Both teams hoped to build on their success from last season and entered the regular season with high expectations. Right now, they are both in the thick of the young wild-card race and the Falcons did not help their cause with today’s outcome.

Without its top two running backs, the Falcons relied on New Jersey native Jason Spelling to fill their void. The third year fullback/tailback gained 76 yards on the ground and had 2 touchdowns. Needless to say, it was not enough.

Eli Manning’s career high 384 yards and 3 touchdowns bested quarterback Matt Ryan‘s 268 yards and 2 touchdown passes.

Tony Gonzalez hauled in 8 catches for 82 yards and 1 touchdown. He has 52 receptions for 583 yards and 5 touchdowns this season.

After a promising 4-1 start, the Falcons are 1-4 in their last 5 games. Barring an unprecedented miracle, the Falcons have no chance of winning their division. To gain ground on the wild-card race, the Falcons must turn things around and start winning games. They play their next three games at the Georgia Dome where they are 4-0 so far this season.

As has been Jake Delhomme’s tendency this season, he has been prone to turning the ball over. During Sunday’s game between the Atlanta Falcons and Carolina Panthers, the embattled quarterback, for at least one week, seemed to have things under control as he utuilized the no-huddle offense to great effect as Carolina defeated Atlanta 28-19 at Bank of America Stadium.

The first quarter would be the beginning of the no-huddle for Carolina as Delhomme worked it to perfection, capped by 1-yard touchdown run by Jonathan Stewart with 6:15 left in the first quarter, giving the Panthers a 7-3 lead, a lead they would take into the second period. Nearly two and one-half minutes into the second quarter, Delhomme increased the Panthers’ advantage to 14-3 on a 4-yard TD pass to Steve Smith. Atlanta would come back as Jeff Snelling would rush in from a yard out, reducing Carolina’s lead to 14-10. Delhomme and the no-huddle offense struck again as he connected with Smith again on a 4-yard TD pass with 1:08 left in the half, boosting the Panthers’ lead to 21-10 going into halftime.

The third quarter was devoid of offense as the only scoring that took place was a 24-yard field goal by Jason Elam with 9:21 remaining in the period, pulling Atlanta to within 21-13; Matt Ryan would get the Falcons on the scoreboard on a 3-yard pass to Justin Peelle, narrowing the Panthers’ edge to two at 21-19. But Stewart would ice the game for the Panthers on a 45-yard run just before the two-minute warning, putting Carolina up 28-19.

Delhomme had arguably his best effort of the season, going 15-of-24 for 195 yards with 2 TD’s while Matt Ryan went 22-of-41 for 224 yards with a TD and 2 interceptions. DeAngelo Williams led the Panthers’ rushing attack with 92 yards on 19 carries while Stewart added 82 yards and 2 TD’s; Michael Turner led Atlanta with 111 yards on only 9 carries while Snelling added 61 yards and a score.

Muhsin Muhammed led all Panthers receiving with 6 receptions for 91 yards while Smith caught 4 passes for 34 yards and 2 TD’s; Roddy White led Atlanta with 7 receptions for 98 yards while Tony Gonzalez caught 6 passes for 67 yards. Carolina (4-5) looks to reach the .500 mark when they get the short week as they host the Miami Dolphins Thursday while Atlanta (5-4) visits New York City to take on the Giants next Sunday.

The NFL record holder for career touchdowns, receptions, and reception yards by a tight end poses with his wife beside the tagline “Wear Your Own Skin, and Let the Animals Keep Theirs.” The ad was shot in Los Angeles by top celebrity photographer Robert Sebree. You can see the ad and get more information here.

“We should be protecting animals, not sacrificing their lives for the sake of fashion or luxury,” says Tony. “October and I have changed many of our habits in light of the inhumane treatment of animals that occurs not only in the fur industry but also on factory farms.” You can see our exclusive interview with the couple here.

Since Gonzalez is also vegan, this ad launched at a perfect time, considering we also recently announced the top ten most vegetarian-friendly NFL stadiums. You can check out our list here.

Tony and October Gonzalez join a growing list of athletes and other celebrities—including Aaron Curry, Ron Artest, former NBA star Dennis Rodman, Sir Paul McCartney, Eva Mendes, and Charlize Theron—who have starred in PETA’s ad campaigns.

Please visit here to see the ad and get more information.

The win for Atlanta breaks their two-game losing streak as they improve to 5-3 on the season. The Falcons also got an efficent day from QB Matt Ryan, who went 17-for-24 for 135 yards with a touchdown to tight end Tony Gonzalez and a pick with a QB rating of 81.1.

Washington’s issues on both sides of the ball continue. They fall to 2-6 on the season, and lost leading rusher Clinton Portis early in the game with a concussion. Jason Campbell was 15-for-22 for 196 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Todd Collins was 4-for-5 for 12 yards for the Skins, who put up 312 yards of offense, but played from behind all day.

The team got within 7 at 24-17 early in the fourth quarter when Campbell hit Todd Yoder with a 3-yard score, but Turner put Atlanta ahead for good with a 58-yard score with 11:23 left to seal the win, making it 31-17. Ladell Betts ran for 70 yards on 15 carries and a score for Washington.

The Redskins in the first half in falling behind 24-3 had five possessions, punting three times, losing the ball on a pick, and then getting their only points of the half with a field goal. The Falcons had five possessions, scoring two touchdowns, and also losing the ball on a punt and an interception.

Norwood (hip) missed his third straight game and Snelling (hamstring) is inactive for the second straight week, cutting into the Falcons’ depth behind running back Michael Turner.

The Falcons also are without starting defensive tackle Thomas Johnson, inactive with a calf injury. Trey Lewis was the fill-in starter.
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Washington strong safety Chris Horton, listed as questionable with a knee injury, started ahead of Reed Doughty.

The Redskins’ inactives included punter Hunter Smith (groin). Former Dallas punter Sam Paulescu, signed this week, became Washington’s fourth punter of the season.

Falcons WR Roddy White will play Sunday against the Redskins, a league source told NFL Network’s Jason La Canfora. White is listed as questionable with a knee injury, but he hasn’t missed a game this season. He has 37 receptions for 543 yards and six touchdowns this season.

“We did a lot of things well and yet we did a lot of things that made it close at the end,” coach Sean Payton said. “I’m excited to win though. I’m excited to win this game and get to 7-0. It was an important game against a division team and I’m proud of our players. They fought.”

Drew Brees had another big night, throwing for 308 yards and two scores. He quickly rallied the team after the Falcons quickly scored on a Michael Turner run to make it 7-0. Then after a big defensive touchdown the Saints again quickly scored, wiping out what was a Falcons lead.

Matt Ryan had a rather tough night against the Saints, throwing three picks, the third game in a row he has thrown at least two picks. “I’m not concerned at all,” coach Mike Smith said of his second-year quarterback. “We’re going to be judged on 16 games. Not one game and not three games.”

The Saints are 7-0, the last time they did that was the 1991 season. Atlanta’s second consecutive loss dropped the Falcons (4-3) three games behind the Saints in the NFC South. It marked the first time the Falcons had lost two straight under second-year coach Smith.

Jerious Norwood is one of the fastest running backs in the league, but he told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution he doesn’t expect to play Sunday against the Cowboys. That’s good news for the Cowboys as they look to keep a Falcons running game that has not been as productive this year slowed to a crawl.