UPDATE: Here's the link to the game column (subscription).

The Falcons’ survived. Not sure how much more we can say about this team right now.

After dropping their season opener in New Orleans, the Falcons rebounded with a 31-24 win over the St. Louis Rams Sunday at the Georgia Dome.

It wasn’t an overwhelming performance. The Falcons built a 24-3 lead, primarily on two big plays – an 81-yard touchdown catch by wide receiver Julio Jones and a 68-yard interception return by Osi Umenyiora (after the pass went off the hands of running back Daryl Richardson). But they wore down from injuries, losing five starters (Steven Jackson and Bradie Ewing on offense; Asante Samuel, Sean Weatherspoon and Kroy Biermann on defense). Wide receiver Roddy White played but again was limited by his high ankle sprain.

As the Falcons’ offense sputtered -- with four straight punts and three three-and-outs to open the second half – the Rams rallied with two touchdowns to narrow the lead to 24-17. But quarterback Matt Ryan completed eight straight passes on the ensuing drive, including three to Julio Jones, and third-string running back Jason Snelling busted up the middle for an 11-yard touchdown run with just over six minutes left to make it a two-score game again.

Overwhelming? No. But the Falcons will take it under the circumstances.

 I’ll be back with my column on the game later. Until then, here are my three “Short Takes” off the game:

1. O-LINE BETTER … FOR A WHILE: The Falcons’ maligned offensive line took a lot of abuse in media (and presumably from coaches) after last week’s loss at New Orleans. Some criticism also came from inside the locker room. NFL.com’s Michael Silver quoted an unnamed Falcon as saying “our linemen are punks,” referencing the fact that nobody quickly moved in to aid quarterback Matt Ryan after he was hit late in the Saints’ game. Protection started out better against St. Louis, which has a superior front four to the Saints. Some of the credit can be attributed to the play-calling, as offensive coordinator called a number of screens and quick-passing plays to neutralize the pass rush from the Rams’ front four. But St. Louis started to get to Ryan in the second half and the Falcons’ running game was non-existent without Steven Jackson (injured early).

2. DEFENSE -- FEH: The Falcons had some early defensive success, holding the Rams to a field goal until late in the third quarter. But it was difficult to tell how much of that could be attributed to self-inflicted wounds from the Rams: penalties and dropped passes, including one that led to Osi Umenyiora’s interception and return for a touchdown. Injuries were an obvious factor. The Falcons lost three starters Asante Samuel, Sean Weatherspoon and Kroy Biermann. Credit safety William Moore and backup linebacker Joplo Bartu with strong games.

 3.  JULIO JONES, THE SAVIOR: If Julio Jones is healthy, I would take his side in any debate about who's the best wide receiver in the NFL. Jones finished with 11 catches for 182 yards and a touchdown, including an 81-yarder that saw him make the St. Louis Rams pay for a foolish decision to single cover him. Without Roddy White limited by a high ankle sprain and running back Steven Jackson leaving early with a thigh injury, Jones was the lone major threat on the Falcons' offense -- and the Rams' defense still couldn't contain him. He also had three catches on the Falcons' last key scoring drive that made it 31-17.