Game Recaps

This game only underscored how much the Atlanta Falcons are missing Michael Vick. Doug Johnson was simply unable to get anything going for the Falcons' offense. After overthrowing Peerless Price on his first passing attempt of the day, Johnson went on to throw an interception. Johnson completed less than half of his passing attempts for a total of 134 yards. And in the second half he threw for only 9 yards until he was replaced with Kurt Kittner late in the fourth quarter.

T. J. Duckett and Warrick Dunn were interchanged throughout the game by quarter. Duckett played primarily during the first and third quarters, Dunn played primarily during the second. And they split time in the fourth quarter. Neither one was able to make much of a difference in the game, rushing for a combined total of 73 yards.

It was a pretty pathetic day for the Falcons' wide receivers. Brian Finneran, Quentin McCord, and Peerless Price combined for a total of 5 receptions for 96 yards, which is less than Torry Holt alone, and almost less than Isaac Bruce alone. They were unable to get open. Not to mention that Johnson overthrew and underthrew them. And when Johnson did his part, they dropped passes that should have been caught. Price was the leading target, with 10 targets but only one reception for 8 yards.

The Falcons have given up 4 safeties so far this year and are only one short of the NFL record.

St. Louis Rams

Everything was clicking for the St. Louis Rams. An effective passing game, a powerful rushing game and a strong defense all contributed to the shutout of the Falcons. The Rams were 4 yards shy of 500 total yards for offense. Marc Bulger proved himself yet again, as he led the Rams to victory with 352 passing yards, two touchdown passes, and a touchdown run.

Replacing Marshall Faulk, Lamar Gordon looked great as he ran all over the Falcons. He rushed for 92 yards and was most successful breaking tackles straight up the middle. Gordon rushed for 10 yards or more on 6 of his 19 rushes.

Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce showed that they are still the powerful tandem that they have been in the past. Holt's game was outstanding. He caught 11 passes for 161 yards and 2 touchdown catches in the second half. Bruce caught 4 passes for 87 yards, and even threw a 25-yard pass to Holt.

Aeneas Williams led the Rams' defense with two big plays that led to both of the Rams' scores in the first half. His interception led to a Jeff Wilkins' field goal. In the second quarter he forced a fumble and recovered the ball leading up to Marc Bulger's rushing touchdown. The Rams' defense was stout, coming up with 3 sacks, 1 more interception, and a safety. The defense took a blow when Adam Archuleta limped off the field in the third quarter. He sprained his left ankle. The x-rays came back negative, but Archuleta could be seen on the sidelines with his ankle heavily iced and taped.

WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW

Atlanta Falcons

QB: Doug Johnson (10-23-136, 0 TD, 1 Int) Johnson overthrew Peerless Price on his first pass of the day and that set the tone for the rest of the game. On that same drive, he was intercepted in the end zone throwing into double coverage. The very next drive, he was almost intercepted again throwing to Price in double coverage. The Falcons' offensive line did little to provide Johnson protection and he was sacked 3 times. In the second half of the game, Johnson was held to only 9 passing yards before being replaced by Kurt Kittner late in the game.

Kurt Kittner (2-5-21, 0 TD, 1 Int) Kittner came in for Johnson late in the fourth quarter, but like Johnson was unable to get anything done at all. The interception that he threw was returned for a touchdown.

Michael Vick could be seen throughout the game standing on the sidelines. He told Lisa Guerrero that he may be back in the next 2 weeks, but he won't return until he is 100 percent.

RB: T. J. Duckett (6-50 rushing, 1-7 receiving, 2 targets) Duckett started the game at running back. The Falcons opened the game with two rushes, on which Duckett gained only 5 yards. He ran steadily, plodding ahead in the first quarter but the Falcons got behind and the rushing game was left by the wayside.

Warrick Dunn (5-23 rushing, 3-18 receiving, 4 targets) Dunn did not see the ball until the second quarter. 19 of his rushing yards came during the Falcons' first series of the second quarter.

WR: Brian Finneran (3-55, 4 targets) Finneran provided the Falcons' passing game with a bright spot by making an adjustment to turn an underthrown pass into a 30-yard gain. He played with a soft cast on his hand as he returned from an injury.

Quentin McCord (1-33, 4 targets) McCord's one catch was on the slant and he gained 33 yards by breaking tackles and running to the opposite side of the field.

Peerless Price (1-8, 10 targets) Price was the leading target, but only made one reception the whole game. Early in the first quarter, he had beaten his coverage, but was overthrown by Johnson. On many other plays, he was double covered and could not separate. This did not stop Johnson from trying to force the ball to him though.

TE: Alge Crumpler (2-30, 4 targets) In the second quarter Crumpler dropped a catchable pass forcing the Falcons' to punt. He was foiled by Aeneas Williams twice in the game. Williams came up with an interception in the end zone that was targeted for Crumpler. Later in the second quarter Williams knocked the ball out of Crumpler's hand and came up with the recovery.

K: Jay Feely (0-1 FG, 0 XP) Feely only attempted on FG at the end of the first half. A holding call backed up the Falcons for a 60-yard attempt that ended up being blocked.

Pass Defense: Though the Falcons were able to come up with two interceptions, the Rams just walked all over them. Marc Bulger threw for 352 yards and was never pressured or sacked throughout the game. Torry Holt was able to beat defenders and come up with yards after the catch. And Isaac Bruce beat the secondary and was wide open a number of times throughout the game.

Rush Defense: The Falcons were beat with the rush as well, especially up the middle. Lamar Gordon ran for over 10 yards 6 times during the game. Marc Bulger nearly walked into the endzone untouched. The lone bright spot came was they held Gordon to a loss in the red zone on fourth and inches.

St. Louis Rams

QB: Marc Bulger (23-34-352, 2 TD, 2 Int, 2-4 rushing, 1 TD) Bulger had his first 300-yard game of the year. His offensive line provided Bulger with wonderful pass protection. With no Falcon's defenders in the area, he ran straight up the middle untouched to score the first touchdown of the game for the Rams. In the first half, he overthrew both of his tight ends in the end zone. But in the second half, he connected twice with two great passes to Holt in the end zone.

RB: Lamar Gordon (19-92 rushing, 0-0 receiving, 1 target) After gaining a first down on his first carry of the game, Gordon went off the field holding his wrist. But the injury was insignificant and he returned two plays later. Gordon broke tackles up the middle throughout the whole game and rushed for 92 total yards and a YPC average of 4.8. And though Arlen Harris replaced Gordon later in the game, Gordon still came in when the Rams were in the red zone.

Arlen Harris (10-23 rushing, 1-26 receiving, 1 target) Harris came into the game primarily in the third and fourth quarters when the game was in hand for the Rams. A pass intended for Torry Holt was intercepted by Tod McBride but Kyle Turley forced a fumble that Harris was able to recover, extending the Rams drive.

Marshall Faulk was out for the game and could be seen on the sidelines with a towel on his head for the majority of the game.

WR: Torry Holt (11-161, 2 TDs, 12 targets) Holt caught nearly everything that came his way. Holt's first reception was on a pass from Isaac Bruce. Bulger handed the ball to Lamar Gordon who handed it off to Isaac Bruce, who completed the 25-yard pass. His touchdown receptions both came in the second half. The first touchdown was a great 21-yard reception Holt came down with right between two defenders.

Isaac Bruce (4-87, 9 targets, 1-1-25 passing) Though Holt was the star this week, Bruce was not forgotten and put up a solid game. He did drop a pass in the second quarter, but two plays later beat the Falcon's defense, and was wide open as he made a 33-yard reception.

Dane Looker (4-43, 4 targets) Looker is developing as a wide receiver but his play throughout the game was inconsistent. His first catch of the game was a 7-yard reception on third down and he was just short of gaining the first down for the Rams. Later in the game in a similar situation, he showed presence of mind, stayed in bounds and reached to make the first down conversion. He fumbled the ball during the third quarter giving the ball back to the Falcons, but on the next series made a catch and gained a first down.

TE: Brandon Manumaleuna (3-56, 4 targets) Manumaleuna missed his first target when Bulger overthrew him in the end zone. But then he went on to catch the next 3 passes that came his way. Manumaleuna is not a very fast guy, but he is powerful and was still able to turn a short reception over the middle into a 40-yard gain.

Cam Cleeland (1-4, 2 targets) Cleeland's lone reception was during the second drive of the game. He was overthrown in the end zone on that same drive and then was all but forgotten for the rest of the game.

K: Jeff Wilkins (2-2 FG, 28-yard, 38-yard, 4/4 XP) Wilkins had a solid game. In the fourth quarter, a 28-yard field goal was negated by a holding penalty but Wilkins was able to make the 38-yard field goal after the penalty had been assessed.

Pass Defense: Aeneas Williams led the Rams' defense with an interception and a forced fumble and recovery, both defensive plays leading to the Rams' scores during the first half. In the second half while Doug Johnson was still in, the Rams defense held the Falcons to 9 yards passing. And after that they only gave up 21 yards to Kurt Kittner. Tony Fisher intercepted Kurt Kittner and returned the interception 74-yards for a touchdown.

Rush Defense: The Rams held the Falcons to only 73 yards total rushing. Johnson was sacked twice in the third quarter, forcing the Falcons' to punt on their first two drives of the second half. And on the next drive of the game, Grant Wistrom tackled T. J. Duckett in the end zone giving the Rams two more points with a safety.