OAKLAND, Calif. -- Once Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons offense got going, the Oakland Raiders struggled to stop them.Ryan threw for 396 yards and three touchdowns with help from a fortunate bounce, and the Falcons bounced back from a home loss to open the season by beating the Raiders 35-28 on Sunday.After being forced to punt on the first two drives of the game, the Falcons (1-1) scored on seven of their next eight possessions against a struggling Oakland defense to spoil the home opener for the Raiders (1-1).Once we kind of found our stride, we kept going and played really well, Ryan said. We did a better job in the red zone today. Still have some opportunities to continue to improve, areas we can get better. But, for the most part, I thought our guys played really well today.The Falcons ran the ball effectively with Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman combining for 139 yards on the ground, got a typical big day from star receiver Julio Jones, who had five catches for 106 yards and a score , and then got lucky at a key spot in the fourth quarter.With the game tied and Atlanta facing a third down, Ryans pass to Coleman was broken up. But the ball popped up in the air and went right to Justin Hardy in the end zone for 8-yard score that gave the Falcons the lead for good.That helped erase the bad feeling from last weeks 31-24 loss at home to Tampa Bay .We were all disappointed in the way that we started, so we went to work last week, tight end Jacob Tamme said. We were coming out here, big, long trip. Big trip to the West Coast, playing a team that was on a high after what they did last week, so I thought it was heck of a win, a great way to get on the right track.Here are some other takeaways from the Falcons win:STRUGGLING D: For a second straight week, Oaklands revamped defense struggled to stop anyone. After allowing 507 yards in a 35-34 win at New Orleans , the Raiders gave up 528 yards to the Falcons. Its the most yards allowed through two games since at least 1940, according to Pro Football Reference. Coach Jack Del Rio pulled linebacker Ben Heeney in the second half after doing the same to cornerback Sean Smith a week ago and also took over play-calling duties late in the game from coordinator Ken Norton Jr.Im speechless, linebacker Bruce Irvin said. Ive never experienced this experience. Until everybody makes a full commitment to turning this thing around were going to be a subpar defense.NO HUDDLE: Atlanta frequently employed a no-huddle offense that left the Raiders defense scrambling at times. The Falcons went no-huddle on more than 25 plays, including TD passes to Jones and Tamme .We did a great job with the tempo -- it was effective for us, Ryan said. I thought we ran the ball extremely well out of no-huddle and also, we hit some big shots down the field. Going sideline to sideline with all the key plays that we did, I really thought it was effective for us.EFFICIENT OFFENSE: With Oaklands defense struggling, there is even more pressure on quarterback Derek Carr and the offense to pick up the slack. The Raiders have scored 63 points and gained 940 yards through two games without committing any turnovers. Carr went 34 for 45 for 299 yards and three TDs against the Falcons.The great thing about this team is were not going to be pulled apart, Carr said. We understand the situation. We understand whats going on. Theres nothing thats going to divide us, at all.TARGETING TIGHT ENDS: Ryan frequently found his tight ends for big gains, completing 10 passes for 180 yards and a TD to Tamme, Austin Hooper and Levine Toilolo. Covering tight ends was a major issue for the Raiders last season and is a problem that hasnt been solved yet. Oakland will get a tough test next week against Tennessees Delanie Walker.I dont think there were any physical mismatches out there, Del Rio said. It was a matter of guys having their eyes where theyre supposed to be and knowing what the heck theyre doing.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Discount Football Jerseys Throwback . The Americans, skipped by John Shuster, seized the advantage in the eighth end by scoring five points for a 7-3 lead. The Czechs pulled two back in the ninth, but Shusters team of third Jeff Isaacson, second Jared Zezel and lead John Landsteiner ended with another point to secure the last Olympic berth on offer. Cheap Football Jerseys Throwback China . Vettel was 0.168 seconds faster than Red Bull teammate Mark Webber around the Suzuka circuit. Mercedes driver Nico Rosberg was two tenths of a second off Vettel. "The car balance is decent, but I think we can still improve," Vettel said. http://www.cheapfootballthrowback.com/ . U.S. District Judge Lorna G. Schofield in Manhattan agreed that lawyers on both sides could make their formal requests by Nov. 8. A hearing is scheduled for a day earlier. Jordan Siev, a lawyer for Rodriguez, wrote in a joint letter to the judge from lawyers on both sides that MLB lawyers planned to ask that the lawsuit be dismissed. Stitched Football Jerseys Throwback . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. Sale Football Jerseys Throwback . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. NEW YORK -- Jimmy Vesey scored a tiebreaking power-play goal with 5:12 remaining to lift the New York Rangers to a 3-2 victory over the Carolina Hurricanes on Tuesday night.Rick Nash had a goal and an assist, Nick Holden also scored and Henrik Lundqvist stopped 19 shots to help the Rangers snap a four-game skid at home (0-3-1).Hurricanes defenseman Ron Hainsey received a double-minor for hooking and an unsportsmanlike misconduct with 6:47 to go and Vesey took advantage 95 seconds later for his eight goal of the season and first since Nov. 12.Viktor Stalberg scored twice in the first period in his return to New York for the first time since leaving the Rangers to sign with Carolina in the offseason. Cam Ward finished with 25 saves as the Hurricanes lost for the third time in four games.Stalberg got the Blue Jackets on the scoreboard 5:22 into the first period as he fired a wrist shot between Lundqvists legs.Stalberg made it 2-0 with 7:05 left in the period. After Rangers defenseman Kevin Klein turned the puck over, Jay McClement shot the loose puck toward the net and Stalberg knocked in the rebound for his sixth of the season and fourth in five games.Holden cut eh deficit in half at 9:13 of the second as he elevated a wrist shot oveer Wards outstretched arm for his third of the season.ddddddddddddNash then tied it just 24 seconds into the third period as he raced up ice, breezing past both Hurricanes defenders, and stuck a backhand off the crossbar and in.Alain Vigneault coached his 270th career game with the Rangers, passing Colin Campbell for sole possession of ninth place on the franchises all-time list.Game notes The Rangers granted a Make-A-Dream Come True experience for 11-year-old Bryce Rogerson from New York Presbyterian and Make-A-Wish Hudson Valley. Bryce had the opportunity to be an honorary Rangers Coach for a day. ... D Adam Clendening and F Josh Jooris were healthy scratches for New York. ... F Mika Zibanejad missed his fifth game with a broken left fibula. ... On Monday, the Hurricanes placed Jordan Staal (concussion) on injured reserve. ... Carolina scratched D Klas Dahlbeck, D Ryan Murray and F Brock McGinn.UP NEXTHurricanes: At Boston on Thursday night before returning to Madison Square Garden on Saturday in the finale of a three-game trip.Rangers: At Buffalo on Thursday night.Hurricanes: At Boston Thursday night. ' ' '
