Last Meeting:
Atlanta and Houston last met in 2011 where the Texans won a close game, 17-10. This is only the fourth meeting between these clubs, with the Texans leading the series 2-1.
Coaching Matchup:
Falcons: Dan Quinn
Dan Quinn returns to the Georgia Dome undefeated on the season. Quinn is the second rookie head coach to start the season 3-0 in franchise history.
Texans: Bill O'Brien
In his second season as Texans' head coach, he enters the Week 4 matchup at 1-2.
Key Stat: The Falcons are the first team in NFL history to start 3-0 after trailing in the fourth quarter of each game.
Notes:
Falcons Offense vs. Texans Defense
- The Falcons have converted 53.3 percent of their third downs this season, second in the NFL. QB Matt Ryan leads the NFC in with 974 passing yards.
- Julio Jones recorded his third straight 100-yard receiving game and will likely be matched up with Texans' CB Johnathan Joseph at some point on Sunday. Joseph tied a career high with five passes defensed in the Texans' 19-9 victory over Tampa Bay.
- Devonta Freeman finished Atlanta's most recent game against the Cowboys with 193 total yards. His 193 yards are the most by a running back in a single game so far in the 2015 season. The Texans limited their last opponent, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, to 57 rushing yards.
- Houston's defense is led by DE J.J. Watt, NT Vince Wilfork, LB Brian Cushing and OLB Jadeveon Clowney. Watt has three of the team's four total sacks and Cushing leads the Texans with 22 tackles.
- WR Roddy White had a four-yard touchdown in the Falcons' last meeting with Houston.
Key Stat: Matt Ryan is 40-15 at the Georgia Dome.
Falcons Defense vs. Texans Offense
- After giving up 131 rushing yards in the first half against Dallas, the Falcons held the Cowboys to 52 total yards, including minus-four rushing yards in the second half.
- Houston's offense is led by QB Ryan Mallett, RB Alfred Blue and WR DeAndre Hopkins. After suffering a groin injury that has kept him out for the first three weeks of the season, RB Arian Foster's status is still undetermined.
- Atlanta's secondary will have their hands full with WR DeAndre Hopkins on Sunday. Hopkins has 31 catches for 448 yards and two touchdowns in his last five games against NFC teams.
- OLB Vic Beasley, Jr. will look for his third sack of the season on Sunday. Currently, Beasley is tied for the NFL rookie lead in sacks.
- LB Justin Durant leads the Falcons with 27 tackles, nine of them coming last week against the Cowboys.
- Falcons' Desmond Trufant and Texans' DeAndre Hopkins were only separated by five picks in the first round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
- Key Stat: This season, the Falcons have converted 21 points off of defensive turnovers. Their three touchdowns off of four turnovers is tied for second in the NFL.
