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Strong Start Lacks Finish
Atlanta running back Jerious Norwood eyes the open field on his 69-yard touchdown run, leaving behind a fallen Ade Jimoh and Sean Taylor. The Redskins' defense allowed 256 rushing yards.
(By Joel Richardson -- The Washington Post)
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For the final three quarters, the Redskins played a maddening afternoon of football where they forced the action. But once they lost the lead they never retook it. For the first time in three starts, Campbell looked like the inexperienced quarterback he is, suffocated under a timely, effective Atlanta blitz that forced him into costly mistakes. In this start, Campbell took more hits than in his previous two starts combined.
The defense that stuffed the run early, collapsed in the end, giving up 256 rushing yards, including a backbreaking 69-yard touchdown run to Jerious Norwood with 12 minutes 26 seconds remaining in the game. After the Redskins forced four turnovers the last two weeks, Atlanta did not turn the ball over. And when it came time to make a big play or stop one, they could not do it.
There were moments. After stopping Vick at midfield, the Redskins' offense for one series veered from its successful smash-mouth style and lost its rhythm reverting to gadget plays. On their first two drives, the Redskins piled up 134 yards, 77 on the ground. But then, associate head coach Al Saunders called a deep pass to Moss, an end-around to Antwaan Randle El that went for a loss and an out to Randle El. Both passes were incomplete.
The Falcons took the next possession 11 plays for a field goal to make it 14-3. On Washington's next possession, Betts powered the Redskins downfield only to see new kicker Shaun Suisham miss a 50-yard field goal, an attempt made seven yards longer when Chris Cooley dropped a Campbell pass on third down.
The Falcons responded by Vick hitting tight end Algie Crumpler for a 16-yard touchdown, a play made possible by Vick's 46-yard pass to Crumpler on third and five.
"I thought we played very strong, and very energized early in the ballgame," Williams said. "It really came down to three explosive plays in the ballgame. The long pass to Crumpler on third down, the long run in the third quarter and the sudden change touchdown after the take-away in the third quarter."
The take-away came with Washington facing second and 11 from the Atlanta 21 and already in field goal range. Safety Lawyer Milloy blitzed Campbell from the right. Campbell spun and flipped the ball into the air. Chauncey Davis intercepted and ran 41 yards to the Redskins 25. Two plays later, Vick hit wide receiver Michael Jenkins on a slant for a 22-yard touchdown and a lead Atlanta never relinquished.
"I tried to shake him," Campbell said. "He grabbed the back of my jersey. I tried to throw it away to set up good field goal position."
Campbell completed 18 of 38 passes for 217 yards and two interceptions, the second coming in the end zone as the Redskins attempted a frantic comeback.
"Jason," Saunders said, "played like a young quarterback today."
