National Football League

Falcons' defense frustrates Dolphins

Published Sep. 14, 2009 2:08 a.m. ET

foxsports

For one week at least, the Falcons answered all those questions about their defense.

There were never any doubts about Tony Gonzalez.

Atlanta's new tight end hauled in a touchdown pass and became the 21st player in NFL history with 11,000 yards receiving, helping the Falcons beat the mistake-prone Miami Dolphins 19-7 Sunday.

Gonzalez caught five passes for a team-high 73 yards, including a 20-yard touchdown that was set up by Mike Peterson's interception. He made the catch in the flats, cut to the inside while shoving away Yeremiah Bell with his left hand, picked up a nice block from Roddy White and waltzed into the end zone to join the 11,000-yard club.

The former college basketball player didn't get a chance to dunk the ball over the goalposts.

"I was going for it, but my teammates were jumping all over me so I didn't have time to get over there," Gonzalez said. "Plus, I was tired. I was just happy to get in the end zone."

The matchup between the two most surprising teams of 2008 wasn't much of a game. The Falcons' defense, highly suspect after letting go five starters and looking shaky during the preseason, came up with four turnovers and thoroughly shut down a team that won the AFC East after going 1-15 two years ago.