Falcons at Seahawks
THE STORY: If the Atlanta Falcons plan on winning the NFC South, they need to start winning some road games. Sunday in Seattle against an offensively challenged Seahawks team is a perfect place to begin. However, Atlanta has had all kinds of problems trying to protect quarterback Matt Ryan, and Seattle's defense ranks third in the NFC against the pass and also has performed well vs. the run. The Falcons need a solid performance from Michael Turner, who hit triple figures in rushing yards in each of his first two games but was held to a mere 20 on 11 carries by Tampa Bay last week. Seattle has won eight of the 12 all-time meetings, but Atlanta has captured the last two.
TV: FOX, 4:05 p.m. ET. LINE: Falcons -4.5, O/U 38.5
ABOUT THE FALCONS (1-2): Safety William Moore is a little lighter in the wallet as he announced he was fined $7,500 by the league for an unnecessary roughness penalty against Earnest Graham in last week's 16-13 loss to Tampa Bay. He is the second Falcon in as many weeks to be fined. Cornerback Dunta Robinson forfeited $40,000 for leading with his helmet on a hit against Philadelphia's Jeremy Maclin in Week 2. Turner has had 42 carries thus far this season, half of which came in the 35-31 victory over the Eagles.
ABOUT THE SEAHAWKS (1-2): Seattle has scored just 30 points over its first three games while allowing 67, giving it the second-worst net total in the NFC. Only St. Louis (-60) is worse. Receiver Sidney Rice had an impressive debut in last Sunday's 13-10 triumph over Arizona, hauling in eight passes for 109 yards. Rice missed Seattle's first two games with a shoulder injury. Only two QBs in the league have been sacked more times than Ryan, and one is Tarvaris Jackson, who is tied with Chicago's Jay Cutler for the lead at 14.
EXTRA POINTS:
1. Ryan has been sacked at least four times in each of the first three games, 13 in total. He was grounded only 23 times last season.
2. Rice had made 154 career catches. Only 40 have not resulted in either a first down or a score.
3. Atlanta TE Tony Gonzalez enters with 1,083 career receptions. He is 20 away from passing Marvin Harrison for second place on the all-time list.