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Atlanta Falcons: 3 things we learned after Week 4 rout of Houston Texans

By The Sports Xchange
Atlanta Falcons Devonta Freeman had a three touchdown game for the second week in a row as the Falcons moved to 4-0 in a rout of the Houston Texans. File Photo by Ian Halperin/UPI
Atlanta Falcons Devonta Freeman had a three touchdown game for the second week in a row as the Falcons moved to 4-0 in a rout of the Houston Texans. File Photo by Ian Halperin/UPI | License Photo

ATLANTA -- Superstar receiver Julio Jones stood on the sideline with his helmet off for most of the second half. The surprising Atlanta Falcons didn't need him.

Running back Devonta Freeman scored three touchdowns for the second time in two games fueling the Falcons' 48-21 rout of the Houston Texans on Sunday at the Georgia Dome.

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Atlanta is 4-0 for the first time since 2012. That season, the Falcons got off to an 8-0 start and went on to host the NFC Championship Game. They are set up to have a similar start this season. Their next six opponents -- Washington, New Orleans, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, San Francisco and Indianapolis -- all entered Sunday with a losing record.

The Texans (1-3) turned it over four times and weren't in the game for long.

The Falcons took control early and put the game to bed by halftime.

Freeman scored on two bursts up the middle; cornerback Desmond Trufant returned an Arian Foster fumble 24 yards for a touchdown, and quarterback Matt Ryan hooked up with Leonard Hankerson on a quick-hitting 3-yard touchdown that put Atlanta up 28-0 at halftime.

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"For us, to end up plus four today in terms of turnovers was exactly like we like playing," Atlanta coach Dan Quinn. "It was a great team effort today against a really well-coached outfit across the hall."

By the fourth quarter with the Falcons up 42-zip, the Texans mounted three scores behind Brian Hoyer, who replaced Ryan Mallett at quarterback.

Three things we learned about the Falcons

--The Falcons might be a force to be reckoned with as confidence snowballs. Atlanta is 4-0 for the first time since 2012, when they got off to an 8-0 start and went on to host the NFC Championship Game. The Falcons are set up to have a similar start this season. Their next five opponents-Washington, New Orleans, Tennessee, Tampa Bay and San Francisco--all entered Sunday with a losing record. So we might not know how good the Falcons really are for a month.

--The running game and offensive line are vastly improved. Noteworthy for the much-maligned front five was holding J.J. Watt, reigning Defensive Player of the Year, to three tackles. Running back Devonta Freeman scored three touchdowns for the second straight game, taking advantage of some nice creases opened by the Atlanta offensive line.

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--With the Houston Texans' secondary constantly double-teaming Julio Jones, quarterback Matt Ryan connected with seven different receivers and appears to have found a No. 2 target in Leonard Hankerson. Hankerson caught six passes for 103 yards with a touchdown.

Etc.

--WR Leonard Hankerson caught six passes for 103 yards with a touchdown.

--RB Devonta Freeman rushed for 68 yards on 13 carries and scored three touchdowns. Freeman has six touchdowns in his last two games.

--LB Justin Durant injured his elbow in the first half and did not return.

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