3 keys to the Falcons loss to the Eagles

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Quick hits

Three keys to the game

1. Backup quarterback Chris Redman was not accurate against the Eagles. He opened the first series a little wild with a low pass into the turf and then a high one. It didn't help that Redman didn't have much of a rushing attack or that Eagles were blitzing relentlessly. When the Eagles took a 20-0 lead in the third quarter and Redman had to pass, Eagles cornerback Sheldon Brown sat down on a out route, picked off an interception and returned it 83 yards for a touchdown. Redman was later intercepted by former Georgia standout Sean Jones in the fourth quarter, which sent the fans to the exits.

2.  With Michael Turner out, the Falcons running game was nonexistent. Jerious Norwood and Jason Snelling both had eight carries each in the first half but could not find much room to operate. (Snelling had 23 yards and Norwood had 13.) Later with a first and-goal at the Eagles' 7-yard line, Snelling couldn't punch it into the end zone on four straight runs, stopped short on the final carry on a fourth-and-goal call from the 2-yard line. Snelling finished with 35 yards on 10 carries and Norwood had 18 on 11 carries. The Falcons failed to crack the 100-yard mark for the third straight game.

3. The Falcons opened the game with five starters on the sidelines in red team shirts and black warmups. Quarterback Matt Ryan, running back Michael Turner, wide receiver Michael Jenkins, right guard Harvey Dahl and left tackle Sam Baker were all declared inactive. During the game, the Falcons forces' were depleted even more. Center Todd McClure (knee), tight end Justin Peelle (concussion), cornerback Christopher Owens (arm), cornerback Chris Owens (hamstring), linebacker Tony Gilbert (hamstring) all left the game.

By the numbers

5

Number of offensive starters out for the Falcons, matching the number of completions Chris Redman had in the first half.

2

Michael Vick's carries in the first quarter.

11

Redman made his 11th career start.

20

Passes thrown to Roddy White. He caught nine for 104 yards and a touchdown.

56.5

Redman's quarterback rating, after having an 89.8 rating in relief of Ryan last week against Tampa Bay.

Etc.

• Chris Redman made his first start since the season finale against Seattle in 2007.

• Tight end Tony Gonzalez extended his streak of consecutive games with a reception to 143 when he caught a 7-yard pass late in the second quarter.
• In the third quarter, Gonzalez caught his fifth pass and set the franchise's single-season reception mark for tight ends. Gonzalez, who now has 69 receptions, topped Alge Crumpler’s old record of 66 which he set in 2005.

• Newly signed field goal kicker Matt Bryant had no field goal attempts.

• Rookie defensive end Lawrence Sidbury made his first career sack. "It kind of happened so fast," Sidbury said. "I've been chasing that since I first got here. Getting that first sack was kind of indescribable."

Injury report

• Linebacker Tony Gilbert suffered a hamstring injury and did not return to the game.
• Tight end Justin Peelle suffered a concussion and did not return.
• Center Todd McClure suffered a knee injury and did not return.
• Cornerback Chris Houston suffered a hamstring injury and did not return.
• Cornerback Christopher Owens suffered a shoulder injury but did return.

D. Orlando Ledbetter