1.  Defensive line coach John Blake said stopping Heyward and the running game is as important as slowing down the Falcons' passing game.

2.  Defensive lineB-Sacks by Stephen Sua, Anthony Fletcher and Sean Phillips tripled this unit's total in first four games.

3.  Defensive lineman have a direct bearing on the game."

4.  Defensive pessimists, the researchers found, did well in the game when they prepared using imagery that mimicked their preferred coping style.

5.  Defensive tackle Bryant Young, who has missed four games with an ankle injury, also expects to return soon.

6.  Defensive tackle Dana Stubblefield left the game in the first quarter because of the flu and did not return.

7.  Defensive tackle D'Marco Farr, like many of the Rams, didn't want to talk much about the game.

8.  Defensive tackle Junior Ioane's recent string of victories over Flowers in a boxing game called "Knockout King" still eats at him.

9.  Defensive tackle Leon Lett will miss at least the first 13 games of the season because of a league-imposed drug suspension.

10.  Defensive tackle Shane Dronett has had a sack in each game.