49 yards for the 16-year veteran.

MORE FROM THE FALCONS-RAIDERS GAME:

• GAMEDAY LIVE: Complete game coverage from AF.com
• GAME RECAP: Defense smothers, offense sizzles in big win
• GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the press box
• GAME BLOG: Live notes in the FalconsLIFE game blog
• GAME CENTER: Stats and more from the NFL.com Game Center
• J. MIKE'S BLOG: News and comment from the AF.com Managing Editor
• VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Matt Ryan
• PHOTOS: Pictures from the Falcons-Raiders game
• NFL NETWORK: Game Highlights | Michael Turner Highlights | Matt Ryan Highlights
• INACTIVES: Inactives and starters from the Falcons-Raiders game