Editor: Joe Bryant. Game Recap Contributors: Mike Anderson, Michael Brown, Chris Burtt, J.D. Caldwell, David Dodds, Bobby Elder, Jim Enochs, Joel Faulhaber, Michael Flynn, Kevin Goldblum, Clayton Gray, Bob Harris, Fred Hebert, Jesse Hilsenrad, Drew Kendall, Jeff Lewis, Joey Matusek, Justin Oliver, Steve Prosapio, David Shick, Cody Smith, Scott Smith, Jeffrey Stout. Atlanta 34 at Pittsburgh 34 WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Atlanta Falcons: QB Michael Vick at times looked like the inexperienced quarterback that he is. He committed two grounding penalties, threw dangerous passes to avoid sacks, and was unable to hit his receivers where they could gain yards after the catch. However, he was able to make big plays on third and long and led a comeback in which the Falcons scored 17 points in the fourth quarter. Still only has one interception on the season. And still twice as quick as any player on the field. RB Warrick Dunn got his twenty carries but was contained most of the game. Could not work the ball inside and the speed of the Steeler linebackers snuffed him outside. Broke a 59-yarder for a touchdown on third down and less than a yard to go. WR Shawn Jefferson was Vick's primary target while Brian Finneran had a tough game dropping two passes in the red zone. Pittsburgh Steelers: QB Tommy Maddox broke a Steeler record with 473 yards passing. What else can you say? RB Amos Zereoue got the start. Started by gaining zero yards on five carries in the first quarter. The passing game eventually opened up the run. Made nice cuts on a 14-yard gain. Took a direct snap and bounced runs outside nicely. Dropped a screen pass. WR Plaxico Burress broke a Steeler record with 253 yards receiving. Made a great catch on a tipped ball in double coverage for a 33-yard touchdown. Hines Ward was effective as well but it does seem clear that Burress is the primary threat. WHAT YOU OUGHT TO KNOW Atlanta Falcons QB: Michael Vick - At times, Vick looked like the inexperienced quarterback that he is. He committed two grounding penalties, threw dangerous passes to avoid sacks, and was unable to hit his receivers where they could gain yards after the catch. However, at other times he was able to make big plays on third and long and led a comeback in which the Falcons scored 17 points in the fourth quarter. Still only has one interception on the season. And still seems to be twice as quick as any player on the field. RB: Warrick Dunn - Ran four of the first five Atlanta offensive plays between the tackles. Got his twenty carries but was contained most of the game. Could not work the ball inside and the speed of the Steeler linebackers snuffed him outside. Broke a 59-yarder for a touchdown on third down and less than a yard to go. T.J. Duckett - Out with a foot injury. Bob Christian - Had a pass intended for him knocked down. Did not catch an outlet pass when he realized he had stepped out-of-bounds, making him ineligible. WR: Brian Finneran - Did not get his first look until midway through the second quarter. Dropped two hitch passes in the red zone. Misjudged a 50-yarder that fell incomplete in overtime. Vick threw behind him and low on third and seven. Shawn Jefferson - Vick's number one target Sunday. Vick missed him twice while under pressure. Was Vick's target on a dangerous throw away. Came up with a nice sliding 20-yard catch late in regulation. Trevor Gaylor - Stepped out-of-bounds on his only catch, when he could have gained at least five more yards. Was blanketed at the goal line on an incompletion. Quentin McCord - Was a tad under thrown from 43 yards in the end zone with less than two minutes to go in overtime. Vick came back to him on the next play for his first catch of the season. TE: Alge Crumpler - Was missed by Vick when under pressure. Had a pass deflected away by Joey Porter. Vick led him too much in the end zone and overthrew him 25 yards downfield in overtime. Falcons Pass Defense: Did not get consistent pressure on Maddox. Secondary was picked apart and blew their coverage on blitzes. Falcons Rush Defense: Brady Smith and Ed Jasper got penetration to stop the run early. Steeler passing game opened up the run. Undersized frontline showed a lot of heart with the game on the line. Falcons Special Teams: Return man Allen Rossum seems ready to break one at any time. Kicker Jay Feely hooked a 40-yarder through and had a 56-yarder blocked when he caught some sod on the kick. /**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/**/** Pittsburgh Steelers QB: Tommy Maddox - Broke a Steeler record with 473 yards passing. Showed great accuracy on his throws. Led his receivers well on routes, anticipating their cuts. Picked the Falcon secondary apart. Threw a beautiful play-action ball over the shoulder of Plaxico Burress for a 62-yard touchdown. Did not see Kevin Mathis on his only interception. Pressure can disrupt his rhythm. RB: Amos Zereoue - Got the start. Started by gaining zero yards on five carries in the first quarter. The passing game eventually opened up the run. Made nice cuts on a 14-yard gain. Took a direct snap and bounced runs outside nicely. Dropped a screen pass. Jerome Bettis - Was on the sideline recovering from a sprained knee. Bettis came in for one play as a decoy in overtime. WR: Plaxico Burress - Broke a Steeler record with 253 yards receiving. Made a great catch on a tipped ball in double coverage for a 33-yard touchdown. Maddox led him off the fingertips on a wide-open play-action long pass and also on a crossing pattern when Maddox was pressured. Was overthrown on a 20-yard attempt. Drew an illegal contact penalty on a 25-yard attempt. Hines Ward - Ran a fake reverse and then the Steelers gave him the ball on the reverse for 29 yards later. Made a nice one-handed grab on a flare and picked up 34 yards on a screen catch and run. Was overthrown on a throw away in the end zone and overthrown on an out route. Was under thrown on a third and three when Maddox was pressured. Antwaan Randle El - Was solid on returns but did have a fumble. Went up in traffic over Kevin Mathis for a nice catch. Took the ball on a direct snap, ran a reverse, and handled the ball on an option play. Terance Mathis - Maddox overthrew him on an under route. TE: Mark Bruener - Thrown behind on his only look. Steeler tight ends are not a major target. Steelers Pass Defense: The Steelers took a page out of the Ravens playbook against Vick. Pittsburgh blitzed in waves, providing containment on the scramble. Steelers Rush Defense: The 3-4 was complemented nicely with run blitzes. Outside of the 59-yard touchdown breakaway, Pittsburgh controlled Dunn. Steelers Special Teams: Kicker Todd Peterson hooked a 35-yard field goal through, had a PAT blocked, hit the upright on a 40-yard miss, and had a 48-yarder blocked in overtime. Both blocks were due to low kicks. He also had problems getting kickoffs inside the ten, one kickoff only went as far as the 30.