Matt Ryan threw for 316 yards and a touchdown to lead the Atlanta Falcons to a 23-17 victory over the visiting Tennessee Titans on Sunday.

Michael Turner rushed for 100 yards and a touchdown as Atlanta (6-4) won for the fourth time in five games to move within a game of NFC South leader New Orleans.

Things got interesting after Tennessee lost quarterback Matt Hasselbeck with an elbow injury in the third quarter.

Trailing 23-3, rookie Jake Locker replaced Hasselbeck and connected with Nate Washington for a 40-yard touchdown on his third attempt of the game.

Locker then threw a 4-yard touchdown pass to Washington with 3:06 remaining to cut the deficit to 23-17, but the Falcons (6-4) were able to run out the clock.

Locker ended up 9 for 19 for 140 yards for the Titans (5-5).

Playing without deep threat rookie receiver Julio Jones (hamstring), Atlanta turned to veteran Roddy White, who caught seven passes for 147 yards.

Atlanta scored on its first possession of the game and never trailed as Ryan connected with tight end Tony Gonzalez on a 17-yard scoring pass. The Falcons then made it 13-0 on a pair of field goals by Matt Bryant, the first of which came on a fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line.

A week ago, Falcons coach Mike Smith opted to try for a first down at his own 29-yard-line on fourth-and-1 in overtime. That led to a Saints game-winning field goal.

The Falcons scored on a lightning-quick drive to start the second half capped by Turner’s 4-yard touchdown run.