Atlanta's starters looked sharp in opening quarter of second preseason game. Here are the game notes from the Falcons' first loss of the preseason:
- The first team offense, led by QB Matt Ryan, finished the game with 81 total yards on 10 plays and two touchdowns, including a six-play, 85-yard touchdown drive on their first drive. Ryan finished the game hitting four of five passes for 75 yards with one touchdown including a 60-yard reception to FB Colin Mooney, which was the longest reception of Mooney's career.
- For the first time in Ryan's career, he has finished back-to-back preseason games with a perfect passer rating of 158.3. Ryan has now thrown at least one touchdown in each of his last three preseason games dating back to 2014.
WR Devin Hester returned his first punt of the 2015 preseason 59 yards to the Jets four-yard line in the opening quarter. Last season, Hester lead the League in yards per punt (13.3), number of kickoff/punt returns (63), and combined kick and punt yards (1,368 yards). Hester also broke the NFL's return touchdown record when he returned a 62-yard punt return for a touchdown – the 20th TD return of his career -- against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Thursday Night Football (9/18/14).
- The Falcons first team defense ended their day with one sack, and only allowed three first downs in 21 plays run by the Jets. In the 30 plays the Falcons first team defense has played during the preseason, they have only allowed five first downs, and one first down in six tries on third down.
DE Adrian Clayborn recorded his first sack as an Atlanta Falcon in the first quarter. Clayborn, signed by the Falcons on March 12, made 36 consecutive starts for the Buccaneers and tallied 121 total tackles (72 solo) with 13.5 sacks, five forced fumbles, and one pass defensed.
OLB Stansly Maponga was credited with his second sack of the preseason and a forced fumble. Maponga currently leads the team in sacks during the preseason. Maponga was originally selected by the Falcons in the fifth round (153rd overall) in 2013 out of Texas Christian. He has seen action in 24 games in the past two seasons and has recorded seven total tackles (six solo), two fumble recoveries and one sack.
RB Michael Ford has scored touchdowns in back-to-back preseason games and has 28 rushing yards for the preseason. Ford played in 12 games for the Chicago Bears in 2013, and mostly saw action on special teams.
