Atlanta Falcons Enter Crucial Stretch Of Division Games

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. (AP) - The first home loss of the season for the Atlanta Falcons provided a painful reminder of how quickly they can fall behind in the tough NFC South.

The Falcons lost 24-20 to Denver and fell to third place in the division. They’re two games behind first-place Carolina, which beat Detroit, and one game behind Tampa Bay, which beat Minnesota. New Orleans is fourth in the division at 5-5 after a win against Kansas City.

Atlanta can gain ground when it plays three of its next four games against division opponents, including a home game against Carolina next Sunday.

The loss to Denver also provided a reminder to the Falcons that they must win games on the ground. The Falcons ranked second in the league in rushing before they were outgained on the ground 124-114 by the Broncos.

Michael Turner had 25 carries for 81 yards and two touchdowns, leaving him with 971 yards rushing in his first season as a full-time starter.

Turner has 227 carries this season after having 228 carries the last four years in San Diego, where he was the primary backup to LaDainian Tomlinson.

Turner started only one game in his four years with the Chargers, and he never had more than 80 carries in a season. He insists that he has not worn down under the heavy workload.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)