ATLANTA – Tony Gonzalez caught a 21-yard touchdown pass from Matt Ryan to help the Atlanta Falcons tie the New England Patriots 10-10 late in the second quarter Sunday night.
Tom Brady's 1-yard touchdown pass to Matthew Mulligan and Stephen Gostkowski's 48-yard field goal gave New England a 10-3 lead earlier in the period.
Gonzalez was open on the right sideline after linebacker Don't'a Hightower bumped him in coverage and let the 13-time Pro Bowl tight end catch the pass easily and beat safety Steve Gregory to the right goal-line marker.
Brady attempted just nine passes, completing five for 96 yards in the first half, but he has thrown a TD pass in 52 consecutive games, the NFL's second-longest career — and active — streak behind Drew Brees' 54 straight for New Orleans.
Matt Bryant kicked a 23-yard field goal to give the Atlanta Falcons a 3-0 lead on the opening drive.
The 13-play, 75-yard drive stalled at the 6 line when Ryan overthrew Gonzalez and Julio Jones in the end zone.
New England's first drive ended when Kenbrell Thompkins dropped a pass that would've been a first down, and the Patriots had to punt.
Stevan Ridley energized New England's offense late in the first, catching a 24-yard pass and running three times for 26 yards to help set up Mulligan's TD catch that gave the Patriots a 10-3 lead early in the second.
The Falcons went three-and-out on their second possession due in part to a holding penalty on left tackle Sam Baker that wiped out an 18-yard run by Jacquizz Rodgers.
Atlanta, which began the game with a 1-2 record, failed to convert a fourth-and-2 from the New England 7 midway through the second when Ryan threw behind Roddy White near the left sideline.
New England, off to its best start in six years, was trying to improve to 4-0 and tie Denver and Kansas City for the AFC's best record.
The Patriots had yet to face a quarterback this season as successful as Ryan. Others were rookies EJ Manuel of Buffalo and Geno Smith of the New York Jets and Josh Freeman of winless Tampa Bay.
New England's defense had allowed just three touchdowns this year, but the Patriots' offense has only four touchdowns in 13 trips inside the opponents' 20-yard line for an NFL-worst 69.2 percent through three games.
Atlanta entered the game with a 34-7 record under coach Mike Smith at the Georgia Dome, but his defense looked confused on a 49-yard pass from Brady to Thompkins that set up Gostkowski's field goal.
Brady faked to Julian Edelman on a reverse and connected with Thompkins, who jumped to beat strong safety William Moore for the big gain.
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AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org
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