NEW ORLEANS -- Official game notes straight from the Superdome press box after the Falcons 29-25 loss to the Saints.
- In his 13th career start under center, quarterback Matt Ryan completed 24 of 33 passes for a career-high 315 yards, one touchdown and one interception for a 99.9 passer rating. Ryan topped the 300-yard plateau for the second time this season and threw for 200-plus yards for the eighth consecutive game.
- Ryan tallied his first touchdown pass of the game on a two-yard strike to wide receiver Brian Finneran at the 2:13 mark in the second quarter. The score gave Atlanta a 14-13 lead. The touchdown for Finneran was his first since November 6, 2005 against the Miami Dolphins.
- Ryan posted his first career rushing touchdown on a 12-yard scamper and tacked on a two-point conversion to Michael Jenkins in the fourth quarter to give the Falcons a 25-22 lead. Ryan completed five of six passes for 46 yards on the scoring drive.
- On Atlanta’s second offensive possession of the second half, Ryan led the Falcons on a 16-play, 69-yard drive, which resulted in a Jason Elam field goal. On the drive, Ryan completed six of seven passes for 77 yards (the Falcons were penalized three times on the drive).
- Wide receiver Roddy White caught 10 catches for a career-high 164 yards against the Saints. His final receiving total ranks tied for 18th in a game in Falcons annals with Ken Burrow who recorded the mark on October 28, 1973. White’s 100-plus-yard performance is his seventh this season as he remains on pace to set a franchise record for receiving yards in a season (1,537). He is also the only receiver in franchise history to record back-to-back 1,200-yard seasons. Four of White’s 10 receptions came on third down to convert a new set of downs for the Falcons. Entering Sunday’s game, White ranked second in the NFL in third down receptions.
- White compiled 113 receiving yards on six catches in the first half of play, which is his second-highest total in a first half over his four-year career with the Falcons. White’s first half receiving record is 132 yards, which he set earlier this season in Week 5 at Green Bay.
- On Atlanta’s second possession of the second quarter, White hauled in a 59-yard catch, the third-longest of his career and second-longest this season. The catch led to a Falcons touchdown and cut the New Orleans lead to 10-7.
- Jenkins finished with his second-highest receiving total this season with 69 yards on five receptions.
- As a team, Atlanta finished with 414 net yards, its third-highest total in a game this season. The Falcons high in net yards came in the season opener against the Detroit Lions (474 yards).
- Running back Michael Turner posted 18 carries for 61 yards and one touchdown against the Saints. He notched a five-yard touchdown run in the second quarter, which marked the 14th occasion this season the he found the end zone. Turner’s 14 rushing touchdowns this year are tied for the most in a season in Falcons history with Jamal Anderson (1998).
- The Falcons defense held New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees to his second-lowest passing total this season, allowing 230 yards on 18 attempts.
- The Falcons defense recorded their fifth three-and-out possession this season on an opponent’s opening offensive possession.
- Elam notched his lone field goal of the day on a 23-yard kick to give the Falcons a 17-16 lead in the third quarter. The field goal is the 25th this season for the 16-year veteran.
MORE FROM THE FALCONS-SAINTS GAME:
- GAMEDAY LIVE: Complete coverage from the Falcons-Saints game
- GAME CENTER: Stats and more from NFL.com
- GAME RECAP: Offense puts up numbers but late score lifts Saints
- GAME NOTES: Official game notes from the Superdome press box
- GAME BLOG: More news and notes from the press box
- BLOGS: Flipping Out with Falcon Al | Off the Cuff with Mookie Dunkleman
- J. MIKE'S MISSIVES: News and thoughts from the AF.com Managing Editor
- PRESS CONFERENCE: Head Coach Mike Smith | Matt Ryan
- NFL NETWORK: Highlights from the Falcons-Saints game in New Orleans
- TRANSCRIPTS: Head Coach Mike Smith | Falcons | Saints
- REVIEW AND RESPOND: Ask a question about Sunday's game
- FORUMS: Talk about the Falcons with other fans
- INACTIVES: Inactives and starters from Sunday's game at the Superdome
