The Falcons take on the Browns as they honor the men and women of the United States Armed Forces during the annual Salute to Service game. Here are photos from gameday.
DE Kroy Biermann sacks Browns QB Brian Hoyer.
WR Julio Jones celebrates scoring a touchdown with TE Levine Toilolo
QB Matt Ryan warming up before the game.
DE Tyson Jackson and LB Joplo Bartu combine to tackle Browns RB Terrance West.
C James Stone prepares to hike the ball to QB Matt Ryan
RB Jacquizz Rodgers scores a touchdown before halftime.
P Matt Bosher congratulates K Matt Bryant after he hits a field goal in the fourth quarter.
Sargeant Constance Mack singing the National Anthem.
WR Devin Hester runs the ball during the first half of play.
WR Roddy White runs after making a catch.
Team huddle before the game.
DE Kroy Biermann celebrates a sack on Browns QB Brian Hoyer.
DT Paul Soliai closes in on Browns' QB Brian Hoyer
RB Steven Jackson runs into the endzone for a touchdown
RB Jacquizz Rodgers holds up the football after scoring a touchdown.
WR Julio Jones scores a touchdown in the first quarter.
CB Josh Wilson celebrates a tackle.
WR Devin Hester returning a football.
FB Patrick DiMarco runs onto the field.
TE Levine Toilolo is tackled after making a catch.
DE Kroy Biermann tackling Browns QB Brian Hoyer
RB Steven Jackson
WR Roddy White catches a ball during warm-ups
DT Paul Soliai tackles Browns RB Isaiah Crowell.
Atlanta Falcons cheerleaders with a Childrens Hospital of Atlanta patient.
TE Bear Pascoe blocking on the line.
LB Paul Worrilow gets his hands on Browns' RB Terrance West
WR Julio Jones catches a ball while warming up before the game.
T Jake Matthews on the line
CB Josh Wilson makes a tackle on Browns WR Josh Gordon
Special guests for the Salute to Service game
QB Matt Ryan warming up before the game
WR Julio Jones stretching before the game.
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders
S William Moore signs an autograph for a member of the military
Special guests for the Salute to Service game
Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders
WR Julio Jones scores a touchdown during the first half of play.
WR Devin Hester returns a kick.
Freddie Falcon leads the team onto the field
CB Desmond Trufant
DE Osi Umenyiora goes against Browns' OL Joe Thomas
CB Josh Wilson keeps his eyes on Browns' DB Justin Gilbert
QB Matt Ryan takes a snap
RB Steven Jackson
DE Ra'Shede Hageman jumps to try to block the ball in the first half
RB Steven Jackson
P Matt Bosher punts the ball
RB Jacquizz Rodgers holds up the ball after scoring a touchdown in the first half
K Matt Bryant kicks an extra point
WR Roddy White runs the ball after making a completion in the first half of play.
LB Paul Worrilow looks down Browns QB Brian Hoyer as he prepares to snap the ball.
WR Devin Hester returns a punt at the end of the first half of play.
S Kemal Ishmael runs the ball after an interception in the first half of play.
WR Roddy White completes a catch during the first half of play.
QB Matt Ryan
DE Tyson Jackson
C James Stone
Cleveland Browns owner Jimmy Haslam talks with Atlanta Falcons owner and chairman Arthur Blank before the game.
WR Julio Jones before the game.
CB Javier Arenas
S Kemal Ishmael exits the tunnel and returns to the field for the second half of play.
C James Stone exits the tunnel and returns to the field for the second half of play.
QB Matt Ryan hikes the ball during the second half of play.
CB Desmond Trufant celebrates with teammates after his interception late in the game.
RB Devonta Freeman runs the ball during the second half of play.
DE Osi Umenyiora
LB Joplo Bartu
WR Devin Hester
DE Tyson Jackson
RB Jacquizz Rodgers
WR Roddy White
WR Roddy White
K Matt Bryant celebrates with P Matt Bosher after his 53-yard field goal that gave the Falcons the lead in the fourth quarter
DE Ra'Shede Hageman gets a little piece of the Browns winning field goal
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Browns WR Josh Gordon. Gordon made his return to play after serving a 10-game suspension Sunday against the Falcons and showed absolutely no signs of rust in his 2014 debut. Gordon racked up 120 yards on eight receptions, and while he didn't find the end zone Sunday, his exploits helped put his team in position to earn the win in the Georgia Dome.
PLAY OF THE GAME: Facing third-and-2 with 55 seconds to go, the Falcons had called a time out to discuss the best possible play to keep the ball and the clock moving. A deep pass to Devin Hester was dialed up to catch Cleveland off-guard and was broken up, stopping the clock again and forcing the Falcons to try for the 53-yard field goal. Matt Bryant made good, but the Falcons left 44 seconds and three timeouts for the Browns to use to win the game.
TURNING POINT: The Falcons' defense put together a solid first half. Despite the offense turning the ball over twice during the first and second quarter, the Falcons defense was able to bail the unit out by forcing Cleveland into two field goals. After halftime, the tide changed defensively and the Browns were able to move the ball much more successfully. Cleveland's first drive of the half ended in points as 11 plays and 66 yards were good enough for another field goal. Before Desmond Trufant pulled off a huge interception in the end zone to end a seven-play, 74-yard drive for the Browns, two defensive penalties put the Falcons on trouble. Defensively, halftime turned the tide of the game for the Falcons.
INJURY ROUNDUP: In the third quarter, cornerback Robert McClain required help off the field after a 26-yard touchdown run by Cleveland's Isaiah Crowell. He was announced in the press box as having a calf injury and did not return to the game. There were no other announced injuries in Sunday's game for the Falcons.
DEFENSIVE WOES: The Falcons gave up 475 yards of offense to the Browns on Sunday, thanks in large part to Gordon's return and the injection of big-play ability into Cleveland's game plan. Sunday marked the fifth game in 2014 that the Falcons have given up 470 yards or more on defense.
RUN GAME STYMIED: Coming into the game the Browns boasted one of the better pass defenses in the league and one of the bottom run defenses among the 31 other teams. Against the Falcons, the defensive unit stepped up to stop the Atlanta rushing attack. The Browns held the Falcons to just 63 yards on the ground, despite averaging 142 run yards allowed per game. Steven Jackson led the Falcons with 13 rushes for 34 yards.
CREATING TURNOVERS CONTINUES: The Falcons, for all the defensive troubles in 2014, have found consistency in causing turnovers, and they did it some more Sunday. Safety Kemal Ishmael recorded his fourth interception of the season and third in the past three games. In the second half, Trufant pulled off a beautiful leaping interception to stop a Browns scoring threat. Rookie safety Dezmen Southward also notched his first interception of the season. Ten of the Falcons' points Sunday came off turnovers.
UP NEXT: The Falcons will host the red-hot Arizona Cardinals next Sunday for a 4:05 p.m. kickoff. Veteran safety William Moore will be eligible to return after a Week 4 injury landed him on injured reserve with the chance to come back.
