Moving to 7-0 on the season isn't all Falcons head coach Mike Smith accomplished in Sunday's win over the Eagles. It was also his 50th win with Atlanta, moving him into sole possession of first place in franchise history.
Week 6's win over the Raiders placed Smith tied with Dan Reeves with 49 wins. Smith is now 50-21 since 2008.
Smith's 7-0 start this season is the best in franchise history, breaking the previous mark of 4-0 set three times.
The Falcons won in Philadelphia on Sunday for the first time since 1988. Smith and the Falcons also snapped Eagles head coach Andy Reid's 13-game winning streak off their bye week. Smith is now 4-1 with the Falcons coming out of their own bye week.
Off the strength of Matt Ryan's three touchdowns in the first half to gain a quick and early lead, the Falcons clamped down in the second half and finished the game out against the Eagles.
With the weather becoming challenging in the second half, Atlanta used the running game to grind out the win. Behind Jacquizz Rodgers and Michael Turner, the Falcons gained 146 yards rushing, 60 for Rodgers and 58 for Turner.
Atlanta connected on the longest score in a single play of the season in Sunday's win. Julio Jones caught a 63-yard pass for the touchdown, capping a three-play scoring drive to go up 21-7. Jones finished the day with five catches for 123 yards.
The defense was able to hold onto the large lead staked by Ryan and his teammates. The Eagles had 17 turnovers coming into the game and the Falcons had 17 takeaways. Atlanta couldn't manage any turnovers against Philly, but they kept the offense in check, limiting them to 251 yards on the day.
One of the goals to get to Michael Vick was accomplished to help maintain the Eagles. They earned two sacks of Vick, but hit him countless times.
Atlanta looks on its way to a fifth straight winning season, a streak begun by Smith, breaking a back-to-back winning season drought for the franchise. Smith's record in the first five seasons is the fifth-best mark in the NFL over that time frame.
Under Smith, the Falcons finished 13-3 in 2010, the second-most wins in team history in a single season.
The head coach was recognized as Coach of the Year by *The Sporting News *in 2008 and '10. His record in the Georgia Dome is 28-6 and his record at home in his first three seasons is the second-best home record in NFL history by a coach in his first three seasons.
