Falcons Vs. Chargers Recap: Undefeated Atlanta Rises Up To NFL Summit

The Falcons laid a 27-3 beatdown on the Chargers in Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday. They're playing pretty well.

Falcons Vs. Chargers: Matt Ryan Appreciates Play Of Offensive Line

The Atlanta Falcons have gotten off to a great start in 2012, led by quarterback Matt Ryan. Ryan has completed 72% of his throws through the first three games, and has eight touchdown passes against just one interception. After Sunday's win over the Chargers, Ryan spoke about the support he's gotten from his offensive line and how that's helped him play well:

"Our offensive line has done a great job. We've dropped back and thrown the ball quite a bit and I really haven't been hit too much. When you have those things going on around you, it helps you play fast, make good decisions and feel confident and a quarterback."

Related: Julio Jones Has Laceration On Hand: Hasn't Cared Yet

While the Falcons rank just 15th in passing yards per game, they're third in points scored per game. They face the Carolina Panthers in Week 4.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more comprehensive coverage, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Vs. Chargers: Michael Turner Happy To Play In San Diego

Michael Turner had a roller coaster of a week. Turner helped lead the Atlanta Falcons past the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football, but then was pulled over early Tuesday morning for driving under the influence.

Turner, who played on Sunday in Atlanta's win over San Diego, was happy to return back to San Diego -- where he began his professional career.

"This was probably the best place for me to be, in San Diego," Turner said. "Getting out here early, I got a chance to see some old friends and just reflected on the good times. It brought back some good memories. This trip couldn't have come at a better time for me."

To his credit, Turner has owned up to his DUI, and has publicly apologized for his lack of discretion. Turner is fortunate to not have hurt anybody, or himself, last Tuesday morning.

Still, it's good that Turner was able to clear his head, and get in a good place mentally again.

For more on the Falcons, check out The Falcoholic and join the discussion.

Thomas DeCoud Huge In Win Over Chargers

The Atlanta Falcons defeated the San Diego Chargers on Sunday with little trouble, and a big reason for that was safety Thomas DeCoud, who intercepted two passes and recovered a fumble. Fellow safety William Moore also recovered a fumble.

"That's one of the things William and I have taken to heart as safeties, especially in this new system," said DeCoud. "You've got to get the ball back, and we have a lot of opportunities to do that. It's evident in our play right now."

Related: Julio Jones Has Laceration On Hand: Hasn't Cared Yet

With help from the four takeaways, the Atlanta defense was able to limit San Diego to just three points and 280 total yards. The Chargers possessed the ball for just 23:46, which put added pressure on their defense.

The 3-0 Falcons face the Carolina Panthers in Week 4.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more comprehensive coverage, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Vs. Chargers: Tony Gonzalez Used A Gameday Magazine As Motivation

Tony Gonzalez led the Atlanta Falcons in receiving on Sunday in San Diego, as he had a team-high 12 targets and nine receptions, totaling 91 yards and a touchdown.

As if winning weren't enough motivation for an NFL player, Gonzalez had a little extra on Sunday morning when he arrived at Qualcomm Stadium:

Upon his arrival at Qualcomm Stadium for Sunday's game against the Chargers, Atlanta tight end Tony Gonzalez saw a Gameday magazine sitting at the foot of his locker room stall.

"I see the cover and it says, ‘Antonio Gates is the standard by which all tight ends are measured.' That gets me going a little bit and makes me want to go out there and play the best I can."

Mike Smith should consider Photoshopping gameday magazines and dropping them at Gonzalez's locker each week if it'll help his tight end play like he did on Sunday.

The 36-year-old Gonzalez now has 21 receptions on the season, for 214 yards and three touchdowns.

The Falcons play host to the Carolina Panthers next Sunday, in an NFC South showdown.

For more on the Falcons, check out The Falcoholic.

Falcons Vs. Chargers: Mike Smith Teams Stay Perfect On The West Coast

The Atlanta Falcons created a lot of turnovers last Monday night – four in the first quarter, to be exact - en route to a win over the Denver Broncos. However, Atlanta wasn't able to consistently find the end zone off of takeaways and failed to put Denver out of reach. They didn't have that problem against San Diego, taking a Ryan Matthews fumble inside the Atlanta 3-yard-line and going 17 plays for a touchdown before the half that shut down the Chargers for the rest of the day.

Mike Smith talked about the total team win after the Falcons' 27-3 victory:

"Well it's something that we've been working on and talking about because we have not done that as efficiently as we'd like. I thought that we had a real good grasp of how we were going to attack them. We wanted to go Into this game early on throwing the football and we were able to do that. I thought our quarterback distributed extremely well. We liked some of the looks that we got especially in that no huddle and he was able to deliver the ball to the proper player."

Smith's Atlanta teams are now 6-0 on the west coast, a stat that's garnered a lot of attention, but one that Smith has repeatedly downplayed. Still, the Falcons haven't lost in the Pacific Time Zone since Smith took over the team in 2008, including a pair of wins in notoriously loud and inhospitable Seattle:

"I know people ask about coming out here to the west coast and why we've had the success we've had. We've had the success because our guys come out here and play good football. There's no magic to it. We rave a plan in place in terms of how we want our guys to prepare for the game both physically and mentally and it's worked for us. The guys do a great job preparing their bodies and preparing their minds."

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more comprehensive coverage, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Vs. Chargers 2012: Is Atlanta The Best Team In The NFL?

It's a good Monday to be an Atlanta Falcons fan, as the 3-0 "Dirty Birds" are fast becoming considered one of the best teams in the NFL. SB Nation Falcons blog The Falcoholic has an excited – and exhaustive – review of yesterday's all-phases 27-3 win over the Chargers. Click here for the full skinny, including praise for the no-name superstar secondary of William Moore and Thomas DeCoud:

From the first snap of the game, the Falcons dominated. They led the entire game, never really allowed the Chargers to climb back into it and made a number of eye-popping plays. They sacked Rivers, picked Rivers, shut down Rivers' receivers, held Ryan Mathews in check and ran roughshod over the Chargers on the ground and through the air. The final score isn't even close to telling the story, because it felt more like the Falcons were winning 50-0 after the half.

Predictably, Chargers blog Bolts From The Blue is focused on San Diego's inability to gameplan against Ryan and the Falcon offense, but they did provide some lofty praise for Atlanta:

Oh, yeah, and the Atlanta Falcons are a really good football team. They might be the best team in the NFL. Their weakness at stopping the run doesn't matter because their offense can't be stopped and their pass rush can prevent any comeback against them. If they play this way every week, I don't know a team that can beat them.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more comprehensive coverage, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Injury Report: WR Julio Jones Plays Through Minor Hand Injury

The Atlanta Falcons escaped Week 3 without any major injuries, though wide receiver Julio Jones hurt a hand on the first drive of the game. Jones left briefly to get the hand checked out and was able to return to the game and contribute. He finished the day with five catches for 67 yards and a score.

Related: Falcons Vs. Chargers Final Score: Matt Ryan Leads Atlanta To 27-3 Victory

Since he was able to return and complete Sunday's game, he figures to be good to go for Atlanta's Week 4 game against the Carolina Panthers. Roddy White was nursing a minor knee injury heading into the Chargers game, but he was able to fully participate in the contest.

Cornerback Christopher Owens and running back Antone Smith both missed Sunday's game because of injuries.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more comprehensive coverage, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Vs. Chargers Final Score: Matt Ryan Leads Atlanta To 27-3 Victory

The Atlanta Falcons dominated the San Diego Chargers in a 27-3 win on Sunday. With the victory, the Falcons remain undefeated on the young season and record back-to-back wins against AFC West Division teams.

Atlanta just celebrated a 27-21 win over the Denver Broncos at the Georgia Dome on Monday Night Football. This game, the Chargers weren't nearly as competitive as they were against the Broncos.

Atlanta took a 20-0 lead into halftime Sunday. Matt Ryan found Jacquizz Rodgers down the middle of the field for an eight-yard touchdown, Atlanta's first of the game. In the second quarter, it was Ryan and veteran tight end Tony Gonzalez hooking up for a 7-yard score.

Julio Jones got in on the action at the end of the third quarter with a touchdown reception of his own. The second half wasn't quite as eventful. Nate Kaeding hit a 41-yard field goal to give the Chargers their only points of the game. Then, Michael Turner scored a touchdown on a seven-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Fantasy studs/duds: Matt Ryan and Tony Gonzalez weren't bad fantasy players Sunday. Ryan went 30 of 40 on his passes for 275 yards and three touchdowns. Gonzalez hauled in nine catches for 91 yards and a touchdown.

Odds/Gambling: The Chargers were actually supposed to win this game, according to the NFL Week 3 OddsShark chart, but San Diego failed to protect the home field.

Next team on the schedule: The Falcons face the Carolina Panthers next week. The Chargers hit the road to face the Kansas City Chiefs, who will be coming off a big come-from-behind win at the Superdome against the New Orleans Saints.

This story originally appeared on SBNation.com.

Falcons Vs. Chargers Update: Atlanta Still In Control 20-3 After Second DeCoud INT

The Falcons offense has stalled somewhat in the second half of this football game, but the defense has kept up their stifling performance.

Atlanta allowed the Chargers to put three points on the board after Philip Rivers led San Diego on a 12-play, 45 yard drive that ended in a Nate Kaeding field goal.

But just as Rivers was gaining momentum, Thomas DeCoud would pick off another pass, raising his forced turnover total to three on the day. The team's turnover differential stands at an impressive +10 on the season.

On offense, the Falcons have struggled to get much momentum going this half. But in the wake of Rivers' second mistake of the day, Matt Ryan is in business on the right side of midfield early in the fourth quarter.

Update: Ryan was intercepted in the end zone by Antoine Cason

For more in-depth coverage, visit our Falcons blog, The Falcoholic, as well as ourChargers blog, Bolts From The Blue. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Vs. Chargers Halftime Score: Matt Ryan, Thomas DeCoud Propel Atlanta To 20-0 Lead

The Falcons have continued to display their dominance over the Chargers as this game hits the halfway mark.

Matt Ryan currently has completed 22 of his 29 pass attempts for 208 yards and three touchdown passes. After finding Jacquizz Rodgers for a score early in the game, Ryan would connect with Tony Gonzalez and Julio Jones on scoring plays of seven and nine yards, respectively.

The offensive line has kept Ryan in an almost completely clean pocket, and Rodgers has shown some nice versatility carrying the ball (three for 13 yards) and catching out of the backfield (four receptions for 31 yards).

The Atlanta defense has been just as impressive, if not more. Thomas DeCoud is having himself a game already with a red zone fumble recovery and an interception under his belt.

They've limited Philip Rivers to only 87 yards through the air, Ryan Mathews has only managed 29 yards on seven carries, the Chargers have failed to put any points on the board.

Jones, who caught a touchdown pass with under a minute left in the half, is (obviously) back in the ball game and playing just fine. Stay tuned for second-half updates.

For more in-depth coverage, visit our Falcons blog, The Falcoholic, as well as ourChargers blog, Bolts From The Blue. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Vs. Chargers Update: Matt Ryan Hits Jacquizz Rodgers For Early TD

The Falcons have gotten off to another hot start this week as they face the Chargers on the road.

After electing to receive, Matt Ryan marched the Falcons offense down the field on an absolutely surgical ten play, 80-yard drive that was capped off by an eight-yard TD pass to Jacquizz Rodgers. Ryan would complet all seven of his pass attempts to five different receivers.

However, a botched snap on the extra point attempt would force Atlanta to settle for six points.

On defense, the Falcons have been dominant, forcing a quick Chargers exit on both of their possessions so far.

Like last week, Mike Nolan has really mixed things and employed some exotic blitz packages up front that have gotten great pressure. Philip Rivers is a mere three-of-seven for 17 yards at this point.

The only concern is that Julio Jones, who caught a 19-yard pass to open the game, left the game with an apparent hand injury and has yet to return. SB Nation will provide updates on Jones' status in this game. Stay tuned.

For more in-depth coverage, visit our Falcons blog, The Falcoholic, as well as ourChargers blog, Bolts From The Blue. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

NFL Inactive List, Week 3: Falcons Vs. Chargers: Joe Hawley, Cliff Matthews Out For Atlanta

San Diego Chargers running back Ronnie Brown is inactive for Sunday's game against the Atlanta Falcons. Brown is one of seven Chargers inactive; seven Falcons are also inactive.

Brown has nine rushes this season for 13 yards as the Chargers' backup to Ryan Mathews.

No starters are among the seven inactive Falcons: backup center Joe Hawley, fourth-string running back Antone Smith, third-string left tackle Lamar Holmes, third-string quarterback Dominique Davis, backup cornerback Chris Owens, third-string defensive end Jonathan Massaquoi, and third-string defensive end Cliff Matthews make up the list.

Despite being arrested earlier this week for driving under the influence, Falcons running back Michael Turner was listed as a starter Sunday.

For the Chargers, Brown and starting defensive tackle Antonio Garay are the most prominent inactives. The other five: backup left tackle Jared Gaither, fourth-string tight end Ladarius Green, backup strong safety Brandon Taylor, backup cornerback Shareece Wright and backup inside linebacker Jonas Mouton.

Chargers tight end Antonio Gates, who was listed as "probable" on the Chargers' injury report Friday, is active and expected to start Sunday.

For more in-depth coverage, visit our Falcons blog, The Falcoholic, as well as our Chargers blog, Bolts From The Blue. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

This post was originally published on SB Nation.

Falcons Vs. Chargers Preview: Injuries, Stats And Favoritism Out West

Falcons Vs. Chargers 2012: Game Preview, Kickoff Time, TV Schedule And More

The Atlanta Falcons meet the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday.

Falcons Vs. Chargers Injury Report: Julio Jones And Roddy White Both Probable, Ryan Matthews Expected To Play

The Atlanta Falcons are set to take on the San Diego Chargers on Sunday, and the Friday injury report holds good news for both teams. Falcons starting wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White are both expected to play. The Chargers will play without backup left tackle Jared Gaither and backup cornerback Shareece Wright, but starting running back Ryan Mathews is expected to play. Mathews has yet to see a snap in the 2012 season.

DNP = did not practice, LP = limited participation and FP = full participation

The complete Falcons injury report:

Out
RB Antone Smith - Hamstring - DNP
CB Christopher Owens - Head - DNP
Questionable
T Tyson Clabo - Hip - LP
LB Sean Weatherspoon - Thigh - LP
Probable
DE John Abraham - Knee - LP
WR Julio Jones - Thigh - LP
WR Roddy White - Knee - LP
LB Stephen Nicholas - Thigh - LP

The complete Chargers injury report:

Out
OT Jared Gaither - Back - DNP
CB Shareece Wright - Foot - DNP
Questionable
RB Ryan Mathews - Clavicle - FP
Probable
TE Antonio Gates - Ribs - FP
TE Dante Rosario - Calf - FP
WR/KR Eddie Royal - Shoulder - FP
RB Curtis Brinkley - Knee - FP

Stick with this StoryStream for more coverage from the Falcons vs. Chargers. For more insight and analysis, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic. For San Diego's perspective, head over to Chargers blog Bolts From The Blue.

Falcons Vs. Chargers: Robert McClain Finds Role In Atlanta Secondary

Atlanta Falcons cornerback Robert McClain went from being on the verge of being cut from the team to becoming a key player in the Falcons' defense in a short period of time. For those who don't think preseason matters, there's McClain proving how it can be a place where a man finds himself a job.

From there, it's been about contributing and consistently giving the Falcons a reason to keep him around. Veteran cornerback Dunta Robinson told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, essentially, that it's all about being opportunistic in this league.

McClain took his opportunity on Monday Night Football, lined up against Brandon Stokley and intercepted a pass thrown by Peyton Manning.

Here was head coach Mike Smith on McClain:

"Every time that he's gotten an opportunity to go out on the field, he's made something happen. He did that again [Monday]. He got in for a couple snaps, had the nice interception, nice return. He's a guy that's played a little bit in the league, but doesn't have a whole lot of game experience."

For updates on this matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more in-depth coverage, visit Falcons blog The Falcoholic as well as Chargers blog Bolts From The Blue. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Ray Edwards Fined For Skirmish Against Broncos

Atlanta Falcons defensive end Ray Edwards was fined $8,000 by the NFL for his part in the skirmish between the Falcons and Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football. So far, Edwards is the only one penalized out of a crew from both sides involved in the confrontation.

There was a six-minute delay late in the first quarter after a Broncos fumble, a period that saw an official get hit and coaches leaving the sideline to contest the situation.

Edwards was seen throwing punches during the skirmish and appeared to inadvertently hit one of the replacement referees in the process. The referees were the biggest storyline following the game because of their inability to maintain order and make calls efficiently.

For updates on this matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more in-depth coverage, visit Falcons blog The Falcoholic as well as Chargers blog Bolts From The Blue. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Vs. Chargers: Tony Gonzalez Not Satisfied Being 2-0

It's a bit of a homecoming for California native Tony Gonzalez when the Atlanta Falcons travel to face the Chargers on Sunday. But as Falcons prepare for a fellow 2-0 opponent, the future Hall of Fame tight end tells the team's official website the team isn't resting on its fast start:

"... We have a long season. I've been on teams that we started out great and you don't even make the playoffs. There is no way we can allow ourselves to even think we've arrived or anything like that. It's just a good start. It's what we wanted to do. It's what our goal was, and we just have to keep building on it. We've got to keep improving. There is no doubt about it. ... "

Should Antonio Gates' injury prove playable, the game will not only feature two undefeated teams, but two of the era's elite tight end talents. Gonzalez is familiar with Gates' work:

"... You've got to be ready for him. He's a go to guy. You see defenses go against him and they put two guys on him like he's a gunner on a punt because that's how good he is. That's what he demands. If you give him one-on-one coverage or you think you don't account for him he's going to kill you. He's definitely one of the best tight ends in the League."

Sunday's game in San Diego kicks off at 4:05 p.m. ET and will be televised by FOX.

For updates on this matchup, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more in-depth coverage, visit Falcons blog The Falcoholic as well as Chargers blog Bolts From The Blue. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, visit SB Nation's NFL hub.

NFL Picks And Predictions Week 3: Falcons Vs. Chargers

Experts think the Falcons-Chargers game is among the weekend's closest.

Atlanta Falcons Vs. San Diego Chargers: Three Things To Watch

In a testament to the NFL's parity, this week we have six teams at 2-0, six teams at 0-2, and the remaining twenty at 1-1. This week the Falcons get a rare matchup of unbeatens when they head to San Diego to face the Chargers. This morning we're looking at three things to keep an eye on this week.

1. A tale of two quarterbacks

It's eerie just how close Matt Ryan and Philip Rivers are this year. The San Diego QB may have an interception, but both are completing over 70% of their passes, have thrown for just over 500 yards, and are finding their receivers well. The main difference is how much Rivers is leaning on #1 receive Malcolm Floyd right now, who has far and away the most yards for the Chargers with 175 yards. Rivers has thrown the ball to ten different receivers, while Matt Ryan has been comfortable to lean on his big three: Roddy White, Julio Jones, and Tony Gonzalez.

2. No threat from the run

When the Chargers lost Ryan Matthews in pre-season, there was a concern the Chargers wouldn't be able to run the ball, and those concerns have been fully realized. San Diego's running backs are averaging just 3.5 yards per carry, and with the exception of Jackie Battle on the goal line, they have no consistent running option. This makes Rivers' season all the more impressive, as he's excelled without a reliable RB.

3. Contending with the 3-4

In week one the Falcons dismantled a Kansas City 3-4 with ease, but this San Diego defense is a lot more talented, and have better rush linebackers to pull it off. There are two key players Matt Ryan will need to watch for: OLB Shaun Phillips who has 2.5 sacks, and Eric Weddle– the pro bowl FS who lurks in the middle. If Ryan can account for these two aspects it takes the teeth of SD's 3-4, and will allow the receivers to get free release.

For more on the Altanta Falcons please read The Falcoholic, and for more on the San Diego Chargers head over to Bolts From The Blue

Falcons Vs. Chargers Blacked Out In San Diego

For any NFL fans in Southern California looking to take in this weekend's marquee matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the San Diego Chargers on TV, the news out of the area is not good.

According to the Chargers' Twitter, the game will be unavailable in the Southern California market because of NFL broadcast restrictions. The blackout kicked in after the Chargers were unable to sell out Qualcomm Stadium by midday Thursday.

Per NFL policy, Sunday's game between the Chargers and the Atlanta Falcons will not be shown live in Southern California.

— San Diego Chargers (@chargers) September 20, 2012

Instead, the area will be able to take in a few other NFL games. You can check out the full television coverage map over at the506.com.

The Falcons travel to San Diego to put their 2-0 record to the test against the 2-0 Chargers. The Falcons topped the Denver Broncos on Monday night in Week 2.

Kickoff is scheduled for 4:05 p.m. EST and will be broadcast on FOX.

For more Falcons coverage, check out The Falcoholic.

Week 3 NFL Odds: Falcons Vs. Chargers

The Atlanta Falcons are underdogs in their Week 3 matchup against the San Diego Chargers.

Falcons Vs. Chargers: Matt Ryan Leading League In "Total Quarterback Rating"

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan has gotten off to a hot start in the 2012 season, and it's showing not only on the field but on the stat sheet as well.

After two games, Ryan is leading the league in ESPN's Total Quarterback Rating by leaps and bounds:

via i.imgur.com

It remains to be seen whether Total QBR statistic is as accurate as the network would claim. But it's safe to say that the new statistic at least tells us something about how well a quarterback handles the little but important aspects of the game: taking care of the football, not committing penalties, and avoiding sacks.

Of course, completing 70% of his passing for five touchdowns and zero interceptions doesn't hurt his case either.

Ryan has already found himself being discussed in the (albeit incredibly early) MVP race, and if he keeps up this performance he will no doubt continue to be noticed.

For more information on the Atlanta Falcons, check out the blog The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta. Go visit Bolts From the Blue for everything on the Chargers. More news and information from the NFL, check out the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

Falcons Vs. Chargers: Atlanta's Pass Protection Performing Well Early On

The pass protection for the Atlanta Falcons played extremely well on Monday night against the Denver Broncos, and has performed well during both games this season.

So far, the Falcons have allowed just a pair of sacks, and that can be attributed to the play of tackles Sam Baker and Tyson Clabo. Baker and Clabo both drew tough assignments against Denver, and stood their ground just fine:

"Our [offensive] line is pass-protecting extremely well," Smith said. "Sam Baker is as healthy as he's ever been. Tyson Clabo was very good in pass protection [against Denver.] Both of those guys had a tough draw.

"Those two guys that they bring off the edge are outstanding pass rushers, and for the most part we felt like we neutralized them."

An impressive offensive line should allow the weapons they have in the passing game to shine, with Matt Ryan throwing the ball to both Julio Jones and Roddy White.

Stick with this StoryStream for more from the Falcons as they prepare to face the Chargers. For more insight and analysis, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic. For the San Diego perspective, check out Chargers blog Bolts From The Blue.

Falcons Vs. Chargers: Atlanta Unlikely To See No-Huddle Offense From San Diego

The Atlanta Falcons are unlikely to see much no-huddle offense from the San Diego Chargers, the Falcons' official website reports. The Falcons were able to handle Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos' no-huddle offense, but the Chargers are more likely to take a paced, deliberate march down the field.

San Diego didn't run a single no-huddle snap in their victory over the Tennessee Titans, something that allowed them to win the time of possession battle by an incredible margin of 43 to 16 minutes. In a press conference on Wednesday, Falcons head coach Mike Smith downplayed expectations of a no-huddle offense, but did say he expected to see some looks the team hadn't seen before.

Stick with this StoryStream for more from the Falcons as they prepare to face the Chargers. For more insight and analysis, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic. For the San Diego perspective, check out Chargers blog Bolts From The Blue.

Falcons Vs. Chargers: Atlanta Coaching Staff Familiar With Chargers, Says Mike Smith

Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith held a press conference after Wednesday's practice, discussing the team and their preparations for their upcoming matchup with the San Diego Chargers.

One of the first things Smith addressed was the injury report, telling reporters that running back Antone Smith and cornerback Chris Owens did not participate in practice. Smith injured his hamstring in Monday's win over the Denver Broncos, and Owens has a concussion. As for starting running back Michael Turner, Smith said he went through his normal Wednesday practice routine, and that the team is "planning on having a full boat" when they travel to San Diego.

Smith discussed defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's familiarity with San Diego head coach Norv Turner, noting that the two had faced off many times and had held positions on the same staff. Smith had praise for the Chargers:

We have to prepare to go play a very good San Diego team. Defensively, they're playing outstanding. They are very strong against the run. They have only given up 83 yards in two games, which is number one in the League. They're outstanding in third down efficiency and they're scoring a lot of points. Rich Bisaccia, their special teams coordinator who we're familiar with from Tampa Bay, was on the Tampa Bay staff for a number of years. He's got those guys running and hitting on special teams. It's going to be a fun game.

Smith also mentioned the team was prepared for Chargers running back Ryan Mathews, as offensive line coach Pat Hill was Mathews' head coach in college. He also said they were prepared for no-huddle looks from San Diego, and pointed out that the Falcons themselves are a tough team to prepare for.

Stick with this StoryStream for more on the Falcons vs. Chargers game. For more insight and analysis, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic.

Falcons Vs. Chargers Injury Report: RB Ryan Mathews Expected To Play

The big name on the San Diego Chargers injury report has been starting running back Ryan Mathews who has been out since the preseason with a broken clavicle. On Wednesday he was a full participant in practice, and all signs point for him to make his season debut against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

The other injury concern for the Chargers is tight end Antonio Gates, who is being slowed by a rib injury and was limited in practice. This injury caused Gates to miss the Week 2 game against the Tennesse Titans.

For more information on the Atlanta Falcons, check out the blog The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta. Go visit Bolts From the Blue for everything on the Chargers. More news and information from the NFL, check out the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

Falcons Vs. Chargers Injury Report: 6 Atlanta Starters Were Limited At Wednesday's Practice

The Atlanta Falcons had eight players listed on their injury report following Wednesday's practice. It was no surprise that cornerback Chris Owens sat out since he suffered a concussion in the teams win on Monday night. There are however six starters who were limited: John Abraham, Tyson Clabo, Julio Jones, Stephen Nicholas, Sean Weatherspoon and Roddy White.

Besides these players having nagging injuries, they likely were limited since they are playing on a short week. So, the coaching staff wants to make sure these key players get the rest they need for Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers.

For more information on the Atlanta Falcons, check out the blog The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta. Go visit Bolts From the Blue for everything on the Chargers. More news and information from the NFL, check out the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

Michael Turner Will Play In Falcons-Chargers Game Despite DUI Arrest

Atlanta Falcons running back Michael Turner will play in this Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers,according to a tweet by the team. Turner was caught speeding at 32 miles per hour over the speed limit after he was out celebrating the team's 27-21 win over the Denver Broncos.

After he was pulled over, the arresting office said that there was the smell of alcohol on Turner's breath. The officer then arrested Turner after he participated in a field sobriety test.

The 30-year-old running back spent two hours in the Gwinett County Jail before being released on $2,179 bond. Turner ran the ball 17 times for 42 yards in Monday's game and scored the first touchdown for the Falcons.

The Falcons play the Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium on Sunday. The game is scheduled to kick off at 4:05 p.m. and will be broadcast on Fox.

Read more on the Falcons at The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta.

Falcons vs. Chargers: Long Monday Night Game Tough For San Diego Trip

The Atlanta Falcons are a perfect 5-0 under head coach Mike Smith when playing on the West Coast. There's no real secret to what Atlanta does -- adjusting practice schedules to account for players' "body clocks" throughout the week -- but it's certainly worked for Smith and his staff.

However, a long Monday Night Football game against Denver compounded by woeful, delaying work from the replacement referees threatened to create a hangover into Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the AJC:

"This is a very short week," Smith said. "We will be changing our practice schedule. Not necessarily the time, but what we are doing and how we are doing it."

"That was a very physical football game [against Denver] that was way too long and ended way too early in the morning," Smith said. "Or we got out of there way too early in the morning."

The Falcons won't practice in pads on Wednesday as a recovery measure in the shortened prep week.

For more information on the Atlanta Falcons, check out the blog The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta. For more news and information from the NFL, check out the SB Nation NFL Hub Page.

NFL 2012 Schedule: Week 3 Preview

The Atlanta Falcons will visit the San Diego Chargers on Sunday in a battle between two unbeaten teams. The only other matchup between 2-0 squads is the Eagles-Cardinals game in Arizona. Both of these games will kick off at 4:05 ET.

Around the NFC South, the Panthers are tasked with hosting the New York Giants on Thursday night. Both teams are 1-1 and coming off big wins.

The New Orleans Saints will look for their first win when they host the also-winless Kansas City Chiefs. The Saints have not started a season 0-2 since 2007, when they lost their first four games.

Finally, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, looking to rebound from a heart-breaking loss to the Giants, will visit the Dallas Cowboys. Both teams come into this matchup at 1-1.

You can check out the full NFL schedule here.

Read more on the Falcons at The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta.

NFL Week 3 Power Rankings: 49ers Dominate, Cardinals Soar, Jaguars Stink (via sbnation)

Atlanta Falcons In The NFC South Drivers Seat

The Atlanta Falcons are alone at the top of the NFC South at 2-0. What got they to this point?

Chris Owens Injury: Falcons DB Has Concussion

Atlanta Falcons defensive back Chris Owens suffered a concussion during Atlanta's Monday night win over the Denver Broncos, and is unlikely to play in Week 3's contest against the San Diego Charges.

Per The Falcoholic, SB Nation's Falcons blog:

So the bad news first. Chris Owens is going through the concussion protocol, which means he's quite likely to be formally diagnosed very soon, if he hasn't been already, and will sit out the Chargers game. Obviously, the Falcons got it done without him on Monday night, but it further dents the depth of a squad that could use a little more of it. The Falcons now only have four healthy cornerbacks on the active roster, and one of them is Dominique Franks.

Atlanta's secondary has taken a beating, losing Brent Grimes for the season last week, and now losing Owens to a concussion this week.

Hopefully, for both Owens' and Atlanta's sake, Owens makes a speedy and full recovery from his concussion.

For the latest on all things Falcons, check out The Falcoholic.

NFL Week 3, Falcons Vs. Chargers Preview: It's A Battle Of Unbeatens As Atlanta Prepares For San Diego

Can Matt Ryan continue his strong play this season and lead the Falcons to victory over Philip Rivers and the San Diego Chargers?

NFL Injury Report: Asante Samuel, Chris Owens Among Falcons Injured

Atlanta Falcons cornerbacks Asante Samuel and Chris Owens were both injured in Monday's victory over the Denver Broncos. Who are some other players that were hurt?