Walker Doesn’t Disappoint : Falcons: Rookie cornerback makes big plays, including two interceptions, to set Atlanta up for victory.

Deion Sanders pulled on his green boxer shorts, the ones with the white dollar signs all over them, and shouted across the Atlanta Falcon locker room at rookie cornerback Darnell Walker.

“Player of the week, player of the week,” Sanders yelled, pointing at Walker. “Hey rook, give ‘em some ink. Give those boys (writers) something to write about.”

Deion was a step behind. Walker had already done it.

His two interceptions, the first of his brief pro career, set up two second-half Falcon touchdowns as they rallied from a 17-3 first-half deficit to beat the Rams, 30-24, Thursday night at the Georgia Dome.

The victory eased the pain of an 0-5 start for the Falcons, as well as the pain in the broken left thumb Walker suffered against New Orleans this season. Walker, a rookie from Oklahoma, was wearing a cast that stretched up to his wrist.

“Getting a win means everything,” Walker said. “Coach (Jerry) Glanville said in one of the meetings this week that we should play like we’re 5-0. We can’t do anything now about what has already happened, but we can control the rest of the season.”

Afterward, Glanville awarded the game ball to Walker, who didn’t learn he was starting until just after pregame warm-ups. He was a last-second replacement for Vinnie Clark, who was out with a sore back.

“It was great to see so many people spill their guts out there tonight,” Glanville said. “If all of your people do that, you have a chance to win.

“Walker made play after play out there. It was great to see a young guys like him and (rookie wide receiver) David Mims step up and help us.”

Sanders agreed.

“Damn, that ain’t no rookie,” he said of Walker. “Not the way he played tonight. The rook got down out there.”

And he took the Rams down with him.

Walker’s first interception came with the Falcons trailing, 17-10, with 11 minutes 5 seconds left in the third quarter. Ram quarterback Jim Everett rolled to his right and looked for tight end Travis McNeal, who had broken free of Walker’s coverage.

But at the last second, Walker discovered Everett’s intentions. He stepped in front of McNeal and intercepted, giving Atlanta the ball at the Ram 23. Six plays later, Billy Joe Tolliver threw three yards to Mims for the touchdown.

“We were in a zone defense, and I thought (Everett) might run,” Walker said. “I was playing like he was going to run, so I had to catch up to the tight end. Fortunately, I got there.”

Walker’s second interception led to the Falcons’ go-ahead touchdown. Everett threw to Henry Ellard near the Falcon 34, but Walker intercepted and returned the ball to the Falcon 41. Four plays later, Andre Rison dove in front of Ram cornerback Robert Bailey for a 42-yard touchdown catch that gave the Falcons a 27-24 lead with 4:40 left.

“I was just in the right place on the second interception,” Walker said. “That’s what it’s all about.”

Walker also had some good timing with his big game. Despite the return of Sanders, Glanville was in desperate need of defensive backs.

Starting cornerback Bruce Pickens was traded to Green Bay Tuesday, and reserve cornerback Brian Mitchell injured his knee on Tony Smith’s fair-catch on a punt return in the second half. Clark was listed as inactive for the game, leaving Glanville one cornerback short.

“Without Deion today, we would have been in a lot of trouble,” Glanville said.

Walker thought so too. He said he was inspired by the presence of Sanders, who joined the team Thursday after playing for the Braves in the National League Championship Series Wednesday night.

“Man, Deion just did it all,” Walker said. “He’s Prime Time, big time, you know. That’s a motivator in itself.