The five yard touchdown pass thrown by Chris Redman to Eric Weems with just nine seconds remaining in the game lifted the Atlanta Falcons over the San Diego Chargers giving them a 27-24 win in the preseason match up. A 37 yard field goal from Nate Kaeding gave the Chargers a 24-20 lead with 2:07 left in the game. Redman led the Falcons on a march down field where they wound up on the seven yard line and first and goal. After he failed to convert on three downs, Redman culminated the 11 play 75 yard drive with a bullet to Weems who was deep in the end zone.

Matt Ryan went 14 for 20 on 140 yards with a touchdown, playing into the third quarter for Atlanta. Redman was 15 for 19 with a 10 yard touchdown run and 134 yards. Michael Turner had 12 carries and 47 yards. Marty Booker had six catches for 62 total yards.

Phillip Rivers went 10 for 15 with a touchdown on 185 yards and played into the second quarter for San Diego. Billy Volek went 7 for 9 and had a score and 102 yards. Gartrell Johnson had 12 carries and rushed for 59 yards. Michael Bennett had three catches for a touchdown and 84 yards.

The Chargers got off to an early lead with Darren Sproles capping an eight play drive with his 10 yard run for a touchdown with 9:37 remaining in the first quarter. Atlanta tied the game with Ryan’s 12 yard touchdown pass to Brain Finneran late in the first quarter.

Rivers 48 yard touchdown pass to Bennett early in the second quarter brought the score to 14-7. After a 40 yard field goal from Jason Elam closed the gap, Volek connected with Malcom Floyd on a 10 yard touchdown pass that gave San Diego the lead at 21-10. A 39 yard field goal from Elam brought the half time score to 21-13.

The third quarter was scoreless. Redman in the early part of the fourth quarter started a comeback with his 10 yard touchdown run, which cut the scoring margin to one point.

Game Notes
The Chargers hold a 4-2 edge over the Falcons in their all time series in the preseason, which includes a 28-14 road win during their last meet which was just before the 2000 season. The two teams met during the 2008 regular season which was a 22-16 win for the Falcons on the road on November 30th.

Popularity: 27% [?]