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Notes & Milestones: Falcons vs. Eagles

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  • Trailing 31-21 in the fourth quarter, QB Matt Ryan led the Falcons on a 12-play, 80-yard drive that ended with a one-yard touchdown pass to FB Ovie Mughelli, his fourth of the game. The touchdown cut the Eagles lead to three at 31-28 with 10:45 remaining in the game.
  • Facing a three-point deficit with 8:12 left in the game and 80 yards to cover, RB Michael Turner broke a season-long 61-yard run to put the ball on the Philadelphia 26-yard line. His big run set up his first touchdown of the season when he punched in the go-ahead score from three yards out to give the Falcons a 35-31 advantage.
  • Turner finished the game with 114 yards on 21 carries and the game-winning touchdown. Since 2008, Turner has run for 40 touchdowns which ranks second in the NFL during that span. Additionally, Turner has posted back-to-back 100-yard games to start the season and has now run for 100-or-more yards 21 times as a member of the Falcons.
  • For Ryan, Sunday night's victory marked the 14th time in his career that he has led the Falcons on a game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime. In 2010, he led the team on six such drives.
  • Ryan finished the game completing 17 of 28 passes for 195 yards and a career-high four touchdowns. Despite throwing two interceptions, Ryan finished the game with a 91.5 passer rating and improved his record at the Dome to 21-1.
  • Since 2008, the Falcons are 19-4 when Ryan throws multiple touchdown passes and 31-8 when he throws for at least one score. He has now thrown for three-or-more touchdowns in seven games.
  • Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith improved to 21-4 at the Georgia Dome since he became the team's head coach in 2008. Over the last four seasons, only the New England Patriots (22-3) have posted a better home record than the Falcons. Additionally, Smith improved his overall record to 34-16 and improved to 13-3 in games following a loss.
  • The Falcons opened the scoring when Ryan hit WR Roddy White for a two-yard touchdown in the back of the end zone on third and goal. It was Ryan's 67th career touchdown and he has now thrown at least one touchdown in 19 of his last 21 games.
  • In 2010, Ryan was one of the League's best passers on third down, completing 63.3 percent of his passes with 15 touchdowns and a 104.1 passer rating. Only New England's Tom Brady (119.3) and Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger (114.2) posted higher quarterback ratings last season.
  • The touchdown was White's fourth career score against the Eagles and his 38th touchdown overall. He ranks fourth in Falcons history behind Terance Mathis (57), Andre Rison (56) and Alfred Jenkins (40).
  • With the Eagles at the Falcons four-yard line, DT Peria Jerry forced QB Michael Vick to fumble, DE Ray Edwards picked up the loose ball and returned it 64 yards to the Philadelphia 24. It was the first forced fumble of Jerry's career and the third fumble recovery for Edwards.
  • The turnover marked the 21st consecutive regular season game in which the Falcons have forced a turnover, marking the longest active streak in the NFL.
  • On the ensuing drive, Ryan hit TE Tony Gonzalez for a four-yard touchdown marking the 23rd time Ryan has thrown for two-or-more touchdowns in a game.
  • After going three and out on the opening drive of the second half, the Falcons defense forced a third turnover when CB Kelvin Hayden intercepted Vick. It was Hayden's 10th career interception and his first as a Falcon.
  • Ryan found the end zone for a third time, hitting Gonzalez for a 17-yard touchdown. The score marked the 16th time that Gonzalez has caught two-or-more touchdown passes in a game. The last time he posted a multi-touchdown game was 10/17/10 at Philadelphia.
  • With a 13-yard catch at the beginning of the fourth quarter, Gonzalez moved into fifth place on the NFL's all-time receptions list, he now has 1,081 career catches.
  • Gonzalez finished the game with a team-high seven catches and 83 yards with two scores. In 34 games in a Falcons uniform, the future Hall of Famer has 14 touchdowns and his 90 career scoring grabs rank 10th in NFL history, just one touchdown shy of tying WR Isaac Bruce for ninth all time.
  • Defensively, Atlanta was paced by LB Curtis Lofton who posted 10 tackles (six solo) and two passes defensed. He has now tallied 10-or-more tackles in 21 games and led the Falcons to a 12-9 record when he accomplishes the feat. In 2010, he has recorded 10-plus tackles in each of the first two games.
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