Devin Hester set an NFL record with his 20th career return for a touchdown as the Falcons routed the Buccaneers, 56-14. The AJC's D. Orlando Ledbetter reports from the Georgia Dome.
Some notes from the 56-14 win over the Bucs:
--The Falcons scored the second-most points in a single game in franchise history. Atlanta’s 56 points was the most in a game since scoring 51 points against the Carolina Panthers in 1998. The Falcons’ club record of 62 points came against the New Orleans Saints in 1973.
--WR Devin Hester broke Pro Football Hall of Famer and former Atlanta Falcon CB Deion Sanders’ NFL record for return touchdowns with a 62-yard punt return touchdown in the second quarter. Hester has returned 14 punts, five kickoffs, and one blocked field goal for touchdowns. His 14 punt returns are also an NFL record.
--QB Matt Ryan also had a record breaking night completing 21 of 24 passes for 286 yards with three touchdowns and a career high 155.9 passer rating. Ryan’s 87.5 completion percentage and his 155.9 quarterback rating set new single-game franchise records. Ryan previously shared the club record for completion percentage with QB Steve Bartkowski at 85.7. He broke QB Wade Wilson’s single game QB rating mark of 154.5.
--Atlanta’s 21 first-quarter points was tied for most in the first quarter in team history. Thursday night was the fifth time the Falcons have scored 21 points in the first quarter. The last time was Jan. 1, 2012 against the Buccaneers at the Georgia Dome.
--WR Julio Jones caught nine passes for 161 yards with two touchdowns. Jones recorded the sixth multi-touchdown game of his career, and his 161-yard output was the second highest single-game yardage total of his career (regular season). Jones posted 182 yards against the St. Louis Rams last season and notched 182 yards against the San Francisco 49ers in the 2012 NFC Championship Game.
--RB Steven Jackson punched in a one-yard touchdown for his first score of the season and the 63rd rushing touchdown of his career. Jackson has scored seven rushing touchdowns as a Falcon. He has 72 total touchdowns which ranks tied for the seventh most among active players.
--RB Antone Smith had a 38 yard touchdown run in the third quarter. The score was Smith’s second of the season and the fourth of his career. All four of his touchdowns have been 38 yards-or-longer.
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