0 -- Times the the Falcons crossed midfield in the four series all their offensive starters were in the game. In four series, Atlanta's offense mustered just 59 yards and drove no further than their own 39-yard line. Atlanta was 0-4 converting third downs during those four drives, each of which ended in a Matt Bosher punt.
1 -- Interceptions for the Falcons in the preseason, after safety Kemal Ishmael snuffed an early fourth-quarter Houston scoring threat when he picked off Texans quarterback Case Keenum at the Atlanta 2-yard line.
2 -- Sacks Falcons have surrendered in the first two preseason games. Both sacks occurred tonight against the Texans, the second of which was notched by former Falcon defensive end Lawrence Sidbury, who dropped former Texans quarterback T.J. Yates in the fourth quarter.
2 -- Kicks the Falcons had blocked tonight against the Texans. In a night where the Falcons' special teams units struggled, Atlanta gave up a fourth-quarter touchdown after a blocked Matt Bosher punt and later in the quarter had a 51-yard Matt Bryant field goal attempt blocked. On the blocked punt, rookie Devonta Freeman appeared to miss his blocking assignment, allowing rookie Texans tight end Anthony Denham to get close to Bosher and deflect the punt, which went 13 yards before being picked up by Houston's Jonathan Grimes, who returned it for a Houston score.
**
The Falcons hit the road for the first time in 2014 to take on the Texans at NRG Stadium in the second game of the preseason. Take a look at these photos from the game.
TE Brian Wozniak
QB Matt Ryan warms up his arm before the game.
QB T.J. Yates warms up his arm on the field before the game.
QB T.J. Yates greets Texans' QB Case Keenum before the game.
QB Matt Ryan throws around a football to warm up for the game.
T Jake Matthews stretching during warm-up before the game.
T Jake Matthews stretching on the field.
LB Yawin Smallwood and LB Brenden Daley prior to kickoff.
LB Darin Drakeford and LB Yawin Smallwood before the game begins.
S William Moore, LB Yawin Smallwood, and LB Brenden Daley before the game.
QB Jeff Mathews throws around a football during warm-ups.
WR Devin Hester runs the ball.
S William Moore makes a tackle on Houston's RB Alfred Blue.
Head Coach Mike Smith
QB Matt Ryan drops back for a pass.
WR Julio Jones makes a diving catch.
WR Devin Hester celebrates scoring a touchdown with WR Harry Douglas.
DE Ra'Shede Hageman stretches before the game begins.
The Atlanta Falcons team rallys before the game begins.
WR Devin Hester slips past Houston's CB Josh Victorian to score a touchdown.
T Jake Matthews
T Jake Matthews stretching before the game begins.
Head Coach Mike Smith
DE Ra'Shede Hageman stretches before the game begins.
RB Antone Smith runs the ball fighting a tackle by Houston's C Jason Ankrah.
Head Coach Mike Smith on the sidelines during the game.
RB Jacquizz Rodgers makes a run during the second half
Head coach Mike Smith talks with officials
RB Devonta Freeman breaks into the endzone, but the score was overturned.
CB Josh Wilson takes down Texans WR Uzoma Nwachukwu
S Kemal Ishmael celebrates recovering a fumble
T Sam Baker holds off Houstons' LB Jadeveon Clowney.
QB Sean Renfree passes the ball down the field.
QB Jeff Mathews steps up to pass the ball.
RB Josh Vaughan carries the ball through the line.
C Joe Hawley
RB Jacquizz Rodgers runs the ball.
QB Matt Ryan directs his team from the line.
QB Matt Ryan drops back for a pass.
DE Osi Umenylora jumps up to tip the pass of Houstons' QB Tom Savage.
DE Kroy Biermann warms up before the game.
WR Roddy White
LB Paul Worrilow
DT Paul Soliai
LB Paul Worrilow tackles Houstons' TE C.J. Fiedorowicz.
LB Prince Shembo, DE Ra'Shede Hageman, and LB Paul Worrilow combine for a tackle.
DT Paul Soliai
DT Paul Soliai
DT Paul Soliai
CB Robert Alford and DE Kroy Biermann attempt to tackle Houstons' RB Jonathan Grimes.
S William Moore attempts to tackle Houstons' RB Jonathan Grimes.
Falcons defensive players combine to tackle Houstons' RB Afred Blue.
DT Travian Robertson, DT Jonathan Babineaux, and LB Joplo Bartu combine on a tackle.
RB Josh Vaughan follows a block by C Joe Hawley.
QB Sean Renfree steps up in the pocket to make a pass.
RB Devonta Freeman shakes a tackle by Houstons' DE Jared Crick.
RB Devonta Freeman runs the ball following a block.
RB Devonta Freeman runs the ball through the line.
TE Levine Toilolo sets a block against Houstons' CB Brandon Harris.
C Joe Hawley
T Jake Matthews
6 --** Combined years of experience for the five offensive tackles on the Falcons' roster who could step in at left tackle if the injury to Sam Baker ends up causing him to miss time. Baker was carted off the field after suffering a knee injury with 9:57 left in the second quarter and did not return to the game.
10 -- Minutes it takes for Houston's NRG Stadium retractable roof to fully open from a closed position. With a slight chance of rain and sweltering 90 degree temperatures outside, the roof was closed for tonight's contest.
16 -- Net yards for the Falcons' starting offense against the Texans starters. Houston pulled several of their starting defenders, including defensive ends J.J. Watt and Jadeveon Clowney, after two series. Clowney notched the first sack surrendered by the Falcons in the preseason, sprinting past guard Justin Blalock to drop Matt Ryan for a 7-yard loss in the first quarter.
18 -- Penalties for the Falcons in the first two preseason games (9 in both games). Despite the predominance of Atlanta penalty flags, Falcons' opponents had even more penalties in each of the first two games, amassing 25 (10 for Miami and 15 for Houston). Yellow laundry has been flying all around the League as officials have been placing an increased emphasis on defensive holding and pass interference infractions this season.
25 -- Percent of third down conversions for the Falcons in the game (3 of 12).
57 -- Jersey number of Texans' starting inside linebacker Justin Tuggle. The second-year linebacker, who played his college ball at Kansas State and prepped at Northview High School in the Atlanta suburb of Johns Creek, is the son of Falcons' legendary linebacker and Ring of Honor member Jessie Tuggle.
88.4 -- Passer rating for Matt Ryan thus far in the preseason. Ryan has completed 10 of 14 passes for 90 yards and has thrown no touchdowns or interceptions in six series of work.
103 -- Heat index at kickoff for the Falcons-Texans game. Mercifully (as AtlantaFalcons.com Managing Editor Jay Adams put it), the NRG Stadium roof was closed for the game, allowing for a comfortable 74-degree indoor climate.
116.0 -- First half passer rating for Falcons' QB Sean Renfree, who entered the game to spell Matt Ryan with 6:20 left in the second quarter. Renfree immediately engineered an 11-play 66-yard scoring drive during which he completed 4 of 6 passes for 27 yards and threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to returner/receiver Devin Hester.
186 -- Yards surrendered by the Falcons' defense in the first half. Most of Atlanta's defensive starters played for the entire first half.
313 -- Number of days since Roddy White and Julio Jones were on the field together in an NFL game. Jones suffered a foot injury on October 7, 2014 during a Monday Night Football loss to the New York Jets and was placed on Injured-Reserve two days later. At the time of his injury, Jones was leading the NFL in receptions with 41 and was second in the NFL in receiving yards with 580. Jones did not play in the 2014 preseason opener, while Roddy White caught 4 passes for 27 yards in the victory over the Dolphins. Tonight against the Texans, Jones hauled in two Matt Ryan passes for 20 yards, while White caught 1 ball for 17 yards. All seven of quarterback Matt Ryan's targets on the evening went to either Jones (4) or White (3).
