• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Falcons hope to carry momentum into clash with Eagles

Oct 21, 2008 - 8:24 PM ATLANTA (4-2) AT PHILADELPHIA (3-3), 1:00 pm EDT

PHILADELPHIA (Ticker) -- The Atlanta Falcons were probably among the few teams not eager to have a week off.

The Falcons will hope to carry the momentum from before the bye week when they visit the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Little was expected this season from Atlanta, which went 4-12 in 2007 but already has matched that win total following back-to-back victories over Green Bay and Chicago.

Rookie Matt Ryan, the No. 3 overall pick, had his finest performance in the pulsating 22-20 win over the Bears.

After Chicago went ahead with just 11 seconds to play, Ryan connected with Michael Jenkins on a 26-yard completion to set up Jason Elam's 48-yard game-winning field goal.

Ryan completed 22-of-29 passes for a career-best 301 yards and a touchdown to help Atlanta remain undefeated (3-0) at home.

The effort by the rookie offset a 54-yard rushing performance from Michael Turner, who still ranks third in the NFL with 597 yards while scoring six touchdowns.

The Falcons will face a difficult test against the Eagles, who also are coming off a bye week.

Philadelphia snapped a two-game losing streak with a flourish, ripping off 23 unanswered points in the fourth quarter in a 40-26 victory over the San Francisco 49ers prior to its bye.

Unlike the Falcons, the week off came at a good time for the Eagles, who are hoping to have standout running back Brian Westbrook in the lineup.

Westbrook missed the previous game with fractured ribs and also sat out Week Four with a high ankle sprain. Nonetheless, he still has scored six touchdowns.

Backup Correll Buckhalter had a sensational effort against the 49ers, rushing for 93 yards and a touchdown and hauling in seven catches for 85 yards.

Philadelphia also could have its top two receivers from last season on the field for the first time. Reggie Brown, who has missed three games with groin and hamstring injuries, is expected to play Sunday, as is Kevin Curtis, who has been sidelined the entire season since undergoing sports hernia surgery in August.