Post by Agent Kev on Dec 12, 2004 15:20:17 GMT -5
ATLANTA (AP) -- Make room for another banner. The Atlanta Falcons are division champions.
T.J. Duckett set a team record by rushing for four touchdowns and the Falcons clinched just the third division title in franchise history, wrapping up the NFC South with a 35-10 rout of the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
Atlanta, which last won a division title in 1998 on the way to its only Super Bowl, flopped badly in its first chance to win the division. The Falcons (10-3) were blown out 27-0 at Tampa Bay last week.
But they had their way against the hapless Raiders, taking control with a 21-point second quarter.
Oakland (4-9) turned it over three times, including an interception that was returned 39 yards for a touchdown by former Raider defensive tackle Rod Coleman.
The Falcons' less-than-stellar history is apparent from the banners hanging from the Georgia Dome roof. There are only three, marking division titles in 1980 and '98, along with the NFC championship in that latter season.
Now, it's time for a fourth.
After going 5-11 a year ago, Atlanta has flourished under new coach Jim Mora. For the fourth time in their 39-year history, the Falcons have reached double-figure victories. And they're closing in on the No. 2 seed in the NFC, which would ensure a first-round bye and guarantee at least one home game in the playoffs.
The Raiders fumbled on their first offensive play. Chris Hetherington caught a pass from Kerry Collins, but DeAngelo Hall knocked the ball loose and the Falcons recovered.
Atlanta didn't take advantage of that turnover, but the tone was set -- even after the Raiders went ahead on Sebastian Janikowski's 52-yard field goal.
Allen Rossum's 50-yard punt return got the Falcons rolling in the second quarter. Two plays later, Duckett got loose up the middle, ran through Raiders safety Stuart Schweigert and cruised 28 yards for the longest touchdown of his three-year career.
Duckett didn't have to work as hard for his other TDs. Each time, the 254-yard back trotted on the field when the Falcons got close to the end zone, powering in from 2, 4 and 1.
His final score broke the Atlanta record shared by 13 players, most recently Tim Dwight in the final game of the 1999 season.
While Duckett is used to scoring, the other Atlanta TD came from a most unlikely player. With just over a minute left in the first half and the Falcons up 14-3, Collins attempted a pass that was swatted down by Travis Hall.
The ball fell right into the hands of the 285-pound Coleman, who slid off Collins' feeble attempt at a tackle and rumbled the rest of the way for the touchdown that buried the Raiders.
The Falcons were true to form. The NFL's top running team surpassed 200 yards for the fourth time this season, finishing with 216.
Warrick Dunn rushed for 103 yards, while Duckett had 65 yards on 12 carries. Michael Vick, coming off a miserable performance in Tampa Bay, played a solid game -- 13-of-20 passing for 145 yards, along with 31 yards on two carries.
Collins was just 14-of-28 for 166 yards.
T.J. Duckett set a team record by rushing for four touchdowns and the Falcons clinched just the third division title in franchise history, wrapping up the NFC South with a 35-10 rout of the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
Atlanta, which last won a division title in 1998 on the way to its only Super Bowl, flopped badly in its first chance to win the division. The Falcons (10-3) were blown out 27-0 at Tampa Bay last week.
But they had their way against the hapless Raiders, taking control with a 21-point second quarter.
Oakland (4-9) turned it over three times, including an interception that was returned 39 yards for a touchdown by former Raider defensive tackle Rod Coleman.
The Falcons' less-than-stellar history is apparent from the banners hanging from the Georgia Dome roof. There are only three, marking division titles in 1980 and '98, along with the NFC championship in that latter season.
Now, it's time for a fourth.
After going 5-11 a year ago, Atlanta has flourished under new coach Jim Mora. For the fourth time in their 39-year history, the Falcons have reached double-figure victories. And they're closing in on the No. 2 seed in the NFC, which would ensure a first-round bye and guarantee at least one home game in the playoffs.
The Raiders fumbled on their first offensive play. Chris Hetherington caught a pass from Kerry Collins, but DeAngelo Hall knocked the ball loose and the Falcons recovered.
Atlanta didn't take advantage of that turnover, but the tone was set -- even after the Raiders went ahead on Sebastian Janikowski's 52-yard field goal.
Allen Rossum's 50-yard punt return got the Falcons rolling in the second quarter. Two plays later, Duckett got loose up the middle, ran through Raiders safety Stuart Schweigert and cruised 28 yards for the longest touchdown of his three-year career.
Duckett didn't have to work as hard for his other TDs. Each time, the 254-yard back trotted on the field when the Falcons got close to the end zone, powering in from 2, 4 and 1.
His final score broke the Atlanta record shared by 13 players, most recently Tim Dwight in the final game of the 1999 season.
While Duckett is used to scoring, the other Atlanta TD came from a most unlikely player. With just over a minute left in the first half and the Falcons up 14-3, Collins attempted a pass that was swatted down by Travis Hall.
The ball fell right into the hands of the 285-pound Coleman, who slid off Collins' feeble attempt at a tackle and rumbled the rest of the way for the touchdown that buried the Raiders.
The Falcons were true to form. The NFL's top running team surpassed 200 yards for the fourth time this season, finishing with 216.
Warrick Dunn rushed for 103 yards, while Duckett had 65 yards on 12 carries. Michael Vick, coming off a miserable performance in Tampa Bay, played a solid game -- 13-of-20 passing for 145 yards, along with 31 yards on two carries.
Collins was just 14-of-28 for 166 yards.
