SportsDirect Inc. staff
Sep 18, 2012
Falcons 27, Broncos 21: Matt Ryan tossed a pair of touchdown passes - including the 100th of his career - and Atlanta took advantage of four first-quarter turnovers to upend Peyton Manning and Denver at the Georgia Dome.
Manning was intercepted on the Broncos' first three possessions and Knowshon Moreno fumbled on their fifth as the Falcons (2-0) scored the game's first 20 points.
Veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez gave Atlanta its 20-0 advantage late in the second half after reeling in a 1-yard score on a crossing route for his 97th career touchdown. After Denver's Demaryius Thomas made a brilliant catch for a 17-yard score 14 seconds before halftime, Ryan connected with Roddy White just inside the pylon for a 4-yard score on the first drive of the third quarter.
Willis McGahee kept the Broncos (1-1) within striking distance after rushing for 113 yards and a pair of 2-yard touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Ryan, who completed 24 of 36 passes for 219 yards, found Julio Jones to convert a key third-and-5 right before the two-minute warning to effectively end the game.
Michael Turner made Manning pay for his first interception, which safety William Moore returned to the 1-yard line. Turner jumped over the pile on his third attempt to give Atlanta a quick 7-0 lead 1:40 into the contest.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Free safety Thomas DeCoud and reserve cornerback Robert McLain also intercepted Manning and Moreno's fumble with 2 seconds left in the first quarter resulted in Matt Bryant's second field goal. ... Manning recorded his third career three-interception quarter - with the last one coming nearly five years ago against San Diego. Ironically, brother Eli was also picked three times - albeit in the second quarter - in the New York Giants' 41-34 victory over Tampa Bay on Sunday. ... Atlanta snapped a six-game losing skid on Monday nights, winning for the first time since a 36-17 triumph over NFC South rival New Orleans on Dec. 12, 2005.