Falcons-Redskins gameday package

Dallas’ Jay Ratliff had a strong showing against the Falcons’ interior. If Haynesworth is getting a good push, he can single-handedly disrupt the Falcons’ revived running game.

He also can rush the passer and has three sacks.

“He gives a tremendous effort,” Washington coach Jim Zorn said. “He’s playing at a very high level. He exhausts himself when he’s out on the field.”

2. The battle of the young quarterbacks: Matt Ryan and Jason Campbell each has struggled this season.

Ryan has completed 139 of 233 passes for 1,649 yards, 12 touchdowns and nine interceptions. He has a passer rating of 82.4.

“He’s still growing,” Falcons wide receiver Michael Jenkins said. “He’s only played 23 games in the NFL. He’s still doing a great job. He’s a competitor.”

Campbell, who has been yanked from a game this season, has completed 136 of 206 passes for 1,481 yards, eight touchdowns, seven interceptions. He has a passer rating of 85.8.

Against Kansas City, when Zorn pulled Campbell, the coach thought he missed some reads on some patterns and failed to deliver the pass. Todd Collins replaced Campbell.

“That didn’t discourage me from getting him back out there,” Zorn said. “It’s not a quick-yank situation. I think he’s progressing along. He just struggled that game.”

3. Whether the Falcons can pass against Washington: The Redskins have the second-ranked pass defense in the NFL, allowing 164.9 yards per game.

They also have some inside information from cornerback DeAngelo Hall, a former Falcons who went against receivers Roddy White and Michael Jenkins in Falcons practices.

“The receivers, what can I say, Roddy has stepped up and become the receiver we always thought he’d be,” Hall said. “Mike [Jenkins] is making plays. Tony Gonzalez, he’s a Hall of Famer right there. When you add a guy like that to the puzzle, you can only get better.”

The Redskins appeared to be worried about Gonzalez, who likely will be bracketed by rookie linebacker Brian Orakpo and strong safety Chris Horton.

“I know [Falcons offensive coordinator Mike] Mularkey is an ex-tight end,” Hall said. “He definitely tries to get that man the ball. I would do the same thing. He’s a great player.”

4. Whether the Falcons can keep the Burner rolling: Running back Michael Turner broke out with 151 yards against the Saints on Monday night, his best game of the season.

The Falcons used some new formations to spring Turner, who ran well outside. He also ran with some authority.

The Redskins are allowing 118.6 rushing yards per game (22nd in the league).

How Turner does will be a good barometer for the Falcons.

When he rushes for more than 100 yards, the Falcons are 9-1. When he rushes for more than 50 yards in the first half, the Falcons are 9-1.

When Turner has 20 carries are more, the Falcons are 13-2. When Turner averages more than 4.5 yards per carry, the Falcons are 7-1.

5. The Falcons' first drive: They have opened the past two games in grand fashion.

Against Dallas and New Orleans, they marched down the field on each game-opening drive and scored a touchdown.

Then the offense went into hibernation.

In each game, they followed a good start with five drives that produced no points. Against New Orleans, placekicker Jason Elam twice missed a field goal (of 34 and 51 yards) to end a drive.

“We’re not hitting on all cylinders for 60 minutes,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “That’s the thing that’s evident over the last couple of weeks. We are not sustaining our level of play throughout the game.”

Falcons wide receiver Michael Jenkins was kicking himself for a third-down drop against the Saints. He came back in the fourth quarter to make a spectacular, and critical, catch.

“That was tough,” Jenkins said. “Your teammates are counting on you. Your coaches are counting on you on third-down situations, with a chance to possibly get a touchdown. You definitely want to make those plays.”

Three key matchups

Falcons TE Tony Gonzalez vs. LB Brian Orakpo and SS Chris Horton: Look for Redskins defensive coordinator Greg Blache to bracket Gonzalez with two players. They will hope their coverage-by-committee approach will slow down Gonzalez and take away one of Matt Ryan's favorite targets. Orakpo is a promising rookie defender.

Falcons DE John Abraham vs. Redskins LT Stephon Heyer: Abraham has been slowed by a foot injury, but he’s still getting off the ball very well. He was not able to get to Tony Romo or Drew Brees in the past two games. But Jason Campbell has a tendency to hold the ball too long, and Abraham should have a chance to get rolling against the Redskins.

DT Albert Haynesworth vs. Gs Harvey Dahl and Justin Blalock: The Falcons likely will have to seal off Haynesworth and run away from him. When they are passing, they likely will have to leave a back in to contend with Haynesworth, who is one of the more disruptive defensive players in the NFL.

The Falcons will win if ...

1. Left tackle Sam Baker keeps Andre Carter in check: Baker had a rough outing against Will Smith on "Monday Night Football." Smith had two sacks, two quarterback hits and two tackles for losses. Baker will have to be much more firm with Carter, who leads the Redskins with 6.5 sacks and is playing well off the edge.

2. They keep the pressure off of Matt Ryan: The Falcons' offensive line gave up two sacks in the first five games. In the past two games, they have given up seven sacks and allowed the Cowboys and the Saints to rattle Ryan's cage a little bit. If given the time, Ryan has shown that he make his reads and find the open receiver.

3. Kicker Jason Elam shakes out of his slump: Elam, 39, said that his hamstring in his left leg, which is his plant leg on kicks, is not a problem. But when he starts missing field goals, you wonder about his health in his 17th season in the league. Last week, he banged a 34-yarder against the left upright and missed on a 51-yarder that was woefully short and off line. Against a stingy Redskins defense, the Falcons will need all of the points they can cobble together.