White passes 1,000 in receiving yards

San Diego — On his second reception Sunday Falcons wide receiver Roddy White eclipsed the 1,000-yard receiving mark for the second consecutive season.

White entered the game with 973 yards receiving. He had a 19-yard catch followed by a 9-yard to push him over. He finished with six receptions for 112 yards in the 22-16 victory over San Diego. White now had 68 receptions and 1,085 yards this season.

“It’s a good thing as long as we keep winning games, everything is a good thing,” White said.

White became the first Falcons receiver with back-to-back 1,000-yards season since 1998-1999 when Terance Mathis accomplished the feat

It was also White’s sixth 100-yard receiving game of the season and is now on pace to set the franchise record in receiving yards. Alfred Jenkins holds the franchise mark of 1,358 sent in 1981.

“I’m going to go out there and continue to do my job and hopefully I get more than that,” White said. “Hopefully I’ll get 1,400 or 1,500 yards.”

Peelle’s TD grab

Tight end Justin Peelle caught a 18-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter. Quarterback Matt Ryan threaded the needle on the pass, dropping the ball to Peelle in between several defenders.

“It was a perfect pass,” Peelle said. “It was an unbelievable throw.”

Offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey wasn’t too particular about Peelle’s route.

“I ran a horrible route,” Peelle said. “But the ball was in the air and I went up and got it. I got told by the coordinator that it was a horrible route, but a great catch.”

Bobbled punt return

Punt returner Harry Douglas, after fumbling a punt that lead to a San Diego touchdown, came back with a 32-yard return on his next return.

Goal-line stand

With an eight-point lead Falcons head coach Mike Smith elected to go for it on fourth down and not kick the field goal late in the second quarter.

Michael Turner tried to power off the left side, but was stopped short by San Diego’s Tim Dobbins and Brandon Siler.

“The decision I thought was easy,” Smith said. “I have a lot of confidence in us getting a fourth-and-one.”

No TD passes

San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers entered the game with 23 touchdown passes, one behind Arizona’s Kurt Warner. He was held without a touchdown pass for the first time this season.

Irons plays heads up

After the Falcons went up 13-7, the Chargers tried to pull some trickery on the kickoff return. Darren Sproles ran to his right and gave the ball to Legedu Naanee on a reverse.

Cornerback David Irons was not fooled and dropped Naanee for a loss at the Chargers’ 8-yard line.

On third down, John Abraham steamrolled San Diego left tackle Marcus McNeill, of Auburn and Cedar Grove High, and forced an intentional grounding penalty on Rivers, who was attempting to throw from the end zone. A safety was enforced to make it 15-7.

The safety was the Falcons first since Dec. 12, 2005 when Antwan Lake recorded a safety against New Orleans.

Jackson update

Defensive tackle Grady Jackson is expected to receive notice from the league on Tuesday about his four-game suspension for a violation of the league’s steroid policy.

Jackson appealed the decision and appeared before league officials on Nov. 21 to state his case.

Next week’s game against the Saints could be altered. They have three players — running back Deuce McAllister, defensive ends Charles Grant and Will Smith — facing suspensions.

Also, Minnesota defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams and Houston long snapper Bryan Pittman are facing suspension.

Baker could be back

Rookie offensive tackle Sam Baker said he expects to play next week against New Orleans.

Baker, who had a discectomy on Oct. 28 to improve his lower back and has missed the last five games.