Turner picking up yards, first downs

Flowery Branch — Running back Michael Turner is piling up the rushing yards with 1,088 and picking up the first downs.

Turner ranks fifth in the NFC with 56 first downs, all of which have come on the ground. Turner has also converted 6-of-8 third down-and-one rushing opportunities for first downs.

Turner trials Washington’s Clinton Portis (69), Dallas’ Marion Barber (65), Chicago’s Matt Forte (59) and Minnesota’s Adrian Peterson (57)

“He’s been unbelievable,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “To be able to turn around [and] hand the ball off to him with all that he’s capable of doing, is huge.”

Ryan credits Turner and the run game with helping his development.

“He takes a lot of pressure off our passing game,” Ryan said.

White on a streak

Wide receiver Roddy White is closing in on his second straight 1,000-yard receiving season. He’s 27 yards short of 1,000 and has 62 catches this season.

White has a chance to become the first Falcons receiver to post back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns since 1998 and ‘99.

White is doing it at all levels. He’s getting open on deep, intermediate and short routes.

He had a 30-yard reception last week against Carolina, which marked his 11th reception of 20 yards or more this season.

Last season, White finished with 1,202 receiving yards, becoming the first Falcons receiver since Terance Mathis in 1999 to top the 1,000-yard receiving mark. White also established numerous career-highs in receptions (83), yards (1,202) and touchdowns (six) while posting five 100-yard games.

Strarting fast

The Falcons have outscored the opposition 88-24 in the first quarter. They lead the league in first-quarter points.

The New York Giants (78) and New York Jets (78) are second.