CHARGERS 7, FALCONS 6
Key play: Ironically, one of the few less than impressive punts this year by Mike Scifres turned into a huge break for the Chargers. Atlanta's Harry Douglas, who last week returned a punt 61 yards for a TD, never really got a grip on Scifres bouncing wobbler for the Falcons' fourth fumbled punt of the year. Anthony Waters of the Chargers recovered at the Atlanta 20-yard line, and a few snaps later, San Diego went ahead on LaDainian Tomlinson's 3-yard spin into the endzone.
Key stat:As he has all season, Ryan proved himself a most remarkable rookie quarterback, completing 6 of 9 passes for 89 yards and throwing off the Chargefrs with his rollouts. The Falcons would've held a 10-7 lead at quarter's end, too, if Roddy White hadn't dropped Ryan's pinpoint pass between two Chargers defenders in the endzone.
Not in the box score:The sound of roughly 65,000 people holding their breath at the sight of Falcons wide receiver Michael Jenkins several yards behind the Chargers defense and wide open for what surely would be a TD pass of 17 yards. And then the sigh of relief as Ryan overthrew Jenkins by a mile, bringing on the field-goal unit.
-- CHRIS JENKINS

FALCONS 15, CHARGERS 7
Key play: Michael Turner wasn't the only ex-Charger player to do some damage to San Diego in his return. Tight end Justin Peelle, leaving the ground in the general vicinity of four Chargers defenders, went high for yet another perfect pass from Ryan for the 18-yard TD play that put the Falcons back ahead with 9:24 remaining in the half.
Key stat: Rivers was having his problems passing, but his most desperate throw resulted in two points for the Falcons. For the second time in three weeks, the opposition recorded a safety when getting Rivers in its grips. This time, he was called for intentional grounding while throwing out of the endzone, making it 15-7.
Not in the box score: After his four years with the Chargers, Turner's running style was quite familiar to fans at Qualcomm Stadium, but it was still striking to see him get hit just beyond the line of scrimmage and simply carry a pile of tacklers for an 8-yard gain. But not as striking as the sight of Turner knocked backward by Brandon Siler on a fourth-and-goal from inches out.
-- CHRIS JENKINS

FALCONS 15, CHARGERS 13
Key play: One moment, it was the pass-interference call on Chargers safety Eric Weddle that gave Atlanta 41 yards of real estate and had them headed for a possible score. Moments later, it was Weddle scooping up wide receiver Brian Finneran's fumble _ caused by Quentin Jammer's hit after the catch _ for an 86-yard TD return by Weddle. An incomplete two-point conversion left the Chargers trailing, however.
Key stat: 9:30. The time remaining in the third quarter when Atlanta punter Michael Koenen was finally called to action for the first time in the game.
Not in the box score: As well as he played, Ryan left the wrong kind of impression on referee Mike Carey. While trying to get to Weddle on the long fumble return, Ryan ran into the veteran ref and tossed him to the ground. Not that one has anything to do with the other, but the Falcons challenged the ruling on the TD play and lost.
-- CHRIS JENKINS

FALCONS 22, CHARGERS 16
Key play: It should have been the 28-yard gain that Jacob Hester produced with a direct snap on a fake punt, setting up the Chargers at the Falcons' 31, or it could have been Quentin Jammer's strip of Michael Turner and fumble recovery near midfield with nine minutes left. But those two big plays led to only three Chargers points. So it'll have to be first play of the quarter, a 5-yard pass from Ryan to Harry Douglas, who broke outside in the endzone and had no Chargers defensive back follow him for an easy TD catch.
Key stat: Zero. Receptions by Vincent Jackson, even though he caught the ball twice in this quarter inside the red zone. On the first, Jackson stepped down outside the sideline, ending one threat. Then, on the next series, Jackson went high for a grab and landed beyond the backline of the endzone.
Not in the box score: Having paid their money to see a season of games played by one of the best teams in the NFL, the sellout crowd at Qualcomm again got the feeling that it was watching one of the worst, which is the kind of disrespect that 4-8 will get you. And there was no suppressing the discontent in the stands as the Chargers were booed off the field.
-- CHRIS JENKINS