OAKLAND, Calif. — Even in the depths of the Michael Vick- and Bobby Petrino-inspired despair last year in Atlanta, the Falcons never sank as low as they sent the Oakland Raiders on Sunday.
Matt Ryan threw a pair of first-half touchdown passes to Michael Jenkins and the Falcons held the Raiders to negative yards and no first downs in the first half and their lowest yards total in 47 years in a 24-0 victory.
In a six-year stretch of losing, embarrassment and new lows in Oakland, Al Davis’ once-proud franchise might have reached a new nadir this week in front of a half-filled stadium of fans who began booing the Raiders (2-6) just minutes in. Oakland finished with just 77 yards for its worst total since getting 58 in 1961 against the Chargers, when Davis was an assistant in San Diego.
The Falcons (5-3) scored on their first four possessions as Ryan had open receivers to pick from almost every time he dropped back.
Atlanta also posted its first shutout since 2002, preserving it with an interception in the end zone by Erik Coleman midway through the fourth quarter.
Justin Fargas’ 13-yard run with 9:26 to play in the third quarter gave the Raiders their initial first down of the game.
