Falcons' Mike Davis: Poised for more work Thursday

Davis is in line to serve as the Falcons' No. 1 running back Thursday versus the Patriots with Cordarrelle Patterson (ankle) sidelined, Tori McElhaney of the team's official site reports.

Prior to the Falcons' Week 6 bye, Davis averaged 16 touches per game, but since then his workload has been cut in half to eight per game over the last four outings. With Patterson tending to an ankle sprain, Davis could approach his output from that five-game stretch to begin the campaign (58.4 yards from scrimmage per game, two TDs). Davis will have to contend with Wayne Gallman -- who turned 16 touches into 76 total yards during this past Sunday's blowout loss in Dallas -- and the rarely used Qadree Ollison out of Atlanta's backfield.