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Ryan throws two TDs as Falcons down Chargers

Dec 1, 2008 - 1:44 AM By Tim Powers PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- Rookie Matt Ryan tossed a pair of touchdowns and Michael Turner punished his former team as the Atlanta Falcons posted a 22-16 win over the San Diego Chargers on Sunday.

The victory kept Atlanta (8-4) within one game of NFC South division leaders Tampa Bay (9-3) and Carolina (9-3), which both won Sunday.

"That was a big win for our team today," Ryan said. "We're certainly in a good position and we've got an opportunity (for the postseason), so we're excited about that."

Ryan's first touchdown pass - an 18-yard strike to tight end Justin Peele - gave the Falcons a 13-7 advantage that they would not relinquish, despite a late comeback attempt by the Chargers (4-8).

San Diego converted Turner's fumble into a 28-yard field goal by Nate Kaeding to pull within 22-16 with 5:15 remaining.

The Chargers stopped the ensuing Atlanta drive to gain possession again with 2:46 to play, but fell short on the comeback and punted the ball away with 1:58 left and never got the ball back.

"In this league, you've got to win games like this, when things don't always go your way and you didn't pay your best," Falcons head coach Mike Smith said. "To have all those turnovers and be minus-four in the turnover ratio on the road, and continue to play hard for 60 minutes and hang in there. I felt like our intensity was outstanding."

Turner collected 120 yards on 31 attempts, crossing the 100-yard mark for the sixth time this season and burning the team that allowed him to sign with Atlanta as a free agent in the offseason.

"It felt great coming back here to Qualcomm (Stadium) again and seeing all of the old fans," Turner said. "Coming into the stadium, and with all of the memories I have here, I'm just glad we came out with the win also."

Ryan went 17-for-23 for 207 yards as the impressive rookie continues for the third overall draft pick last April.

Ryan's counterpart, Philip Rivers, completed 17-of-30 attempts for 149 yards. Malcolm Floyd caught five passes for 59 yards to lead the Chargers.

"We never got going very good," Rivers said. "We didn't get in a rhythm and that kind of makes it tough. We've (used the no-huddle offense) sporadically this year, and you've got to get first downs when you do it. It's hard to get in the no-huddle flow when you're not going very good."

Former league MVP LaDainian Tomlinson was held to 24 yards on 14 carries and also caught five balls for 42 more yards.

"We got our (rear ends) kicked, that's plain and simple," Tomlinson said. "We got dominated today. Whenever you get out-physicaled, that's hard to swallow."

Despite the loss, Tomlinson reached a pair of milestones. His 3-yard score in the first quarter was the 136th of his career, tying Marshall Faulk for fifth on the all-time list.

Tomlinson also hauled in his 500th career catch, becoming the fifth player in NFL history to have 500 receptions and 10,000 rushing yards.

"I've got to give credit to (Atlanta)," Tomlinson said. "Today, for whatever reason, we couldn't move the ball, couldn't get first downs, couldn't run the ball or throw it. That defense played pretty good over there."

Roddy White paced Atlanta with six catches for 112 yards and crossed the 1,000-yard plateau for the second time in his career.

Combined with a win on Sunday by Denver (7-5), San Diego faces a three-game deficit in the AFC West division, a daunting challenge to salvage a season it entered with Super Bowl aspirations.

"It's obviously very disappointing," Chargers head coach Norv Turner said. "Our guys are a high-character football team, and they're going to compete and do everything they can throughout the rest of the season."