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Ryan Lifts Falcons To Victory

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The Associated Press

The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 23, 2008

Updated: 08/23/2008 12:33 am

ATLANTA - One start, one win for Matt Ryan.

Ryan, making his first preseason start, opened the second half with a touchdown pass to give Atlanta the lead and the Falcons beat the Tennessee Titans 17-3 on Friday night.

Ryan, the third pick in the draft, continued his bid to start as a rookie. Ryan completed 15 of 21 passes for 102 yards with a 1-yard scoring pass to another rookie, Harry Douglas, and no interceptions.

Ryan called his debut as a starter "a lot of fun."

"I thought we did a lot of good things as an offense, but I made a couple of poor throws toward the end of the first half," Ryan said. "We were able to come out and score at the beginning of the third quarter, and that was a good way to end it."

EAGLES 27, PATRIOTS 17: Philadelphia returned two kicks for touchdowns in the last 1:35 of the first half, Donovan McNabb led three long drives, and backup Kevin Kolb directed a 90-yard march to David Akers' second field goal on their opening series of the third quarter in beating New England.

Philadelphia's Quintin Demps returned a kickoff 101 yards for a touchdown. And after the Pats' next possession, DeSean Jackson ran back Chris Hanson's punt 76 yards for another touchdown on the final play of the half, making it 24-3.

COWBOYS 23, TEXANS 22: Tony Romo made up for overthrowing Terrell Owens on a certain TD and later getting intercepted in the end zone, completing 15 of 19 passes for 166 yards and a TD in the Cowboys' victory .

Texans receiver Harry Williams was taken off the field on a stretcher with a neck injury after being hit in the head during a collision with teammate Nick Ferguson. They were covering on the ensuing kickoff after a field goal.

Williams' head was immobilized when he was strapped to the stretcher and taken by ambulance to a hospital. "He's got movement throughout his body," Texans coach Gary Kubiak said. "All the feedback I'm getting is that Harry will be fine."

UPSHAW HONORED: Hall of Fame player and longtime NFL union head Gene Upshaw will be remembered this weekend with a moment of silence at NFL exhibition games. Upshaw died Wednesday night of pancreatic cancer.

BILLS: Starting quarterback Trent Edwards won't play in Sunday night's preseason game against the Colts because of a bruise above his right kneecap.

DOLPHINS: Waived receiver David Kircus and cornerback Chris Roberson.

49ERS: J.T. O'Sullivan will start at quarterback when the regular season begins next month. O'Sullivan clinched the job with a strong performance during Thursday's 37-30 exhibition victory against Chicago.

LIONS: Signed QB Drew Henson, a high school and college standout who has struggled at the pro level in baseball and football. Henson was signed after second-year QB Drew Stanton sprained the thumb on his throwing hand in practice Thursday. He will be sidelined about a month.

SEAHAWKS: QB Matt Hasselbeck likely will miss the preseason game Monday at San Diego and probably won't see any action until the regular season because of ongoing back stiffness.

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