The Falcons take on their division rival, the New Orleans Saints, in their first regular season game on Sunday at the Georgia Dome. Check out these pictures of the game.
RB Steven Jackson runs off a block by TE Levine Toilolo.
TE Levine Toilolo makes a catch.
K Matt Bryant kicks the game-winning field-goal.
RB Steven Jackson runs the ball.
WR Julio Jones
WR Devin Hester runs after a reception.
QB Matt Ryan exits the tunnel during pregame introductions.
WR Roddy White celebrates scoring a touchdown with WR Harry Douglas.
RB Steven Jackson warms up before the game.
Players huddle up before the game.
CB Robert Alford blocks a pass intended for Saints WR Joe Morgan.
Players tackle RB Antone Smith in the endzone after he scores a touchdown.
WR Harry Douglas gets the team pumped up during the pregame warm-up.
RB Antone Smith runs the ball.
DE Tyson Jackson attempts to block a pass.
WR Eric Weems warms up before the game starts.
WR Julio Jones runs past defenders as he attempts to score.
QB Matt Ryan calls out an audible to the offense during the first half of play.
DE Ra'Shede Hageman blocks Saints' G Jahri Evans and T Zach Strief.
DE Jonathan Massaquoi and DT Jonathan Babineaux fight through the Saints' offensive line.
TE Levine Toilolo leaps over Saints CB Keenan Lewis during the first half of play.
LB Paul Worrilow and FS Dwight Lowery combine for a tackle.
K Matt Bryant kicks a field goal.
S William Moore makes a tackle on Saints' WR Brandin Cooks.
P Matt Bosher punts the ball.
QB Matt Ryan drops back for a pass.
WR Roddy White runs onto the field.
QB Matt Ryan runs out of the tunnel during player introductions.
Players celebrate a touchdown by RB Antone Smith.
WR Devin Hester attempts to get around the Saints' line.
DE Malliciah Goodman closes in on Saints' QB Drew Brees.
TE Levine Toilolo runs onto the field during his introduction.
RB Steven Jackson runs onto the field.
WR Roddy White runs through the tunnel.
FB Patrick DiMarco makes his entrance onto the field during pregme introductions.
QB Matt Ryan scrambles with the ball.
WR Julio Jones makes his entrance onto the field during pregame introductions.
RB Jacquizz Rodgers
CB Desmond Trufant
S Dezmen Southward
DT Jonathan Massaquoi
TE Levine Toilolo avoids a tackle from a Saints defender during the first half of play.
WR Julio Jones runs with the bal after making a completion.
QB Matt Ryan drops back for a pass.
RB Steven Jackson runs the ball during the first half of play.
QB Matt Ryan takes a snap from C Joe Hawley.
QB Matt Ryan dives for a first down during the first half of play.
WR Roddy White and RB Devonta Freeman celebrate White's touchdown reception during the first half of play.
Players tackle RB Jacquizz Rodgers in the endzone after he scored a touchdown.
DE Tyson Jackson celebrates a play.
RB Jacquizz Rodgers
QB Matt Ryan leads the huddle
QB Matt Ryan
WR Julio Jones and Saints CB Patrick Robinson
DE Ra'Shede Hageman and Saints T Zach Strief
CB Robert Alford and S William Moore bring down Saints RB Khiry Robinson
RB Devonta Freeman makes a run that sets up WR Roddy White for a touchdown.
RB Jacquizz Rodgers makes his way into the endzone for a touchdown in the second half of play.
WR Devin Hester shakes off tackles after a reception.
LB Joplo Bartu recovers a fumble during overtime giving the Falcons' offense the possession that led to a winning field-goal.
CB Robert McClain makes an interception in the endzone.
TE Bear Pascoe blocks on the offensive line.
Falcons Alumni Claude Humphrey is honored during halftime.
Falcons Alumni Claude Humphrey is honored during halftime.
Falcons Alumni Claude Humphrey hugs Owner & Chairman Arthur Blank as he is honored during half time.
RB Jacquizz Rodgers breaks a couple tackles while running the ball.
DT Jonathan Babineaux reacts after sacking Saints QB Drew Brees.
RB Antone Smith celebrates after scoring a touchdown in the second half of play.
WR Devin Hester runs the ball after completing a catch.
RB Jacquizz Rodgers makes a move on his way towards the endzone.
QB Matt Ryan is interviewed on the sideline after defeating New Orleans, 37-34.
1. Overtime Victory Keyed by Moore, Bartu: Entering overtime of the Week 1 matchup between the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons, the Saints won the coin toss and elected to receive, but two plays into the drive, Falcons S William Moore forced a fumble, recovered by Falcons LB Joplo Bartu. Falcons K Matt Bryant did the rest, calmly taking the field, nailing a 52-yard game-winning field goal, topping the Saints 37-34.
2. Ryan Leads Game-Tying Drive:With 1:20 to play in the game, trailing by three points to the Saints, and one timeout remaining, Falcons QB Matt Ryan led his team on a game-tying drive that covered 47 yards to the Saints' 33-yard line, when Bryant came onto the field for his second clutch kick of the day (earlier nailing a 40-yard FG), tying the game with a 51-yard FG as time expired, sending the game into overtime.
3. Falcons RB Committee: Trailing 27-24 to the New Orleans Saints in the fourth quarter, Falcons RB Jacquizz Rodgers dropped jaws on his way to the end zone for a 17-yard TD run. The phenomenal run gave the Falcons a fourth-quarter lead, 31-27. Also effective on Sunday were other Falcons RBs, including Antone Smith; trailing the NFC South-rival Saints 20-17, Smith lit up the Georgia Dome, capping off a five-play scoring drive that covered 80 yards in 2:31, when he took a short pass from Ryan and didn't stop running until he hit the end zone, 54 yards later. The score electrified the crowd and gave the Falcons their first lead of the game, 24-20. Falcons RBs Steven Jackson and rookie Devonta Freeman were also a big factor in the team's rushing attack, combining for 14 carries for 67 yards.
4. Historic Second Quarter: Ryan and Falcons WR Roddy White continued adding to their already-remarkable career stats in the second quarter; trailing the Saints 13-0, Ryan found White for a two-yard TD pass to tie former Falcons QB Steve Bartkowski as the franchise-record holders for most-career passing TDs (56). Ryan finished the day 31 of 43 for 448 yards and 3 TDs, also setting the franchise record for single-game passing yards. White's TD was the 56th of his career, tying former Falcons WR Andre Rison for the second-most receiving TDs in franchise history, one behind the current record, held by former Falcons WR Terance Mathis. White finished Sunday with five receptions for 72 yards and the two-yard TD.
5. Strong Second-Half Start Fueled Comeback: Whatever Falcons head coach Mike Smith said to the team at halftime worked as the offense took the ball right down the field on the first drive of the second half, using 12 plays to cover 80 yards in 5:38, when Ryan found Falcons TE Levine Toilolo for a 1-yard TD, giving Ryan the record for most career-passing TDs (155) in franchise history.
EXTRA REPS: Falcons WR Julio Jones finished his season opener with seven catches for 116 yards, while fellow Falcons WRs Harry Douglas and Devin Hester combined for 11 receptions for 168 yards. Falcons LB Paul Worrilow led the team with 15 tackles, followed by S Dwight Lowery (11 tackles) and Bartu (10 tackles).
