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NFL - Atlanta Falcons

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NFL Game Summary - Indianapolis At Atlanta

POSTED: 9:47 pm MDT August 16, 2008

(Sports Network) - Kelvin Hayden returned an interception to the end zone to account for the game's only touchdown, as the Indianapolis Colts edged the Atlanta Falcons, 16-9, in preseason action.

Quinn Gray led the Indianapolis passing attack by going 8-for-15 for 100 yards in the absence of Peyton Manning, who is expected to be out for at least two more weeks following minor knee surgery. The Colts (1-2) also got 67 yards on 7-for-12 passing from Jim Sorgi.

Adam Crossett connected on a pair of field goals, while Adam Vinatieri booted one for Indianapolis. Jacob Tamme caught three passes for 57 yards, while Kenton Keith ran for 26 yards on five attempts.

Falcons rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, the No. 3 overall draft pick out of Boston College, threw for 62 yards on 8-of-16 passing with one interception. Michael Turner powered the Atlanta (1-1) offense by rushing for 113 yards on four attempts, including one run of 63 yards. Jason Elam's three field goals accounted for all the Falcons' points.

Atlanta took a first quarter lead thanks to two of Elam's field goals. On the opening drive, Turner and fellow running back Jerious Norwood led the Falcons downfield to the Indianapolis seven-yard line. Elam chipped in the 25-yarder for a 3-0 lead.

After the Colts failed to reach midfield on their ensuing possession, the Falcons took over and Turner ripped off his 63-yard dash to get to the Indianapolis 22. Atlanta's drive stalled there, though, and Elam kicked a 35- yarder to put his team up by six.

Vinatieri's 24-yard field goal capped a Colts drive that spanned the first and second quarters, cutting his team's deficit in half. But both offenses couldn't get much going in the second quarter. Ryan did lead Atlanta on a long drive late in the frame. He converted a third-and-10 with a 15-yard throw to Roddy White, and the drive progressed across midfield.

However, on second-and-two from the Colts' 38, Ryan's pass was picked off by Hayden, who dashed all the way to the end zone. It vaulted the Colts ahead, 10-6, at halftime.

On the first Falcons drive out of halftime, Elam made a 40-yard field goal to get Atlanta within a point. But later in the third, Crossett chipped in a 20- yarder to restore the Colts' four-point edge.

Indianapolis had the only prolonged drive of the fourth quarter, which brought the team all the way down to the Falcons' 15-yard line. With 1:45 left in the game, Crossett made a 33-yarder to give Indianapolis a touchdown lead, at 16-9, and the Colts held on from there.

Scoreboard

Sun, Nov. 30FINAL
Atlanta (7-4) 22
San Diego (4-7) 16

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