FLASH RECAP:
Matt Ryan throws for 220 yards and two first-half touchdowns as Atlanta (5-3) hands Oakland (2-6) one of its most embarrassing losses in franchise history before an announced crowd of 61,196 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on Nov. 2, 2008.
The inept Raiders have only 77 yards, their worst total since getting 58 against San Diego on Sept. 9, 1961.
It’s the lowest total in the NFL since Cleveland gained 26 on Dec. 12, 2004, against Buffalo. Oakland’s three first downs are tied for the third fewest since the AFL-NFL merger in 1970, with Cleveland twice being held to two in 1999 and 2000.
Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell has his worst showing in his two-season NFL career, completing only 6 of 19 passes for 31 yards and for a 19.0 efficiency rating. He loses one of two fumbles and has an interception.
The Raiders finish with an abysmal 10 net passing yards.
“It was crazy,” Russell tells reporters after Atlanta's first-ever win in Oakland. “It was like everything that could go bad went bad.”
Ryan, the third overall pick in the 2008 NFL draft, throws touchdown passes of 37 and 27 yards to wide receiver Michael Jenkins as the Falcons score all their points on their first four possessions.
On the game's opening drive, Jenkins beats former Falcon and first-year Raiders cornerback De Angelo Hall like a drum on the aforementioned 37-yard scoring pass from Ryan.
In the first half, Oakland has a negative 2 yards of offense and no first downs.
Atlanta gets its first shutout since 2002. The Falcons set a record for fewest total yards allowed in a game, surrendering one fewer than Tampa Bay got in a 17-0 loss in 1977.
PRIME-TIME PLAYERS:
QB Matt Ryan — Is 17-of-22 passing for 220 yards and 2 touchdowns with a whopping 138.4 efficiency rating. In the first half, Ryan is 13-of-16 passing for 184 yards and two touchdowns.
Falcons defense — The unit pitches a shutout, has four sacks and allows only 77 total yards.
RB Michael Turner — The former Chargers backup has 139 rushing yards on 31 carries.
DE John Abraham — The former Jet has three of four Falcons sacks.
DE Kalimba Edwards — Has one of three sacks on Matt Ryan and a forced fumble.
DT Gerard Warren — Has a sack and fumble recovery.
P Shane Lechler — Has a net average of 48.0 yards on six punts, including two inside the Atlanta 20.
KEY STATS:
Oakland has 77 total yards, its worst showing since 1961.
The Raiders don’t get their initial first down of the game until a 13-yard run by Justin Fargas with 9:26 left in the third quarter.
The Raiders surrender 252 rushing yards, boosting their total to 686 over the past three games.
THEY SAID IT:
"During the week (in practice), we look like we’re a Super Bowl team, and we come out there and we’re damn near the laughingstock of the league, and it’s ridiculous. I’ve never been in a situation where it’s been like this, and I don’t know what it is. …
"The people in this locker room have to look at themselves in the mirror and see exactly what they’re bringing to the table, and if they’re not bringing anything to the table, then get off the ship, period."
Raiders SS Gibril Wilson
"In the first half, (that's) probably as bad as it gets. We played Jacksonville and Green Bay last year. Those were pretty bad. I’ve had some bad ones, but the first half (against Atlanta, that was bad."
Raiders CB Nnamdi Asomugha
"These are tough times right now, but I think a lot of quarterbacks, when they’re young, go through this time."
Raiders MLB Kirk Morrison
BY THE NUMBERS:
10: Raiders net passing yards.
14.45: Oakland time of possession, compared to 45:15 for Atlanta.
19.0: Efficiency rating for Oakland’s JaMarcus Russell on 6-of-19 passing for 31 yards with one interception.
228.7:Average rushing yards allowed by the Raiders the past three games.
DID YOU KNOW?:
The Falcons win their first regular-season game against the Raiders in Oakland. They had lost the previous three meetings in 1975, 1979 & 2000.
Raiders QB JaMarcus Russell is
sacked by Falcons DE John Abraham.
