Vin+ 3,121 Posted October 5, 2012 (edited) Just four games into the season, the Atlanta Falcons have already built a sizable NFC South lead. That hasn't kept them from realizing they have a long way to go. Matt Ryan looks to guide Atlanta to its first 5-0 start Sunday when Robert Griffin III tries to help the Washington Redskins end their seven-game home losing streak. Heading into 2012 with an 0-3 playoff record since Ryan and coach Mike Smith arrived in 2008, Atlanta (4-0) has matched the best start in franchise history, last accomplished during its 2004 run to the NFC championship game. With Ryan, the NFL's highest-rated passer at 112.1, driving his team 77 yards to get in position for a last-second field goal in last Sunday's 30-28 victory over Carolina, the Falcons now lead the South by three games over the Panthers and Tampa Bay. New Orleans is 0-4. "I'm aware of it but I don't pay attention to it," Smith said. "This early in the season you've got to concern yourself with your team. You don't even think about what is going on with the other teams until you're getting ready to play them. "We've started out fast and it's just a start." The Falcons did a nice job protecting Ryan on the game-winning drive against Carolina - a 59-yard pass to Roddy White got the Falcons off their 1-yard line - but the fifth-year quarterback was sacked a career-high seven times in the first 59 minutes. "Ultimately we made enough big plays to win, but I think that everyone is of the mindset that we need to get back to work," Ryan said after his 17th career game-winning drive in the fourth quarter or overtime. "We feel like we can get a lot better and that's what we're going to set out to do this week." While the Falcons' offense gets most of the headlines with its 31.0 points per game - best in the NFC - first-year defensive coordinator Mike Nolan's unit has been outstanding, allowing 19.0 points per game and 207.0 passing yards per contest. Atlanta has also scored a league-high 43 points off takeaways. Increasing that total could be a challenge the way Griffin has played in his first four NFL games. The 2011 Heisman Trophy winner is fourth in the NFL with a 103.2 passer rating and has thrown just one interception in 124 attempts, guiding the Redskins to 30.8 point per contest. Washington (2-2) is tied with Atlanta and Houston for the fewest turnovers with two. "I respect all those other quarterbacks. But, just athletically, nobody can come close to him," Redskins linebacker Lorenzo Alexander said after Griffin led the team on a late drive to set up a game-winning field goal in last Sunday's 24-22 victory at Tampa Bay. "... It is surprising - I thought he would have more mistakes at this point." While the Falcons could have their hands full with Griffin and fellow rookie Alfred Morris, the keys to a rushing attack that's producing an NFL-best 175.5 yards per game, Washington's defense will likely need to step up if the team is going to post its first home victory since a 22-21 win over the Cardinals on Sept. 18, 2011. Falcons running back Michael Turner will face a unit yielding 89.0 rushing yards per game - 10th in the league - but Ryan could have plenty of opportunities to throw to White, Julio Jones and tight end Tony Gonzalez with Washington giving up 326.3 passing yards per game and 20 passes of 20-plus yards - third-most in the NFL. The last time these teams met, Turner ran for 166 and two scores in a 31-17 Falcons home victory Nov. 8, 2009. Atlanta has won its last two games in the nation's capital - most recently 24-14 on Dec. 3, 2006 - after losing its first 10. The Falcons' last 3-0 start away from home was in 1986. Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and The Associated Press. Should be a high-scoring affair. 38-34 Falcons. Edited October 10, 2012 by Vin Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted October 5, 2012 Redskins CB Cedric Griffin (hamstring) and SS Brandon Meriweather (knee) will not play in Sunday's game against the Falcons. The reinforcements for the Redskins' 31st-ranked secondary aren't walking through the door this week. They'll once again have to roll with rookie seventh-rounder Richard Crawford and Reed Doughty for heavy snaps. It's a dream matchup for Matt Ryan and the Falcons' passing game. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ATL_Predator+ 1,196 Posted October 5, 2012 I love RGIII, I really do. Better than $cam Newton in every way shape and form. Thankfully, we played $cam last week, and executed on defense poorly against his running abilities. Nolan will undoubtedly make the proper adjustments to at least try and force him to pass. Unfortunately, the Redksins defense has some massive...issues to say the least. Their secondary is in shambles, and I hope to see us get our ground game going early for some nice play action later in the game. It'll be competitive for sure, hopefully not like last week though. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Tridentdawgpound 1,043 Posted October 5, 2012 21 31 Sealed by a late pick six Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted October 6, 2012 I think the Falcons win this one, but RG3 should be able to keep the Redskins in the game. After seeing him play last week, I have to say that he does not look like a rookie at all out there. He's gonna be something special in this league. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Barracuda 629 Posted October 7, 2012 Im just feeling Skins here. 34 28 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted October 7, 2012 Falcons are a really good football team. I like what they are doing on offense, I like what Mike Nolan is doing on defense. They are strong contenders for sure... But they are away from home, and they aren't going 16 - 0. Better to lose now and get it out of the way. Redskins - 28 Falcons - 24 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Dutch 874 Posted October 7, 2012 This is going to be a great game. Undefeated Falcons against the RG3 and the redskins. I could see the Redskins winning in an upset but at the same time the Redskins defense is terrible... I see Roddy White and Julio Jones having a field day against Deangelo Hall. 31 27 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Vin+ 3,121 Posted October 7, 2012 Pierre Garcon is active for Week 5 against the Falcons. Though he's not quite 100 percent yet, Garcon is an attractive WR3 option in a potential shootout versus Atlanta. ESPN's Ed Werder reported that Garcon will not be on a snap count, so he'll be an every-down receiver again. The Redskins' Week 5 inactives are S Brandon Meriweather, CB Cedric Griffin, G/C Josh LeRibeus, OLB Markus White, WR Dezmon Briscoe, OG Adam Gettis, and QB Rex Grossman. Julio Jones is active for Week 5 against the Redskins. Jones is over his lacerated hand and should be started with confidence as a WR1 against a porous Washington pass defense. The Falcons' Week 5 inactives are TE Michael Palmer, DE Jonathan Massaquoi, DE Cliff Matthews, QB Dominique Davis, CB Terrence Johnson, FB Lousaka Polite, and OT Lamar Holmes. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted October 7, 2012 Ryan Kerrigan with the pick six, gotta love it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted October 7, 2012 lol at Faggy Ice getting picked off on a screen pass. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted October 7, 2012 (edited) lol at Faggy Ice getting picked off on a screen pass. yeah, best case scenario on that pass is it gets smacked to the turf in other news, Billy Cundiff may be looking for a job again soon Edited October 7, 2012 by oochymp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted October 7, 2012 Yea, Billy Cundiff will be looking for a new team next week. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Bay 2,003 Posted October 7, 2012 Ton Gon is killing it. Wub. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted October 7, 2012 (edited) Billy Cundiff finally hit a FG. 10-7 Skins RG3 also got crushed on that drive by Weatherspoon. Hopefully he is alright. Edited October 7, 2012 by GoodellFTL Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted October 7, 2012 RG3 is in the lockerroom, Cousins taking the field Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted October 7, 2012 Doesn't look like RG3 will be coming back. That's huge. Cousins didn't look too bad himself though in the pre-season... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted October 7, 2012 RGIII!!! NO!!! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted October 7, 2012 huge lapse by the Falcons' D, you can't let Santana Moss get behind you Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Favre4Ever+ 4,476 Posted October 7, 2012 Kirk Cousins, ftmfw! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241 Posted October 7, 2012 ATL might be going in for the kill. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted October 7, 2012 (edited) putting Kirk Cousins in a tough spot in his first NFL action, but Banks just helped him out with that return, also, that's a lot of rain Edited October 7, 2012 by oochymp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
oochymp 2,393 Posted October 7, 2012 bad play by Cousins, you can't stare down your receivers like that, especially against a zone defense Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
AllYouNeedIsLovie 377 Posted October 7, 2012 Yea, sucks that RG3 wasn't there for that. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
