Week 11 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 10, Baltimore Ravens 24

What you need to know

Atlanta Falcons

The Falcons outplayed the Ravens in the first half and held a 7-0 lead at halftime. Atlanta held the Ravens to six first downs and a total of seven rushing yards in the first half. Unfortunately, for the Falcons there was still 30 minutes of football to play.

The Ravens opened the second half with a ten play field goal drive. Baltimore’s next three possessions resulted in touchdowns. Special teams did not help the Falcons. B.J. Sams totaled 212 return yards and set up the Ravens’ first two touchdowns drives with a 59 yard punt return followed by a 59 yard kickoff return. The Falcons’ defense had no better luck stopping the Ravens on a long field; Baltimore’s final touchdown drive chewed up more than eight minutes of the game clock and effectively closed the door on Atlanta.

Things did not go well for the Atlanta offense in the second half either. The unit totaled only four first downs and 71 total yards. The Falcons only second half scoring drive was aided by a bad pass interference call on Baltimore’s Samari Rolle. Michael Vick frequently found himself under pressure and completed only one of his seven passes after halftime. He was sacked four times in the second half. Vick finished 11 of 21 for 127 yards and a touchdown. He added 54 rushing yards. Warrick Dunn was held to 52 yards on 15 attempts.

Baltimore Ravens

The Ravens played a sloppy and sluggish first half on offense. Baltimore was held to 111 first half yards, including only seven rushing yards. The offense was never in sync and committed four false start penalties in their home stadium.

On the other hand, the defense played pretty well. The Falcons were able to total only 117 total yards in what was a defensive struggle. After halftime, The Raven offense came alive and scored on each of its first four offensive drives before running out the clock on its final possession.

The defense, which played without leader Ray Lewis, was even better in the second half. Baltimore limited the Falcons to four first downs and 71 total net yards after halftime. Michael Vick was able to complete only one pass in the second half. The unit may have been able to hold the Falcons scoreless in the second half, if not for a poorly called pass interference penalty on Samari Rolle. On the play, Ashley Lelie clearly pushed Rolle, but it was Rolle who was called for the penalty. As a result, the Falcons had the ball at the Ravens’ 22 yard line and would kick a short field goal for their only points of the second half.

Kick returner, B.J. Sams provided a huge spark with three big returns. Sams returned punts for 65 and 59 yards and also had a 59 yard kickoff return. A Steve McNair fumble on a botched snap squandered Sams first big punt return. However, the next two returns led to Baltimore’s first two touchdowns.

Jamal Lewis was held to 12 rushing yards on six attempts in the first half. However, Lewis had a big second half with 16 carries for 79 yards. Lewis scored all three of the Ravens’ touchdowns.

Steve McNair had a solid game. He completed 24 of 34 passes for 236 yards and spread the ball around to eight different receivers. His two favorite targets were Mark Clayton, who hauled in five passes for 89 yards, and Todd Heap, who grabbed six balls for 62 yards.

Matt Stover pulled his first attempt wide left, ending his streak of 36 consecutive successful field goals.

Baltimore held nearly a thirteen and a half minute time of possession advantage.

What you ought to know

QB Michael Vick, Pass: 11 - 21 - 127 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 6 - 54 - 0

Vick completed ten of his 14 first half passes for 78 yards. His 13 yard strike to Michael Jenkins gave the Falcons a 7-0 lead. Vick was hit by Adalius Thomas on the play and got up holding his left thumb. He later was seen icing it on the sideline. Vick completed only one pass in the entire second half. It was a 49 yard bomb to Roddy White. On the play, Vick was forced to scramble to buy time. When White broke downfield behind the defense, Vick lofted the ball and hit the open White for the big gain.

Vick was hurt by some dropped passes, but was also guilty of some wild passes, especially his final two throws of the game. On third and eight, he bounced a pass attempt to Roddy White. Then on fourth down, his pass was nowhere close to Jenkins. Vick was sacked five times and was under pressure for much of the game. He led the Falcons in rushing with 54 yards on six attempts. During the game, he moved past Steve McNair into fourth place on the NFL’s all time quarterback rushing list.

RB Warrick Dunn, Rush: 15 - 52 - 0, Rec: 1 - 5 - 0 (1 targets)

Dunn was held to 52 yards on just 15 rushes, a 3.5 yard average. Dunn’s long gain went for 12 yards. He was mostly effective, but was limited by the Falcons’ struggle on offense. Dunn had one reception for five yards on his only target.

RB Justin Griffith, Rec: 4 - 34 - 0 (5 targets)

Griffith was tied for the team lead with five targets. He caught four passes for 34 yards. Griffith dropped the other target. His long reception was a 13 yard gain. Griffith did not have any rushing attempts.

RB Jerious Norwood, Rush: 3 - 2 - 0

Norwood had only three rushes for two yards. He returned four kickoffs for an average of 23.2 yards.

RB Fred McCrary

The game plan called for getting McCrary his first rushing attempts of the season. Instead, he rolled his ankle when Atlanta guard, Tyson Clabo stepped on his foot and never got his chance.

WR Michael Jenkins, Rec: 3 - 23 - 1 (5 targets)

Jenkins tied for the team lead with five targets. He hauled in three passes four 23 yards, including a 13 yard touchdown catch. The touchdown catch was Jenkins’ fifth of the season.

WR Adam Jennings, Rush: 1 - -4 - 0

Jennings lost four yards on an end around. He did not have any targets. Jennings returned one kickoff for 16 yards.

WR Roddy White, Rec: 1 - 49 - 0 (2 targets)

White had one reception for 49 yards. He broke behind the defense after Michael Vick bought time by scrambling. White had no chance on his other target a throw bounced before reaching him.

WR Ashley Lelie (4 targets)

Lelie was targeted four times without a catch. He benefited from a pass interference penalty, when he was guilty of pushing off the defender. Lelie later dropped a pass.

TE Alge Crumpler, Rec: 2 - 16 - 0 (4 targets)

Vick’s favorite receiver was targeted only four times and caught only two passes. One of his targets was a dropped pass, but would have resulted in only a small gain.

TE Dwayne Blakley (1 targets)

Blakley’s lone target came in the midst of heavy traffic in the end zone. However, the pass was uncatchable out of bounds.

PK Morten Andersen 1 - 1 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 4 points

Andersen was perfect. He hit a short 21 yard field goal and his only extra point try.

ATL Rush Defense

The Falcons held the Ravens to just seven first half rushing yards. However, the Ravens had 96 rushing yards after halftime. 79 of Jamal Lewis’ 91 yards came after halftime. Lewis also ran for all three Baltimore touchdowns.

Demorrio Williams had nine solo tackles and eight assists. Keith Brooking added six solo stops with seven assists.

ATL Pass Defense

Steve McNair completed almost 71 percent of his passes for 236 yards. Atlanta sacked McNair twice. The Ravens turned the ball over once, when McNair fumbled a snap and Michael Boley recovered it. Paul Carrington and Josh Mallard each had sacks.

QB Steve McNair, Pass: 24 - 34 - 236 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 3 - -2 - 0

McNair had a solid, but unspectacular day. He completed nearly 71 percent of his passes for 236 yards. McNair spread his completions to eight different receivers. His long completion was a nicely thrown 42 yard pass to Mark Clayton. McNair was responsible for Baltimore’s only turnover, when he fumbled a snap that likely cost the Ravens points.

RB Jamal Lewis, Rush: 22 - 91 - 3, Rec: 3 - 17 - 0 (3 targets)

The Atlanta defense shut Lewis down in the first half. Lewis gained only 12 yards on six attempts before halftime. It was a different story after halftime as Lewis gained 79 yards on 16 attempts and had three touchdowns. Lewis struggled when the line failed to open running lanes and he had to try to stop and change direction. However, if he was given a sufficient crease, he was able to show some quickness and gain ample positive yardage.

Lewis caught all three of his targets for a total of 17 yards. One of the receptions resulted in a five yard gain to the Falcon three yard line on a fourth and one play. Lewis’ quick cutback made the first defender miss and prolonged the drive. Lewis would plunge in from the two three plays later.

RB Musa Smith, Rush: 5 - 19 - 0, Rec: 3 - 12 - 0 (3 targets)

Smith had five rushes for 19 yards. Smith's final three carries came at the end of the game. He gained four, three, and six yards on the runs. The six yard gain converted a fourth and four play with 1:11 left on and enabled the Ravens to run out the clock.

Smith, who typically serves as the third down back, caught three passes for 12 yards.

RB Ovie Mughelli, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (2 targets)

Mughelli, the fullback, caught both of his targets for a total of 14 yards.

RB Mike Anderson

Anderson played in the game, but had no carries or targets.

WR Mark Clayton, Rush: 1 - -5 - 0, Rec: 5 - 89 - 0 (8 targets)

Clayton was McNair’s most targeted wide receiver and led the Ravens with 89 receiving yards. 42 of those yards came on one reception on a nicely thrown McNair deep pass. Clayton was targeted deep down the right sideline, but could only get one hand on the pass. However, the play resulted in a pass interference call. Clayton also dropped a pass in the game.

Clayton lined up a couple of times in the backfield and had one rushing attempt. The Falcon defense was not fooled and stopped Clayton for a five yard loss.

WR Derrick Mason, Rec: 3 - 28 - 0 (5 targets)

Mason had a mostly quiet game. His three catches netted 28 yards. Mason almost made another catch, but the tip of the ball touched the ground and the pass was ruled incomplete.

WR Demetrius Williams, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (2 targets)

Williams caught one seven yard pass. McNair attempted to hit him in the end zone on his other target, but the pass was out of bounds.

TE Todd Heap, Rec: 6 - 62 - 0 (10 targets)

Heap was McNair’s favorite target on the day and led the team with six receptions. McNair missed an open Heap deep down the middle of the field on a lay that could have resulted in a long gain. Heap was also targeted in the back of the end zone, but was overthrown.

TE Daniel Wilcox, Rec: 1 - 7 - 0 (2 targets)

Wilcox had one reception for seven yards. Wilcox suffered a hamstring injury in the first half and did not return.

PK Matt Stover 1 - 2 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points

Stover pushed a 42 yard field goal attempt wide left in the first quarter. Prior to the miss, he had converted 36 consecutive field goal attempts. Stover converted a 29 yard field goal attempt in the third quarter and hit all three of his extra point tries.

BAL Rush Defense

The Falcons entered the game leading the NFL with just under 199 rushing yards per game. The Baltimore run defense played well in limiting the Falcons to 104 yards. The Ravens held Warrick Dunn to 52 yard on 15 carries. Michael Vick added 54 yards on six runs. Atlanta struggled to maintain drives and lost the time of possession battle by more than 13 minutes.

BAL Pass Defense

Michael Vick passed for only 127 yards in the game with one touchdown pass. Vick completed just over 50 percent of his passes, but was held to only one 49 yard completion in the second half. The Raven defense put pressure on Vick throughout the game, especially in the second half, when they sacked him four times. Former Clemson standout, Trevor Pryce had two sacks, while Samari Rolle, Terrell Suggs, and Kelly Gregg each contributed sacks.