The Atlanta Falcons improved to 7-0 with a convincing 30-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles.

The Falcons had a +8.7 advantage in The Trench Counter, outgaining the Eagles 5.8 to 4.4 on a yard per play basis. Atlanta had a +14 edge in Total Rushes/Completions.

Matt Ryan went 22-for-29 for 262 yards and three touchdowns.

Julio Jones caught five balls for 123 yards and a touchdown.

Michael Vick went 21-for-35 for 191 yards passing, one touchdown and an additional 42 yards rushing.

The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Oakland Raiders by a final score of 23-20 on a game-winning 55-yard field goal by Matt Bryant in the closing seconds.

The Falcons had a -4.5 deficit in The Trench Counter, as they were aided by a 79-yard interception return in the fourth quarter from Asante Samuel. The Raiders gained 7.0 yards per play compared to 5.4 for Atlanta, while also recording six additional first downs. Oakland had a +16 edge in Total Rushes/Completions.

Matt Ryan threw three interceptions for the game while completing 24 of his 37 pass attempts for 249 yards and a touchdown. 

Atlanta rushed just 15 times for 45 yards, with Michael Turner carrying 11 for 33.

Carson Palmer went 23-for-33 for 353 yards with a touchdown, interception and lost fumble. Palmer connected with Denarius Moore five times for 104 yards with a touchdown.

Darren McFadden rushed 27 times for 70 yards with a touchdown and a fumble.

The Oakland Raiders play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, and they largely serve as a team worth examining as how to build a sustainable winner.

"They've got the right formula for winning football games," Dennis Allen said of the Falcons. "They understand their personnel, they understand what they're looking for and what it takes to win. In some respects, that's a team we try to emulate."

Reggie McKenzie was a candidate to become general manager of the Falcons, along with eventualy hire Thomas Dimitroff.

"They play with energy, they play with passion, they enjoy playing the game, they create an up-tempo situation both offensively and defensively," Allen said. "When they play that way, it keeps the crowd into it, keeps the crowd excited. It's a good home-field advantage."

Dimitroff and head coach Mike Smith have a similar relationship as what McKenzie is attempting to create with Allen.

"You've got to be collaborative, and collaboration is more important than communication," Smith told Bay Area reporters by conference call last week. "Communication can be one way, and collaborating is two-way communication. Thomas is forward-thinking, very intelligent and a good talent evaluator, and it's been a great working relationship for us."

The Atlanta Falcons improved to 5-0 with a 24-17 win over the Washington Redskins, though they didn't win any style points.

The Falcons had a -0.1 deficit in The Trench Counter, averaging 1.4 fewer yards per play, though they did hold the Redskins to just 12 first downs (1-for-9 on 3rd down). Atlanta, however, had a +26 edge in Total Rushes/Completions.

Matt Ryan went 34-for-52 for two touchdowns, one interception and a lost fumble, finding Tony Gonzalez 13 times for 123 yards and a touchdown. Julio Jones caught 10 balls for 94 yards and a touchdown.

Michael Turner rushed 18 times for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Robert Griffin III went 10-for-15 before being knocked out of the game. Kirk Cousins, also a rookie, went 5-for-9 for a touchdown and two interceptions.

Alfred Morris rushed 18 times for 115 yards, while Ryan Grant returned to the NFL with one carry for five yards.

An often overlooked aspect of football is to establish an early lead. Rather than worrying about establishing the pass or the run, simply getting an early lead allows the specific elements of the game to fall into place.

The Texans, Falcons, Bengals and Chargers lead in first half point differential.

The bottom-five are the Chiefs, Jaguars, Lions, Titans and Panthers.