Week 13 Game Recap: Atlanta Falcons 24, Washington Redskins 14

What you need to know

Atlanta Falcons

Having lost four games in a row, it didn’t look good when the Falcons fell behind 14–0 in the first quarter. Atlanta refused to abandon their running game, however, and the defense switched from a coverage scheme to a more aggressive strategy. They stacked the line, blitzed the young Washington quarterback, forced him into mistakes, and shut out the Redskins the rest of the game.

Running the ball is still the cornerstone of the Atlanta attack, and the Falcons amassed over 250 yards on the ground. Warrick Dunn gained 87 tough yards on 21 carries, while Vick added 59 yards on ten carries. However, rookie Jerious Norwood led Atlanta with 107 yards, which included a spectacular 69 yard TD dash in the fourth quarter. He faked cornerback Carlos Rogers so badly at the ten yard line that Rogers tried to turn both ways at once before Norwood streaked past him and into the end zone.

Michael Vick avoided turnovers, controlled the ball with timely runs, and his receivers were able to catch more passes than they dropped. Vick completed 8 of 16 passes for 122 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

Falcons’ receivers had dropped 31 passes prior to this game, and Alge Crumpler flat out dropped the first two balls thrown to him, but Vick kept calling his number. Persistence paid off in the form of Crumpler’s 16 yard touchdown catch late in the first half. Michael Jenkins caught the go ahead touchdown early in the third quarter, a 22 yard Vick laser which hit him in stride slanting in the end zone. Crumpler ended the day with two receptions for 62 yards and Jenkins added four for 43 yards.

The Falcons’ defense intercepted Jason Campbell twice and pressured most of the game. Early in the third quarter, trailing 14-10, Lawyer Milloy broke through the line and hit Campbell as he tried to pass downfield. The dying quail was picked off by DE Chauncey Davis who rambled 41 yards to the Washington 25. Two plays later Vick hit Jenkins for the go ahead score.

Washington Redskins

After forcing Atlanta to punt on their first possession, Washington drove 69 yards in nine plays capped by an eight yard TD run by Ladell Betts. The Falcons went three and out on their next possession, and Washington again responded with a five play, 70 yard scoring drive highlighted by Jason Campbell’s 42 yard TD pass to Santana Moss. With two minutes still left in the first quarter the Redskins were rolling 14–0.

On the next series, the Redskins took over on downs when they stopped Michael Vick on fourth and one at their own 48 yard line. Another touchdown would have made it 21–0 and the game may have been over right there. But after two incomplete passes and a reverse by Antwaan Randle El that lost a yard, the Redskins had to punt. Atlanta responded with their own 11 play, 73 yard drive which led to a Morten Anderson field.

Washington immediately lost whatever momentum they had. After scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions, their following drives ended with a punt, a missed 50 yard field goal, an interception, punt, punt, punt, interception, and turning the ball over on downs at the Falcons’ seven yard line.

Ladell Betts, replacing the injured Clinton Portis, rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown, while former Falcon T.J. Duckett chipped in with nine yards on four carries. A ground game which can grind out 177 yards will win you most games, but you have to be able to respond with a passing attack when you fall behind.

Jason Campbell, making his third start since replacing Mark Brunell, was clearly rattled by the Atlanta pass rush. He’s mobile and scrambled for 15 yards, but only completed 18 of 38, 217 yards, one TD and two interceptions. He’s a young quarterback with obvious ability but he is learning on the job.

Santana Moss led all receivers with seven catches, 123 yards and one touchdown, but 42 came on one pass in the first quarter. It’s only the second time this season that Moss has eclipsed the century mark in a game.

What you ought to know

QB Michael Vick, Pass: 8 - 16 - 122 - 2 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 10 - 59 - 0

Vick completed half of his passes for 122 yards and two touchdowns. He also scrambled for 59 yards in leading his team to this must win victory on the road. The key stat: zero turnovers.

QB Matt Schaub

When Vick was shaken up in the fourth quarter and had to leave the game for one play, Schaub replaced him, handed off to Warrick Dunn, and then returned to the sideline.

RB Warrick Dunn, Rush: 21 - 87 - 0

Warrick Dunn gained 87 tough yards on 21 carries.

RB Jerious Norwood, Rush: 9 - 107 - 1

The third round draft choice from Mississippi State looks like a steal. He finished the game with 107 yards on just nine carries, including a 69 yard run in the fourth quarter to seal the win for Atlanta.

RB Justin Griffith, Rush: 1 - 3 - 0

The big fullback carried the ball once for three yards.

WR Michael Jenkins, Rec: 4 - 43 - 1 (5 targets)

Jenkins made a few tough catches, including the 22 yard TD laser from Vick in the third quarter, which put the Falcons ahead for the first time in the game.

WR Ashley Lelie, Rec: 2 - 17 - 0 (5 targets)

Lelie dropped one pass, had another ball knocked away, and finished with 17 yards on two grabs.

TE Alge Crumpler, Rec: 2 - 62 - 1 (7 targets)

Crumpler flat out dropped the first two passes thrown to him, but Vick kept dialing him up. One pass went for 46 yards down to the Redskins’ nine yard line. It set up his other reception (following an offside penalty) a 16 yard pass in the end zone for the first Atlanta touchdown.

PK Morten Andersen 1 - 1 FG, 3 - 3 XP, 6 points

The ageless one hit his only field goal attempt, from 34 yards, and made all three PATs.

ATL Rush Defense

While Ladell Betts gained 155 yards on 28 carries in this game, Washington was unable to sustain drives after the first quarter. Once Atlanta took the lead in the third quarter, the Redskins almost completely abandoned the run.

ATL Pass Defense

Atlanta was able to get pressure on Campbell and they forced two interceptions. His mobility enabled him to only get sacked once, and he scrambled for 15 yards, but he was unable to get Washington back in the game after they lost the lead.

QB Jason Campbell, Pass: 18 - 38 - 217 - 1 TD / 2 INT, Rush: 2 - 15 - 0

Jason Campbell, making his third start since replacing Mark Brunell, completed 18 of 38, 217 yards, one TD and two interceptions. He’s a tall quarterback, who has to squat down under center. It looks awkward, and he has to work on moving out of there quickly after the snap to avoid getting tangled up with pulling linemen.

Campbell has obvious talent, but the Redskins are apparently looking to make a playoff run next year. He throws a nice ball when he has time to set up, and he is always a threat to scramble for positive yardage.

RB Ladell Betts, Rush: 28 - 155 - 1, Rec: 3 - 18 - 0 (4 targets)

Betts surpassed the injured Clinton Portis in rushing yardage for the Redskins this season, gained a career high 155 yards on 28 carries and scored Washington’s first touchdown. The team seems comfortable with the former second round draft choice from Iowa being the feature back in their offense.

RB T.J. Duckett, Rush: 4 - 9 - 0

The former Falcons’ first round draft choice gained nine yards on four carries.

RB Mike Sellers, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (2 targets)

Sellers had no carries, but caught a pass in the fourth quarter for 12 yards.

WR Santana Moss, Rec: 7 - 123 - 1 (9 targets)

Moss scored Washington’s first touchdown, a 42 yard pass which he caught at the three yard line between two defenders. Nobody touched him down, so he rolled into the end zone. His 123 receiving yards marks just the second game this season that Moss has gained more than 100 yards.

WR Antwaan Randle El, Rush: 1 - -2 - 0, Rec: 2 - 14 - 0 (8 targets)

He only caught two passes for 14 yards, and six targets came in the fourth quarter. Randle El also lost two yards in the first quarter on a reverse.

WR Brandon Lloyd, Rec: 2 - 26 - 0 (6 targets)

Lloyd managed to catch two passes for 26 yards, although he was targeted in every quarter.

WR James Thrash, Rec: 1 - 12 - 0 (2 targets)

Thrash caught one pass for twelve yards in the fourth quarter as Washington desperately tried to overcome the ten point deficit.

TE Chris Cooley, Rec: 2 - 12 - 0 (6 targets)

Cooley only caught two passes for 12 yards, but made a great block on a Jason Campbell scramble in the first quarter which led to the first Washington touchdown.

PK Shaun Suisham 0 - 1 FG, 2 - 2 XP, 2 points

Signed on Tuesday, Suisham missed a 50 yard field goal wide left but converted both extra points.

WAS Rush Defense

Atlanta gained 256 yards. It’s tough to put a positive spin on that statistic, even in Washington.

WAS Pass Defense

For the Redskins to be successful their defense must get turnovers, but they could not register a sack or an interception against Atlanta. While Vick only threw 16 passes, including three easy catches that were dropped, two passes were caught for touchdowns.