FRANCHISE ALL-TIME TOUCHDOWN LEADERS
Falcons wide receiver Roddy White moved into first place on the franchise’s all-time touchdown list with a 4-yard touchdown reception against Pittsburgh Sunday.
1. Roddy White 62
2. Michael Turner 61
3. Terance Mathis 57
4. Andre Rison 56
5. Gerald Riggs 48
Roddy White is not ready to celebrate his franchise record.
That may come later but certainly not after a loss.
White caught a four-yard touchdown pass in the fourth quarter, the last score in the Falcons’ 27-20 loss to the Steelers Sunday at the Georgia Dome. The reception made him the franchise all-time leader for touchdowns with 62. He moved out of a tie with former running back Michael Turner.
“It didn’t mean anything because we didn’t win,” White said. “You are judged in this league on wins and losses. That is all that matters.”
Maybe someday he can reflect, but not now.
“I’ll look back on it at the end of the season,” White said. “The records, they will come into play then. This playoff push is all that I care about.”
A playoff push indeed.
Despite the loss, the Falcons (5-9) control their playoff fate. Win their final two games – at the Saints and versus the Panthers – and the Falcons win the lowly NFC South and host a first-round playoff game.
The Falcons played without Julio Jones on Sunday. The NFL’s leading receiver in yards entering Sunday was held out with a hip injury. The Falcons got big contributions from Harry Douglas, Devin Hester and White. The Falcons threw for 310 yards against the Steelers pressure defense. Douglas had 10 receptions for 131 yards. Hester had five catches for 85 yards and a touchdown. White caught seven passes for 58 yards and his record-breaking touchdown.
“I’m probably closer to Roddy than I am with anyone else in the organization, so being with him for seven years has been special,” Douglas said. I watched him while I was in college and it’s been a tremendous blessing for me to be around him. He’s done a great job and he’s taught me a lot. We learn from each other and he 100 percent deserves everything he’s accomplished here.”
All of White’s career touchdowns have been receptions. Matt Ryan has been on the other end of 51 of the 62 scoring passes.
“I’m happy for Roddy personally,” Ryan said. “It’s a testament to the kind of player he’s been for a long time. He’s been very consistent for the seven years I’ve been here and before that. Hopefully, he’ll continue to add on to that.”
Still, it’s the Falcons poor play this season that most concerns White, especially in the red zone. The Falcons were 2 of 4 in the red zone Sunday, including settling for a 22-yard field goal when they had a second-and-goal situation from the 2-yard line in the third quarter. With two games remaining, there is so much to play for.
There still might be reason for excitement.
“It is (strange),” White said of the division standings. “Usually in our division somebody wins 12 or 13 games that comes out of our division. This year hasn’t been that way. We are in a great position. I’m not going to complain about the position we are in. We win our next two games, we play at home in the playoffs. I’ll be excited about that.”
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