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A20 SPORTS
Wednesday 24 OctOber 2018

Ryan throws for 379 yards, Falcons beat Giants 23-20

By PAUL NEWBERRY totaling 229 yards (130 rush-
ATLANTA (AP) — Matt Ryan ing, 99 receiving) in a loss to
is putting up MVP-like num- Philadelphia.
bers, even on a team that TAVECCHIO STEPS UP
hasn't lived up to expecta- Bryant is one of the NFL's
tions. most accurate kickers, but
Matty Ice turned in anoth- Tavecchio sure made a
er brilliant performance in good impression in his re-
prime time Monday, throw- turn to the NFL.
ing for 379 yards and com- His 56-yard kick was the
pleting his final 18 passes to longest by a player in his
lead the Atlanta Falcons to first game with a new team
their second straight victo- in the last 40 seasons, ac-
ry, 23-20 over the struggling cording to NFL Research.
New York Giants. He also connected from 40
"Whatever it takes to win," and 50 yards.
Ryan said. "That's the mind- Tavecchio kicked last sea-
set we have every week." son for the Oakland Raid-
Ryan threw a 47-yard ers, but he was without a
touchdown pass to Marvin job until Bryant injured his
Hall, Tevin Coleman broke right hamstring making a
loose on a 30-yard scoring long kick in Atlanta's victory
run and the Falcons added over Tampa Bay.
another chapter to New That prompted the Falcons
York's miserable season, to bring back Tavecchio,
sending the Giants (1-6) to Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan (2) works in the pocket before he is sacked against the who got a brief look from
their fourth straight loss. New York Giants during the first half of an NFL football game, Monday, Oct. 22, 2018, in Atlanta. the team at the end of the
"I don't feel like we're a 1-6 Associated Press preseason.
team," Odell Beckham Jr. Even though Bryant will
said. "That's what our re- "That kick was good from sessions, and the Giants to Manning's pass. surely reclaim his job as
cord is, but that's not the about 65 yards," Ryan said. weren't much better. The Falcons drove into po- soon as he's healthy, Tavec-
feeling in the locker room." "He did a great job for us Then, suddenly, Atlanta sition for Tavecchio's final chio set himself up to draw
Ryan was the league's MVP coming in on short notice." struck for two big plays to field goal, extending the attention from other teams
in 2016 when he led Atlan- Facing one of the NFL's grab the lead. Ryan went lead to 23-12. when he goes on the open
ta to the Super Bowl. While worst defenses, New York down the left sideline to The Giants did manage a market again.
these Falcons (3-4) haven't botched its best scoring tight end Austin Hooper for touchdown with 5 seconds INJURY REPORT
played to that level, their chance by going for a a 36-yard gain, pushing the remaining as Manning The Falcons lost another
quarterback is putting up touchdown on fourth-and- Falcons into New York terri- hooked up with Beckham guard when Brandon Fusco
numbers that measure up goal from the 1 early in the tory for the first time. Then on a 1-yard scoring play, went down late in the first
to what he did two years third quarter. To the surprise Ryan spotted Hall breaking but only after the quarter- half with a right ankle injury.
ago: a 71.1 percent com- of no one who has seen the free down the middle of the back was stuffed on two Fusco had to be helped off
pletion rate, 2,335 yards Giants stumble through the field, hitting him perfectly in straight attempts to run it the field by a pair of train-
passing, 15 touchdowns season, Eli Manning's pass stride for the touchdown. over, burning off most of ers, and he was quickly tak-
and just two interceptions. for tight end Scott Simon- Coleman's touchdown with the scant time on the clock. en to the locker room on a
Ryan is only focused on the son fell harmlessly to the 7½ minutes remaining gave BARKLEY STYMIED cart.
team's performance. turf. the Falcons some breath- The Falcons were the first Atlanta had already lost
"To inch our way closer to Manning was sacked four ing room, but the Giants team to hold Barkley to less another starting guard,
.500 is a positive for us," he times but still managed to finally showed some life of- than 100 yards rushing and Andy Levitre, to a season-
said. complete 27 of 38 for 399 fensively. receiving in a game. ending injury.
It was also a big night for yards. Beckham hauled in Manning completed five The rookie running back Ben Garland took Fusco's
Giorgio Tavecchio, who eight passes for 143 yards, passes for 61 yards before was limited to 43 yards on spot on the line.
was signed during the pushing him past 5,000 Saquon Barkley powered 14 carries, to go along with UP NEXT
week to fill in for injured yards in his career, and over from the 2 with 4:47 re- nine catches for 51 yards. Giants: New York returns
Atlanta kicker Matt Bryant. Sterling Shepard finished maining for New York's first It was Barkley's second- home next Sunday to face
The native of Milan, Italy, with 167 yards on five re- TD of the game. Embattled lowest rushing output of the NFC East-leading Washing-
made all three of his field ceptions. coach Pat Shurmur decid- season, eclipsed only by a ton (4-2).
goal attempts, including Both teams got off to slug- ed to go for 2, looking to 28-yard effort against Dal- Falcons: Atlanta also plays
a 56-yarder that was the gish starts offensively. The put his team in position to las in Week 2. Washington in its next
longest of his career and Falcons failed to cross mid- win with another score, but Barkley was coming off his game — but not until Nov.
helped seal the victory. field on their first three pos- Beckham couldn't hang on best game of the season, 4 after a bye week.q