For openers, not bad.
But the Falcons have an inglorious history with more than one former NFC West rival, and now comes perhaps a more daunting challenge ending a seven-game losing streak against the St. Louis Rams.
Before the 2002 NFL realignment, the Falcons faced the Rams at least twice a year as division opponents, and the results often were ugly. As they found last year, when they were blasted by St. Louis 36-0 in a Monday night mismatch, the Falcons' move to the NFC South didn't help in the lopsided rivalry.
In the seven straight losses to the Rams, the Falcons have been outscored 264-88 and the Rams have scored more than 30 points each time.
As an assistant coach with the 49ers for seven years, including five years as defensive coordinator, Mora is no stranger to Marshall Faulk, Isaac Bruce and Torry Holt the Rams' offensive stars who have so regularly torched the Falcons.
But Mora says the real concern this week is the Rams are no longer just a high-scoring power. He says they are just as strong on defense.
``They're a very good team,'' Mora said. ``They're a very dangerous team. ... They're as efficient on defense as they ever were on offense, which is a scary combination.''
The obvious change for Atlanta fans is that for the first time since 1998, the Rams began the season with someone other than Kurt Warner as their starting quarterback.
Marc Bulger passed for 352 yards and two touchdowns in last year's rout of the Falcons in St. Louis, and he moved to 19-4 as a starter when he completed 23 of 34 passes for 272 yards in last week's 17-10 comeback win over Arizona.
The Rams dominated the Cardinals in total yards 448-260 but were hurt by turnovers on their first three possessions, including an interception thrown by Bulger at the Arizona 2-yard line.
Rams coach Mike Martz says he expects the Falcons to test Bulger with blitzes, hoping to force him into more bad passes.
``Everybody blitzes him, from the very beginning, because they know he's a young quarterback, so he's had that pressure,'' Martz said. ``I would say the difference at this point, a year ago at this time our protections were an issue.''
Bulger, who took over for Warner in Week 2 last season, already has led the Rams to seven fourth-quarter comeback wins, which Martz called ``awfully significant'' and said is a big reason Bulger has won the team's confidence.
The Falcons entered last week's 21-19 win at San Francisco with concerns about quarterback Michael Vick's lack of time in the team's new West Coast offense. Limited by a hamstring injury to 29 snaps in the preseason, Vick completed his first five passes and finished with 163 yards passing with one touchdown and one interception.
While Vick was only average in the opener, Falcons running back Warrick Dunn and tight end Alge Crumpler made impressive debuts in the new offense. Dunn rushed for 63 yards and two touchdowns, and Crumpler, a 2003 Pro Bowl starter, set a career high with six catches for 82 yards and a touchdown all in the first half.
Rams cornerback Aeneas Williams likely will line up against Falcons receiver Peerless Price, who caught four passes for 62 yards last week. Another key will be the Falcons' ability to contain defensive ends Leonard Little and Bryce Fisher.
Making it more difficult for the Falcons is a banged up left side of the offensive line. Starting left guard Michael Moore was placed on injured reserve Wednesday with a shoulder injury that will require season-ending surgery, and sarting left tackle Kevin Shaffer is questionable with knee and rib injuries.
``I think that whoever is in the game just has to step up,'' Vick said. ``Whether you're a young guy or you're a veteran, you've got to step up. It won't change the way we call our protections. It may change the way we run the ball, but we just can't change our scheme because one person goes down.''
The Falcons had unsuccessful talks with longtime starting left tackle Bob Whitfield this week after cutting Whitfield on Sept. 5. Ten days after he was waived, Whitfield still had his locker at the team's practice facility, leading to speculation that he would be re-signed.
If the Falcons' pass protection breaks down, Vick may have to freelance as a runner, a scary thought for the Rams.
``He is probably the best athlete, pound for pound, in the league playing the quarterback position,'' said defensive tackle Tyoka Jackson. ``That puts a tremendous amount of pressure on our defense, and you have to be really aware of your lanes, pursuit angles and so forth. We have our work cut out for us.''
http://accesswdun.com/article/2004/9/151901