Stephen Nicholas News

"I've been waiting to come back," Mughelli said. "It's not fun sitting on the sidelines." The Falcons have missed Mughelli's lead blocking against the Chicago Bears and the Dallas Cowboys.

Donna McWilliam/Associated Press Dallas quarterback Tony Romo scrambles as Atlanta linebacker Mike Peterson gives chase during the second half of Sunday's game in Dallas.

The Atlanta Falcons are facing their biggest test of the season as they hope to get back in the NFC South race.

It could be better but not by a whole lot. The Falcons are a quarter of the way through the 2009 season with a 3-1 mark, one game behind the New Orleans Saints in the NFC South.

In their first two games of the season, the Patriots ran the ball only 43 times for 156 yards while throwing 100 passes.

Pro Bowler Roddy White has been working underneath a lot. Do the Falcons need to send him deep more often? IN THE AIR ON THE WAY TO HARTSFIELD-JACKSON - It seems like there is never a good time for the bye week.

Patriots left tackle Matt Light and Falcons linebacker Stephen Nicholas will be on the same football field Sunday, playing a game in which the word "miracle" is sometimes used to describe unexpected comeback victories or successful Hail Mary passes.

SEPTEMBER 20: Erik Coleman #26 of the Atlanta Falcons breaks up a pass by quarterback Jake Delhomme #17 of the Carolina Panthers at Georgia Dome on September 20, 2009 in Atlanta, Georgia.

We're closing in on the record for consecutive days of rain. Five down, 35 to go.

There were a few stretches in Atlanta's 28-20 victory Sunday against the Carolina that the Panthers couldn't get the Falcons' offense off the field.

Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Great, Looks like the Birds are going to catch the Cats in a weird situation.

You know, the guy who led the Carolina Panthers to their only Super Bowl. Not the one who ended last season and started this one by turning over the ball 11 times.

Perhaps not perfect but surely far better than average, the Falcons opened their NFL season with style on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.

Where was this four-sack and four-turnover defense hiding at all preseason? Did inserting Brian Williams into the starting cornerback position make that much of a difference? It helped.

Anthony Fasano had the football and was in Mike Peterson's vicinity. Sunday, that wasn't a winning combination.

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas The Atlanta Falcons are the final stop on our series of team-by-team mailbags.

The Atlanta Falcons traded experience for youth when they rebuilt their defense.

Falcons general manager Thomas Dimitroff's fingerprints now can be seen on offense and defense.

Posted by ESPN.com's Pat Yasinskas Take a look at this video and tell me the Atlanta Falcons aren't a likeable football team.

The Falcons flashed their new-look three-man front at the Georgia Dome on Saturday.