Up next for the Falcons is the perennially stout defense of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Week 1 against New Orleans, however, the Bucs were gouged for 337 yards passing, 42 of which came on a Reggie Bush swing pass for six. Jerious Norwood (164 all-purpose yards versus Detroit) could be utilized in a similar role out of the backfield against Tampa, who will be cognizant of Turner’s impact in the run game. When asked if the record setting day on the ground was more indicative of the Falcons’ front line or the tissue-soft play of the Lions’ run defense, Turner deflected all credit to his front five. “The Burner” and the Falcons’ front better get ready for far more of a resistance from Monte Kiffin’s front seven on Sunday.
QUOTE OF THE WEEK
“Everybody was excited to come out with a win today. We wanted to start out fast and we did that in the first quarter. [We’re] really pumped up about the win, but we know we have a lot of work ahead.” – QB Matt Ryan
OFF THE FIELD
Several records fell or were matched in the Falcons’ 34-21 win over the Detroit Lions on Sunday. With 220 yards on the day, running back Michael Turner broke Gerald Riggs’ single-game rushing record of 202 yards. Riggs’ record stood for 24 years. … Keith Brooking started his 113th consecutive game, passing Falcons Hall-of-Famer Jeff Van Note for second all-time behind Bob Whitfield (123 consecutive starts). Also, Matt Ryan became the first quarterback to have his first career regular season pass go for a touchdown since 2000, when Michael Bishop did so for the New England Patriots.
It was thought that newly signed cornerback Domonique Foxworth would be available for the game against Detroit, but the fifth-year cornerback was held out; he should be available against Tampa Bay on Sunday. Foxworth was acquired via trade with the Denver Broncos as veteran insurance in the secondary. All the Falcons conceded was a 2009 seventh-round pick, conditional on Foxworth’s playing time this season.
No one was more starstruck by the running game’s record-setting day than Ryan. “Sometimes, as a quarterback, you find yourself sitting back there watching some of his runs and you have to snap out of it,” Ryan said of the long runs from Turner. “You have to run down there and try to help out because you realize he [Turner] might break some tackles.”
Horne can be reached at ehorne@scoreatl.com.
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