Roddy White heard you.
The Falcons all-time leading receiver - in yards, receptions and touchdowns - has been a forgotten man in the offense this season. He wasn’t on Sunday.
White didn’t catch his first pass of the game against the Redskins until early in the fourth quarter. When he did, the Georgia Dome let out a roar. They chanted “Roddy! Roddy!”
“It meant a lot,” White said. “I’ve been around this place for a very long time. They know I’m going to give my all. I’m going to give them everything. I love those people and they love me.”
White was Matt Ryan’s target on a fourth-quarter interception by Bashaud Breeland. The drive resulted in a field goal that gave the Redskins a 16-12 lead. White would be targeted one more time. And it would be huge.
The Falcons appeared to score the go-ahead touchdown when Ryan hit Devonta Freeman on a 16-yard pass. The score was overturned, leaving the Falcons with a fourth-and-2 from the 13-yard line. White ran a slant and gathered in a 7-yard reception. On the ensuing play, Freeman scored from six yards out.
“We went back to the same play call but mixed it up by putting me in motion,” White said. “I went to the right and ran a slant and Matt threw me the ball. We moved the chains and on the next play we scored.”
White opened the season with four catches for 84 yards against the Eagles. He had his streak of 130 games with a catch snapped in Week 2 against the Giants. He didn’t catch a pass the following week against the Cowboys either. White caught two passes for eight yards against the Texans last week. He was credited with two catches, on four targets, for 23 yards Sunday.
White insisted the production numbers are not a concern.
“We are 5-0,” White said. “So no complaints, no worries from me. I’m just happy we got out with (a win).”
The focus of the Falcons’ passing attack is clearly Julio Jones. Leonard Hankerson has become an option as has been Jacob Tamme, who had eight receptions for 94 yards Sunday. White isn’t going anywhere.
“He played really clutch for us down the stretch,” Ryan said. “He’s a great player and has been for a long time. He’s going to continue to do those kinds of things for us this year.”
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