For a fleeting moment, it looked like the Atlanta Falcons string of three-straight wins to kick off the 2012 season would be finished. Atlanta was backed inside their own one-yard line with less than a minute to go down by two points. But the Falcons offense had some magic left in the tank, and Matt Ryan and Roddy White connected on a 55-yard bomb which set things in motion. The result was a Matt Bryant game-winner and Atlanta remains unbeaten as they go into Week 5 of the NFL Season to take on Robert Griffin III and the Washington Redskins in our Week 5 Game of The Week.
The Redskins comes off of a win on the road at Tampa Bay, doing the Falcons a favor by knocking off one of their division rivals. Washington won in similar fashion, needing a field-goal on the final drive, though they had no timeouts. But Griffin took the Redskin offense down the field, and set them up in position to win the game, which they did.
Now, Washington gets a chance for a very big win at home this week to take down one of the last three remaining undefeated teams in the league.
It’s won’t be an easy task.
Atlanta has shown that they are one of the most explosive and toughest offense in the league to defend against. The simple fact of the matter is that Ryan has weapons all over the place. Whether it is white, or Julio Jones, Harry Douglas, or Tony Gonzalez on the outside, or Michael Turner or Jacquizz Rodgers he hands it off to, the Falcons are stacked on offense. It will be a real challenge for this Redskin defense that is no fully healthy.
But Washington has some weapons themselves on offense, beginning with Griffin. Between him and running back Alfred Morris, the Redskins rank 2nd in the NFL in rushing, and will try to set up the run going early to help Griffin with some play action. And it just might work, as the Falcons rank 29th in the league against the run, surrendering 126 points per game. It’s in the passing defense where the Falcons have improved, ranking 8th.
There are a ton of great matchups all over the field on both sides for the ball for Atlanta and Washington. The Falcons have a stranglehold on their NFC south division early, and want to press on the gas Washington currently sits one game behind the Philadelphia Eagles, tied with the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants.