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FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- The Atlanta Falcons are flying high, leading the NFL in a bunch of offensive categories.Now comes the real test.Can Matt Ryan & Co. keep it going against not one, but two of the NFLs top defenses?The Falcons (3-1) will be on the West Coast the next two weeks, facing the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos on Sunday, followed by the team that won it all during the 2013 season, the Seattle Seahawks.Both have made their mark on the defensive side of the line in recent years, and nothing much has changed this season.The Broncos and the Seahawks rank among the top five in fewest points and yards allowed, providing quite a challenge for a team that seems to be clicking on all cylinders.Were leading in a lot of the stats for offense, left tackle Jake Matthews said Wednesday. Its time for us to prove it and continue to do it every week.Its probably asking too much for the Falcons to keep up this pace. Led by Ryan and receiver Julio Jones, but working pretty much everyone into the mix, Atlanta has averaged 38 points and 478.8 yards per game over the first quarter of the season.No one else is even close to those staggering numbers.The Falcons lead in passing yards (354.3) and are sixth in rushing yards (124.5), showing the kind of balance that coach Dan Quinn knows is so important.Were making good decisions in both the run game and the pass game, the second-year coach said. Thats what makes going against us so challenging.After a season-opening loss to Tampa Bay, the Falcons ripped off three straight victories -- scoring more than 40 points the last two weeks against New Orleans and defending NFC champion Carolina.While Jones is having another dynamic season, highlighted by his 300-yard showing against the Panthers, Ryan is working the ball all over the field. Ten other players have at least two catches, and six players besides Jones have touchdown receptions.When you spread the ball around, keep everybody involved, keep a defense off-balance and make sure theyre guarding all five eligibles, Ryan said, it makes it tough on those guys.Coming off a bit of a disappointing season marked by a series of perplexing turnovers, Ryan is the top-rated quarterback in the league. Hes completed 72 percent of his passes for an NFL-leading 1,473 yards, and his 11 touchdown passes are tied with Ben Roethlisberger of the Steelers. More important, Matty Ice has only two interceptions.Clearly, hes more comfortable in Year 2 with offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan.Were both further along at this point than we were last year. Theres no question about that, Ryan said.He understands everybody we have in the building, too. Kyle has done a great job of utilizing guys skill sets, mixing and matching and putting guys in positions to succeed. Sometimes, that takes time, too.With teams focused on the dynamic passing game, the Falcons are able to do plenty of damage in the run game, as well. Devonta Freeman has rushed for 322 yards, averaging 5.9 yards per carry while teaming with Tevin Coleman (129 yards, four TDs) to provide quite a 1-2 punch.Theyve had a lot of explosive plays, Denver coach Gary Kubiak said. Theyve got a lot of guys making those plays.Coleman is something of a question mark because he carries the sickle cell trait, which could be exacerbated by Denvers high altitude. The second-year back intends to play but will be closely monitored.Just stay hydrated and keep on talking to the doctors during the game to see how I feel, Coleman said. Ive never been there, so I really dont know how my body is going to react to it.Freeman said hes ready to carry the load if Coleman is limited or cant play. The Falcons dont have another running back on the 53-man roster.Were not a one-dimensional team, Freeman said. That is whats going to make us so special.Game notes The Falcons are hopeful new LB A.J. Hawk will be able to suit up after being signed this week. The 32-year-old was hastily learning the defense after replacing Sean Weatherspoon, who went down with a season-ending Achilles tendon injury. ... The Falcons are really hurting at linebacker. Rookie starter DeVondre Campbell (ankle) and backup Paul Worrilow (groin) didnt play against the Panthers, and rookie starter Deion Jones (calf) went out during the game. None of them practiced Wednesday. ... P Matt Bosher (right hamstring) also missed practice. The team signed another punter, Michael Palardy, to the practice squad as insurance.---Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963 . His work can be found at http://bigstory.ap.org/content/paul-newberry .---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Jazz Jerseys Authentic . Patrice Bergeron and Daniel Paille scored 20 seconds apart a few minutes after Stamkos was taken off the ice on a stretcher with a broken right leg, and the Bruins beat the Lightning 3-0 on Monday afternoon. Wholesale Jazz Jerseys . The team says the Spain international has a muscle pull in his right leg. Barcelona hosts third-division side Cartagena in the return leg of their round-of-32 tie after winning their first meeting 4-1. http://www.cheapjazzjerseys.com/ . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. Cheap NBA Jerseys .ca! Hi Kerry, Heres an interesting one. I know its common knowledge that all players are responsible for their sticks. We witnessed that when Zack Kassian hit Edmontons Sam Gagner in the face after a missed check. Mike Conley Jersey . JOHNS, N. CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Panthers coach Ron Rivera wants Cam Newton to receive the same protection on helmet-to-helmet hits as other quarterbacks get in the NFL.Rivera said because of the 6-foot-5, 245-pound Newtons size and the Panthers style of play, Newton often doesnt draw the flags on hard hits that smaller QBs do.Newton was on the receiving end of four helmet-to-helmet hits in Thursday nights physical 21-20 loss to Denver, but the Broncos were only penalized once.I think there is a little bit of prejudice to that, Rivera said of the lack of penalties. Its kind of like Shaquille ONeal. Hes a big physical basketball player and he goes to set a pick and they fall down and they call a foul on him. Then he goes to shoot a layup and gets hacked and hammered and they dont call it.Rivera even went as far as to say the leagues reigning MVP should receive some preferential treatment.The coach would like to see Newton, now in his sixth season, get some veteran favoritism from the leagues officials.Newton was tested four times for a concussion -- after the game in the locker room, on the bus, on the flight home and Friday morning at the stadium -- and all proved to be negative. He was never tested during the game.Newton is expected to practice when the Panthers return to the field on Wednesday, the coach said.Rivera said he will send video of some of the hits to the league.Some of them you would like to see them throw the flags, Rivera said without identifying which hits.The NFL doesnt disagree with Rivera. A person with knowledge of the situation told The Associated Press that league officials say linebacker Brandon Marshall should have been flagged for a second half hit on Newton.The person said Dean Blandino, the leagues senior vice president of officiating, and his staff reviewed the play and determined on Friday that Marshall shouldve been flagged for delivering a hit to Newtons head after the quarterback had released the football. The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the NFL did not publicly comment on the details of its review.The NFL wont hand out any potential fines until next week after they review all Week 1 games.There were a couple of helmet-to-helmet hits on Newton by last years Super Bowl MVP Von Miller and defensive end Jared Crick. Millers facemask-to-facemask hit occurred while Newton was being sacked by DeMMarcus Ware.ddddddddddddThe biggest hit on Newton, however, was delivered by safety Darian Stewart on Carolinas final possession, leaving the QB motionless on the ground for several seconds. Newton stayed in and led the Panthers into field goal range, although Graham Gano missed a 50-yard attempt that would have given Carolina the lead.Stewart said after the game he felt like he led with his shoulder, not his head.The NFL released a statement Friday saying medical officials determined Newton didnt need to leave the game due to injury. It said there was communication between medical personnel on the Carolina sideline, including the unaffiliated neurotrauma consultant, and the two independent certified athletic trainer spotters in the booth.The release also stated that during stoppage in action the play was reviewed and medical officials determined there were no indications of a concussion that would require further evaluation and the removal of the player from the game.Rivera didnt see a need to sit Newton after the hit.Im not going to question the doctors, OK? There is a protocol, Rivera said.The NFLPA said it is reviewing whether Newton should have been tested after the hit.Broncos coach Gary Kubiak said he didnt think there was that much contact with Newtons head during the game.I saw two plays where he left the pocket where there were big collisions, Kubiak said. There were a lot of big collisions in that game. I think we were playing hard. They were playing hard. They knocked the heck out of us, too, you know.Kubiak also doesnt feel his players were being dirty.Rivera knows officials have a difficult job to do, especially when it comes to a player like Newton who runs a lot.I think his style of play is different as far as quarterbacks are concerned, Rivera said. ... Its so hard to tell whether he is running or going to throw. So that makes it tough.Kubiak agreed.Hes the top player in football and theyre designed runs for him, Kubiak said. Youd better tackle him like a back, youd better treat him that way or youre going to have a long night as a defensive football team.---AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL---AP Pro Football Writer Arnie Stapleton in Denver contributed to this report. ' ' '