It was certainly a good day to rewrite the Falcons records books as the Falcons took a 45-24 win over the Bucs in the regular-season finale Sunday.
Matt Ryan, Roddy White, Julio Jones and Michael Turner all had chances at setting brand new marks for the Falcons and there are a few records that will need to be changed in the franchise books after Sunday's game.
Here is a look at the individual and team records that were broken Sunday:
- The Falcons recorded their 74th first down of the season on a 23-yard pass to Roddy White on the first offensive drive, which set a new single-season franchise record for first downs.
- Ryan broke the franchise record for pass yards in a season in the first half. The previous record was 4,173, set by Jeff George in 1995.
- Jones scored two touchdowns in the first half Sunday, the first of which gave him the team record for most TDs by a Falcons rookie. Jones also eclipsed 1,000 yards receiving in his first season.
- Michael Turner had a huge day on the ground which earned him some of the biggest honors of the day. Turner scored on a 1-yard run in the second quarter, giving him the record for career rushing touchdowns as a Falcon, previously held by Gerald Riggs for 23 years. Turner now has 50 career touchdowns as a Falcon and has reached that mark in just four years, and also became just the third Falcon to reach 50 TDs, along with Terance Mathis (57) and Andre Rison (56).
- That wasn't the only time Sunday that Turner put himself in Riggs' company. With an 81-yard touchdown in the second quarter, Turner went over 100 yards for the 25th time as a Falcon, tying Riggs' team record for number of 100-yard rushing games.
- White reached one of the Falcons' highest records — breaking Terance Mathis' mark for all-time receiving yards in a career during a catch-and-run in the second half. Mathis' mark was set at 7,349 and White eclipsed it with 7,374.
- White also became the first Falcons receiver to have 100 catches or more in two consecutive seasons during Sunday's game.
- A sack in the second quarter by John Abraham gave The Predator 58.5 career sacks with the Falcons, tying him with Chuck Smith for 58.5 and passing Patrick Kerney.
- As a team, the Falcons broke the franchise record for most points scored in a first half with 42 against Tampa. The previous record was 35 against San Francisco in 2009.
