Keys to Falcons' win over the Jets

By D. Orlando Ledbetter

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

1. The battle of the top quarterbacks taken in the last two drafts was won by the Falcons' Matt Ryan. In his first game back since suffering a turf toe injury on Nov. 29, Ryan, the No. 3 pick of the 2008 draft, was clearly rusty and had trouble throwing into the swirling winds at Giants Stadium. Ryan shook off the bad day and completed 6 of 9 passes for 37 yards on the game-winning drive. He tossed a 6-yard touchdown pass to tight end Tony Gonzalez with 1:38 left. Sanchez, the fifth pick in the 2009 draft, had a good game going but threw three interceptions. His 65-yard touchdown pass to Braylon Edwards in the first quarter was a thing of beauty.

2. The Falcons defense did a good job on priority No. 1, which was stopping Jets running back Thomas Jones and the league's top-rated rushing offense. The Jets entered the day averaging 169.1 yards per game. Jones was held to 52 yards on 19 carries. The Jets had to resort to running the option with Brad Smith, the former Missouri quarterback, who plays wide receiver. Overall, the Falcons limited the Jets to 99 yards rushing. Only one back, New England's Fred Taylor, has rushed for more that 100 yards on the Falcons defense this season. The defense has now held opponents to less than 100 ground yards in four of the last five games.

3. Winning on third down was critical for the Falcons. The Jets has been awfully tough on third downs during their 3-game winning streak, which the Falcons snapped. They entered the game with 24 consecutive stops on third down. That streak was stopped at 25 when the Falcons picked up a first down on their second opportunity of the afternoon.  The Falcons converted two of their first three third downs and then hit a drought. Through three quarters, the converted just 3 of 11 times on third down. But they finished the game converting on 7 of 18 third downs (39%), including 2 of 3 during the game-winning touchdown drive. The Falcons scored the game-winning touchdown on fourth down.

By the numbers

• 69.7 -- Quarterback Matt Ryan's quarterback rating.

• 3 -- The Falcons secondary came up with three interceptions. Safety Thomas DeCoud and cornerback Brent Grimes both had picks in the first half and Grimes sealed the game with his second of the day, coming with 1:05 to pay.

• 7 -- Number of receivers who caught passes from quarterback Matt Ryan.

• 152 -- Yards that Matt Ryan was able to pass for in a gusty day at Giants Stadium.

• 82 -- Tight end Tony Gonzalez had three catches for 32 yards and the game-winning touchdown, which was the 82nd of his career.

• 88 -- Defensive end John Abraham had his first sack since the fourth game of the season. He now has 88 career sacks.

Etc.

• Defensive end Chauncey Davis blocked a field goal attempt in the fourth quarter and Kroy Biermann recovered the ball and returned it seven yards to give the Falcons possession on their 27 with 4:27 left in the game.

• Wide receiver Roddy White finished with four catches for 33 yards in his showdown with Jets cornerback Darrelle Revis.

• The Falcons offensive line did not allow a sack.

Injury report

• Running back Michael Turner left the game after playing on two snaps. He had one carry for 7 yards. Jets safety Jim Leonhard hit Turner's ankle with his helmet.

• Safety Antoine Harris, the team's top special teams player, suffered a knee injury in the second quarter and did not return.

• Running back Jerious Norwood suffered a knee injury in the first quarter, but returned to finish the game.