Atlanta Falcons: Replacement officials have an off night

Atlanta Falcons safety William Moore intercepts a Peyton Manning pass intended for tight end Jacob Tamme on Denver's opening drive during first quarter action at the Georgia Dome in Atlanta on Monday, Sept. 17, 2012.

The lawyer negotiating for NFL officials, who are at labor impasse with the league, should probably stay near the telephone.

The replacement officials working the Falcons game against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football had three calls overturned by the replay officials upstairs in booth in the first 30 minutes and failed to maintain order in the first half.

They made yet another case for the nation to see that league’s experiment with replacement officials is not working very well.

If it were a baseball game, Denver coach John Fox might have been tossed in the first inning. He repeatedly went after the officials on some bizarre calls.

On Monday, Mike Pereira, formerly the league’s top official and an analyst for FoxSports, called for an end to the labor situation on SiriusXM NFL radio. He stated that the replacement officials are over-matched and clearly are not used to calling some of the downfield contact in the passing game.

There was a six-minute delay late in the Falcons’ first quarter after routine fumble, recovery and pile-up than concluded with Atlanta’s Ray Edwards drawing a penalty for unnecessary roughness.

Earlier in the game, the officials ruled that Michael Turner scored on a 1-yard run. The replay official reversed that call. Turner was called back on the field and scored on the next play.

About midway through the first quarter, the officials called defensive pass interference on Denver’s Tony Carter. Fox was livid, contended that the ball was tipped at the line of scrimmage and that Carter could legally hit Falcons wide receiver Roddy White. He was proven correct on a video replay.

The play was reversed.

Ryan in the books

Quarterback Matt Ryan’s 4-yard touchdown pass to White in the third quarter was the 100th of his career.

Later in the quarter, White went over 100 yards receiving for the 29th time in his career.

More penalties

The Falcons only committed just two penalties for 12 yards in the season opener against Kansas City.

Monday night, they had two penalties against Denver in the first five minutes. Defensive end John Abraham had a false start and left guard Justin Blalock was called for holding.

The Falcons had six penalties for 51 yards by halftime.

Team captains

The Falcons sent out Ryan, White, Stephen Nicholas, William Moore and Kroy Biermann as their captains.

GrudenGrinder

ESPN analyst Jon Gruden selected Falcons running back Jacquizz Rodgers as his “GrudenGrinder” before the game.

Gruden singles out a player that’s not a star, but grinds away at his job and helps his team.

Injury report

Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon (hamstring) and right tackle Tyson Clabo (hip) started the game.

They were both limited in practice last week and were listed as questionable.

White (groin) and linebacker Robert James (knee) were on the injury report and listed as probable. James played on special teams, while White started.

Cornerback Asante Samuel suffered a neck injury, but returned to the game.

Cornerback Christopher Owens left the game with a head injury and his return was questionable.

THE LATEST NEWS

TV, Radio: Broncos vs. Falcons, 8:30 p.m. on MNF

INJURY REPORT: Weatherspoon, Clabo are questionable; Kuper out for Denver

Matt Bryant: The Alligator Whisperer

Brent Grimes out for the season

Video: What loss of Grimes means

Falcons offense makes it look easy

Still room for improvement in run game

Matt Ryan, Dirk Koetter form bond on and off the field

Get instant updates on Twitter at AJCFalcons and you can join the Facebook Fan page at AJC Falcons.