- RB Jacquizz Rodgers punched in a two-yard touchdown run on the Falcons first offensive possession, capping a 15-play, 77-yard drive and tying the game at seven. Atlanta has thrived on scoring early under Head Coach Mike Smith, notching a League-high 262 points on its first offensive possessions. Last season, the Falcons ranked tied for fifth with 38 first possession points and they have ranked in the top seven in terms of first possession scoring in each season since Smith took the reins in 2008.
- QB Matt Ryan completed seven of seven pass attempts for 53 yards, including a 17-yard pass to WR Harry Douglas on Atlanta's opening drive. Ryan exited the game at the end of the first quarter with a 98.2 passer rating.
- Atlanta continued to show its penchant for methodically moving the chains to set up scores with a 15-play, 77-yard drive to answer the Dolphins opening score. Since 2008, the Falcons have totaled 176 drives lasting 10 plays or longer, with 142 scores and an NFC-leading 76 touchdowns. During that span, the Birds 80.7 scoring efficiency on long drives ranks tied for the NFL lead. Last season, the Falcons averaged nearly eight plays and 60.7 yards per scoring drive.
- In one offensive series of work, WR Roddy White caught all four passes thrown in his direction for 27 yards. Three of White's four receptions came on third down and resulted in first downs. The ninth-year receiver continues to show he is Ryan's go-to man in crucial situations. Since 2008, White has compiled a League-best 143 first down receptions on third down. White also leads the League in overall third down receptions during that span with 168.
- Rookie RB Devonta Freeman impressed in his debut totaling 107 total yards on 11 touches. Freeman carried the ball 10 times for 50 yards, including a long gain of 14 yards while posting a game-high five yards per carry. He also added one reception for 57 yards, the longest play of the game.
- Freeman's 57-yard reception set up a 36-yard field goal by K Sergio Castillo that gave the Falcons their six-point winning margin. The rookie runner out of Florida State was selected by the Falcons in the fourth round (103rd overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft. He became the first Florida State running back since Warrick Dunn to rush for over 1,000 yards when he logged 1,016 yards on 173 carries in 2013. Freeman is the sixth player in Seminole history to accomplish that feat.
- After surrendering 73 yards on 10 plays and a touchdown during Miami's opening drive, the Falcons defense held the Dolphins to 156 yards in the rest of the game. Atlanta's defense held Miami to 229 total yards, including 51 yards on 21 carries (2.5 yards per carry).
- Rookie LB Prince Shembo tied for the team lead with three tackles (one solo) and added the game's lone sack when he brought down QB Seth Lobato for a nine-yard loss. Shembo was drafted by the Falcons in the fourth round (137th overall) of the 2014 NFL Draft out of Notre Dame. He Started 34 of 51 games for the Irish finishing his career with 145 tackles (71 solo), 24.5 tackles for loss, 35 quarterback pressures, one fumble recovery, and two forced fumbles.
- Atlanta's kicking game was on the mark with K Matt Bryant and Castillo combining to connect on all three of their field goal attempts. Bryant was true from 21-yards out to tie the game at the end of the first half, while Castillo connected from 21 and 34 yards. His 21-yarder in the third quarter would turn out to be the deciding three points. Bryant also hit his point after attempt for the NFL's experimental distance of 32 yards.
- QB TJ Yates completed seven of 16 pass attempts for a game-high 127 yards with a 71.6 passer rating in his first action in a Falcons uniform.
- QB Sean Renfree completed six of 15 attempts for 108 yards, including a 57-yard pass to Freeman. He finished the game with a 65.4 passer rating in his first game action since suffering an injury last year.
