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| Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images |
| Falcons rookie QB Matt Ryan passed for 161 yards and a TD in his debut. |
It was over when ...
The Lions were forced to punt with just over six minutes remaining. Detroit failed to demonstrate it could stop Atlanta's offense all day and the trend continued to end the game. The Falcons got first down after first down and ran the clock out, preventing the Lions from even having a chance for a miracle comeback.
Game ball
In his first game as a starter, Falcons RB Michael Turner broke the franchise record for rushing yards in a single game with 220. He added two touchdowns for good measure and showed he is fully capable of handling starting duty after being a backup in San Diego during his first four seasons.
Key stat
The story of this game was the Falcons' explosiveness on offense. They averaged an impressive 8.3 yards per offensive play and had at least one lengthy gain on seemingly every drive. In the first eight minutes of the game, the Falcons had scored two touchdowns measuring over 60 yards.
Noteworthy
Falcons rookie Matt Ryan became the first quarterback to throw a TD pass on his initial NFL attempt since New England's Michael Bishop accomplished the feat against Indianpolis on Oct. 8, 2000. ... Despite leaving the game for a brief period with a minor injury, Falcons DE John Abraham still finished with three sacks. ... In his first game as a Falcon after 15 years in Denver, place-kicker Jason Elam was 2-for-2, including a 50-yarder. ... Lions LB Ernie Sims left with an ankle injury and did not return. ... Detroit rookie RB Kevin Smith rushed for 48 yards and a TD in his NFL debut.
