For the third time this preseason, the Falcons offense scored on their first drive of the game. The Falcons running backs accounted for 62 of the 75 total yards the offense accumulated on the nine-play scoring drive. The Falcons ended the game with 127 rushing yards, which was a preseason-high for the team.
FB Collin Mooney scored his first touchdown of the preseason on a one-yard run on the first drive of the game. Mooney spent the last two seasons with the Tennessee Titans where he saw action in 14 games with four starts.
Rookie RB Tevin Coleman ended his night with eight carries for 56 yards, which gave him an average of seven yards per carry. Coleman accounted for 49 of the 62 rushing yards the Falcons had on the first drive of the game. He was selected by the Falcons in the third round (72nd overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Indiana. Coleman played in 33 games for the Hoosiers and logged 3,219 yards on 452 carries. He averaged 7.1 yards per carry and 97.5 yards per game, while tallying 28 touchdowns.
Rookie RB Terron Ward had a preseason and team-high 68 rushing yards on 18 carries. Ward was signed as a college free agent following the 2015 NFL Draft out of Oregon State. He finished his career with the Beavers with 1,843 rushing yards and 22 rushing touchdowns, and also recorded 87 receptions for 664 receiving yards.
K Matt Bryant connected on two of his three field goal attempts during the game, including his fourth field goal of the preseason from 40 yards (49 yards) in the second quarter to extend the lead 10-6.
WR Justin Hardy had a 70-yard punt return down to the Falcons five yard line – his longest of the preseason. Hardy's punt return led to Matt Bryant's second field goal of the game, extending Atlanta's lead to 13-6.
QB Sean Renfree threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to WR Carlton Mitchell. The touchdown pass was the first of the preseason for Renfree, and the third passing touchdown for the team during the preseason.
TE D.J. Tialavea forced a fumble in the third quarter, which was recovered by CB Dezmen Southward. The fumble was the only turnover of the game, and became the sixth turnover of the preseason that the Falcons have forced.
DE Cliff Matthews recorded his first sack of the preseason. He saw action in 15 games in 2014 as a reserve defense lineman and on special teams, and recorded 13 total tackles (eight solo).
Rookie DT Grady Jarrett also recorded his first sack of the preseason, as well as three tackles for loss, and was one of two players with seven total tackles, which was a game-high. He was selected by the Falcons in the fifth round (137th overall) of the 2015 NFL Draft out of Clemson. Jarrett finished his career starting 37 of the 48 games he played in, and tallied 207 total tackles, 29.5 tackles for loss, 5.5 sacks, two forced fumbles and four fumble recoveries.
