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Washington (2-5) at Atlanta (4-3)

Cloudy Currently: Atlanta, GA
Temp: 51° F
  • Game info: 1:00 pm EST Sun Nov 8, 2009
  • TV: FOX

By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA, STATS Senior Writer Nov 4, 2:24 pm EST

Preview | Box Score | Recap
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Matt Ryan(notes) and the Atlanta Falcons certainly need a matchup with a weaker opponent. Facing the Washington Redskins should give them a good chance to win, but may not help Ryan end his struggles.

Losers of two straight for the first time under coach Mike Smith(notes), the Falcons hope Ryan can handle a tough defense as they face an otherwise woeful Redskins team Sunday.

Atlanta (4-3) has struggled since winning four of its first five, losing 37-21 to Dallas on Oct. 25 and 35-27 on Monday night. The Falcons’ defense faltered in those matchups, and Ryan fell short in trying to compensate.

He threw three interceptions versus the Saints and was picked off seven times over his last three games. His nine interceptions are two shy of his total from last season, when he was the NFL offensive rookie of the year.

Smith believes Ryan might be trying too hard.

“A lot of times it’s from being competitive and wanting to make plays,” Smith said. “I think that’s the thread that has run through the interceptions that have occurred over the last three games. Matt is very competitive and confident in himself and in his receiving corps that we can make plays.”

The Redskins have lost three straight and are 2-5 on the season, but a bounce back game for Ryan may not come easily.

Washington’s defense is ranked second against the pass, giving up 164.9 yards per game while allowing six TDs. The Redskins are fifth in total defense at 283.4 yards a contest and in scoring defense at 17.6 points per game.

Washington has been more vulnerable against the run, allowing 118.5 yards a contest, but has limited opponents to three rushing TDs.

Smith and offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey, encouraged by Pro Bowl running back Michael Turner’s(notes) strong performance against New Orleans, could go with a run-heavy game plan to take some of the pressure off Ryan. Turner had his best game of the season last week with 151 yards rushing and a score, and may have helped himself by spending extra time watching film of his 2008 season, when he was the NFL’s No. 2 rusher.

Atlanta will face Washington cornerback DeAngelo Hall(notes), who made two Pro Bowls with the Falcons after being drafted in the first round by them in 2004.

Hall got into a sideline shouting match with former Atlanta coach Bobby Petrino during the ’07 season and was traded to Oakland during that offseason. This will be his first game at the Georgia Dome since the trade.

He faced Atlanta last year in a home game while with the Raiders, a 24-0 loss Nov. 2, 2008, and was cut after the contest. Washington signed him days later and gave him a $54 million, six-year contract this past offseason.

“I’m not Brett Favre(notes) walking back into Lambeau, but there’s definitely going to be a little emotion tied into this thing,” Hall said. “I saw a lot of those guys mature as players, mature as people on and off the field. Can’t wait to go out there and mix it up with them.”

Hall and the defense have tried to help Washington overcome terrible performances offensively. The Redskins, with a banged-up offensive line, are ranked 28th in the league with 13.7 points per game.

Left tackle Chris Samuels(notes) (neck) and right guard Randy Thomas(notes) (triceps) are on injured reserve, and Jason Campbell(notes) has been left with little time to pass while Clinton Portis(notes) is struggling to find holes. Campbell has been sacked 20 times and Portis has been held under 4.0 yards a carry in five of seven games.

“We went into the season, and we didn’t address that issue,” Portis said of the lack of depth on the line. “And it came back to haunt us.”

Even if the Redskins improve, it might not result in wins. Each of their next five opponents has a winning record.

Washington owner Dan Snyder rarely talks during the season, but he had some telling comments Tuesday at an event to celebrate one of the franchise’s charity programs.

“We feel frustration and are disappointed for our fans,” Snyder said. “Obviously our performance to date is not what we expected, and we hope to turn that around.”

This will be the teams’ first meeting since Dec. 3, 2006, when Atlanta won 24-14 at Washington.

Updated Nov 4, 2:24 pm EST
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Team Comparison

Team Records Standings PF PA Road/Home AFC NFC DIV Streak
Washington 3-6-0 4th NFC East 140 171 0-4-0 Road 1-1-0 2-5-0 0-2-0 Won 1
Atlanta 5-4-0 2nd NFC South 221 194 4-0-0 Home 1-1-0 4-3-0 1-2-0 Lost 1
NFL

77 Comments

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  1. George
    77. Posted by George Mon Nov 9 5:58pm EST

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    Rx: Daniel Snyder will sell the Redskins and they will move to Los Angeles.
  2. JR
    76. Posted by JR Mon Nov 9 1:48pm EST

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    Landry has talent, but the kid is dumb as a rock... he will never learn to stop the cheap shots, he has not gone a game without being slapped with a 15 yarder.... another example of how bad the coaching is in Washington; I mean he's no Sean Taylor but he is a good player.

    Hall is a mediocre CB, always has been always will be... one of the worst big money signings made last year. The Redskins are just a train wreck... I went to the game yesterday and they look even more lethargic in person than on Television…. No one on the sidelines even seems to care about what is happening on the field.

    Offense, Defense and Special teams, the whole team is just plain bad.
  3. Lind
    75. Posted by Lind Mon Nov 9 1:09pm EST

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    Well said B buck. I think Virginia Tech is cursed like the Cubs
  4. bbuck
    74. Posted by bbuck Mon Nov 9 1:03pm EST

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    Deangelo Hall is just another nut-job from Virginia Tech. What is it with that school? Here are a just a few examples of the crazy sh!t you can expect from the Hokies: Deangelo Hall troublemaker, Mike Vick the dog-executor, some Korean kid goes on a shooting rampage killing countess "class-mates", Chinese kid cuts off his girlfriend's head, and the latest nut-job who shot up Fort Hood is a Va Tech grad. Who am I leaving out? Va Tech nut-jobs!!
  5. noudidnt
    73. Posted by noudidnt Mon Nov 9 12:17pm EST

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    Oh and Snyder paid how much for Haynesworth?? Do you ever hear his name called during a game?? Help me Tom Cruise, get the fire off me!!
  6. noudidnt
    72. Posted by noudidnt Mon Nov 9 12:10pm EST

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    Losers play for losers!!! From Oakland to Washington...take a hint Hall!!!
  7. Lind
    71. Posted by Lind Mon Nov 9 12:02pm EST

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    DeAngelo Hall is a total toolbag. He is 5'10 200, he not even big enough to back up this talk, he is not big or fast. He just s.ucks
  8. Jeffrey
    70. Posted by Jeffrey Mon Nov 9 11:58am EST

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    Now You See Why The Falcons Got Rid Of D. Hall. Lack Of Class!!! Over Rated Big Mouth!!! Way To Go!! MIke Smith.!!
  9. Redskins#1
    69. Posted by Redskins#1 Mon Nov 9 11:53am EST

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    Ive read alot of these post and agree with some, but watching the game yesterday i think the blame goes to that pothetic excuse for an offensive line yeah they block good some of the time but 95 percent they sucked. And Mr. overrated Moss would you like some super glue to help you catch the ball TWO big drops says it all for him. And this NO3 defense got a reality check against the Eagles and now Falcons, they might have been thinking about blaming the offense for the losses and right fully so, but looking at the offensive teams we have played they have found out the last two game as we as fans have that there not really much better, when the offense finally gets us to with in a touchdown and some momentum the defenseless lets the falcons go right down the field and score. Overall we just plain SUCK!
  10. david
    68. Posted by david Mon Nov 9 11:42am EST

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    just like a post from the scary white man
  11. webster
    67. Posted by webster Mon Nov 9 8:40am EST

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    Thanks to RJMac for having my back on this board........I honestly didn't have time to trifle with "sho" or whoever that is. Since sho's post is nowhere to be found this morning, I am guessing that others complained about the content, resulting in removal of the comment. That action alone speaks volumes to the relevance of sho's comments.

    I apologize for the delay in responding......I was too busy watching the Birds destroy the Skins......

    Props again to RJMac.......
  12. Darrin N
    66. Posted by Darrin N Mon Nov 9 8:35am EST

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    They should have played 50 Cent's "Wanksta" when D-Small came out onto the field at the GA Dome...what a tool.
  13. skinzanddodgers
    65. Posted by skinzanddodgers Mon Nov 9 3:42am EST

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    Redskins should be kicked out of the league in the nfl for their quality of play. they don't deserve to be playing in the nfl; its a disgrace, waste of consumers time and money.
  14. <i>lambda73</i>
    64. Posted by lambda73 Mon Nov 9 12:37am EST

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    Keep hope alive!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! gooooooooooooooooooooooooo redskins, boo.
  15. ruben
    63. Posted by ruben Sun Nov 8 11:37pm EST

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    I would love to see V Cerrato get canned too hes the one responsible for picking J Campbell in the first round of the draft. What a waste that pick was, hes also responsible for bringing all those talentless players that have made the Redskins the sorry team that they are today. FIRE THIS GUY ALREADY.
  16. The Georgia Outlaw
    62. Posted by The Georgia Outlaw Sun Nov 8 11:35pm EST

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    Hall is the biggest waste of space in the NFL.
  17. <i>stickybeets</i>
    61. Posted by stickybeets Sun Nov 8 10:53pm EST

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    well, lets see..im living here in Michigan where the Detroit Lions lost every game last season, but i grew up in Washington, DC where it seems this year the Redskins may as well do the same thing!..im still a die hard fan though..maybe i've grown up, and im missing the glory years when the 'Skins worked together to form the chemistry that made opponents cringe..now it seems teams look forward to playing Washington with a knowledge that its an automatic 'W'..overall, im still a fan whether they win or lose...
  18. Gemma Barnes
    60. Posted by Gemma Barnes Sun Nov 8 10:09pm EST

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    and laugh he will
  19. <i>arkbow</i>
    59. Posted by arkbow Sun Nov 8 9:58pm EST

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    Maybe the Reckedskins R looking for a high draftchoice, and Snyder will say lets get a psyciatrist and then I can use him to.............
  20. <i>ithomas_12</i>
    58. Posted by ithomas_12 Sun Nov 8 9:36pm EST

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    Falcons,falcons, and i no its seems to be clear that they have some work on defense. but dallas and saints will lose because they have exposed these teams --- and if the falcons finally decide to call ----- the right plays on offense the defense add some depth ----- a lot of teams will hate playin them----- (dallas without their broken lucky offense plays are trash) they will not win the nfc ----- go falcons---
  21. PhilipJ
    57. Posted by PhilipJ Sun Nov 8 9:33pm EST

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    who on here really cares about class honestly? you people don't know what you're talking about
  22. dskeezie
    56. Posted by dskeezie Sun Nov 8 9:07pm EST

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    I just thought i would point out that the falcons have only allowed ONE hundred yard rusher this season. (Fred Taylor 105yds) I really think that they dont get enough credit for their run defense. Also I was in denial when he was here but Deangelo Hall SUCKS!!!!!

    GO FALCONS!!!!!!!
  23. BRETT S
    55. Posted by BRETT S Sun Nov 8 9:06pm EST

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    All you people need to get lives! Holy Mother Of God!
  24. Puckster
    54. Posted by Puckster Sun Nov 8 8:40pm EST

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    Hate to have to rub the Skins oinky noses in it, but I TOLD YOU SO!! Hey, look at the bright side; at least you only lost by two TDs instead of much more. The Falcons let up on you in the 2nd half!
  25. Wayne
    53. Posted by Wayne Sun Nov 8 8:36pm EST

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    One of the reasons for Atlanta's turnaround last year was cutting ties with DeAngelo Hall. He thought of himself as a leader but held the defense back with his attitude. He confused big talk with toughness. It didn't take Oakland long to figure it out and I don't think that it will take a class defense like Washington long either.
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