The Atlanta Falcons' record book contains some great individual performances -- a few set during last season’s Super Bowl run.
The team is aiming for its fifth division title in the 15 seasons since the NFL realignment in 2002 that put them in the NFC South.
Reigning league MVP Matt Ryan can become the second player in NFL history to pass for at least 4,000 yards in six consecutive season. (The first was New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees.)
Ryan reached 4,944 passing yards last year in part to one stellar performance against the Carolina Panthers. Here’s where that performance and others chart in Falcons history:
Rushing yards: 220, by Michael Turner
Falcons running back gained record yardage in the 2008 season opener against the Detroit Lions. His longest run was a 66-yard touchdown in the first quarter of a 34-21 win. (This was Matt Ryan's first game.)
Passing yards: 503, by Matt Ryan
The Falcons set a couple of records during this Sunday afternoon matchup agains the Carolina Panthers at the Georgia Dome. Ryan completed 28 of 37 attempts to nine receivers in a 48-33 win.
Passing touchdowns: 5, by Wade Wilson
Four receivers -- Deion Sanders, Michael Haynes, Mike Pritchard and Andre Rison -- caught scoring passes from Wilson on a cool day in a 35-7 win over Tampa Bay on Dec. 13, 1992, at Tampa Stadium.
Pass receptions: 15, by William Andrews
Credit: Michael Pugh
Credit: Michael Pugh
Falcons' running back caught 15 passes -- the longest for 20 yards -- from Steve Bartkowski for 124 yards against the Pittsburgh Steelers Nov. 15, 1981, at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium.
Receiving yards: 300, by Julio Jones
On same day Matt Ryan threw for a record 503 yards on Oct. 12, 2016, Jones caught 12 of those passes for a record setting mark. The longest was a 75-yard touchdown in the third quarter.
Interceptions: 2, by Robert Alford
Several Falcons have made 2 interceptions in a game, the last was Alford against the Carolina Panthers at the Georgia Dome on Oct. 12, 2016. Alford returned a Derek Anderson pass intended for Greg Olsen 30 yards for a touchdown.
Field goals: 6, by Norm Johnson
Johnson's kicks -- of 23, 33, 33, 31, 48 and 30 yards -- provided most of the Falcons' scoring in a close game at the Louisiana Superdome on Nov. 13, 1994, against the New Orleans Saints. Johnsons' last three field goals came in the fourth quarter. The Falcons lost 33-32 (on a field goal). Concidentally, the opposing kicker was Morten Andersen, who joined the Falcons the following season.
Touchdowns: 4, by T.J. Duckett
Falcons' running back had scoring runs of 28, 2, 4 and 1 yards against the Los Angeles Raiders Dec. 12, 2004, at the Georgia Dome. Michael Turner matched the feat on Nov. 23, 2008, against the Panthers.
Sacks: 5.0, by Chuck Smith
Credit: ANDREW J. COHOON
Credit: ANDREW J. COHOON
The Falcons' defense notched 10 sacks against the New Orleans Saints on Oct. 12, 1997. Chuck Smith, a defensive end (90), had half of them over quarterbacks Danny Wuerffel and Heath Shuler. (Sacks became an official stat in 1982.)
