Falcons Defend Georgia Dome, Down Ravens 26-21 in Possible Super Bowl Preview

After trailing 10-0 at halftime, the Baltimore Ravens found some offense in the second half.

Falcons kicker Matt Bryant drilled a 51-yard field goal early in the third quarter to give the Falcons a 13-0 lead, but the Ravens would respond in a big way, especially in the fourth quarter.

After a five-yard pass from Flacco to Anquan Boldin brought the Ravens within 10, Matt Ryan finally found Roddy White in the end zone from four yards out, opening up a 20-7 lead.

Nothing the Ravens couldn’t come back from.

Flacco tossed two touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the first to Derrick Mason from six yards out and the second, with just 1:05 left in the game, to tight end Todd Heap from four yards out to take a 21-20 lead.

But then Matt Ryan remembered that he was 17-1 at the Georgia Dome. And he had won 13 straight at home. And he had Roddy White.

And he delivered.

In just 40 seconds, Ryan drove the Falcons down the field and found White on a 33-yard pass to cap a seven play, 80-yard drive with White's game-winning touchdown, his second of the game.

All with Michael Turner rushing for just 39 yards on 17 carries.

Ryan improves to 18-1 at home and his winning streak at the Georgia Dome reaches 14 as the Falcons outlast the Ravens, 26-21.

Ryan was 32-of-50 for 316 yards and three touchdowns against the Ravens’ vaunted defense, and his favorite target, White, broke for 138 yards on 12 catches with two touchdowns despite nursing a knee injury throughout the week.

If anyone doubted whether or not the Falcons were for real, they’re likely rethinking their position.

The Falcons improve to 7-2 and ensure they remain atop the NFC for at least one more week, while the Ravens fall to 6-3. And the Ravens will be watching this weekend when the AFC North rival Pittsburgh Steelers (6-2) host the New England Patriots Sunday night.

In what many deemed a potential Super Bowl preview, the NFL certainly saw one of the best games of the season to this point on Thursday night.

This article can also be found at www.footballnewsnow.com.