Series history, broadcast information, connections and more from Sunday's Redskins-Falcons 2015 Week 5 matchup in Atlanta.
REGULAR SEASON WEEK 5 WASHINGTON REDSKINS (2-2) at ATLANTA FALCONS (4-0)Sunday, Oct. 11 – 1 p.m.
Georgia Dome (71,228) – Atlanta
One week after a thrilling last-minute win against the Philadelphia Eagles, the Washington Redskins will attempt to secure their first road victory of the season when they face the Atlanta Falcons in Week 5. Kickoff is scheduled for 1 p.m. on Sunday.
The Redskins recorded their first comeback victory of the 2015 season in Week 4, as quarterback Kirk Cousins and the Redskins engineered a 15-play, 90-yard drive that culminated in a four-yard touchdown pass to Pierre Garçon in the final minute to defeat the Eagles, 23-20. Cousins' performance (46 att., 0 INT) marked the sixth time since 1950 that a Redskins quarterback has thrown zero interceptions on at least 45 pass attempts.
Sunday's contest will be the 1,200th game in Redskins history, including postseason play. The Redskins will join the Bears (1,361), Packers (1,343), Giants (1,309), Cardinals (1,290) and Lions (1,208) as the only NFL franchises to appear in 1,200 combined regular season and postseason games. The Redskins are 594-578-27 all-time.
SERIES HISTORY:
— Redskins lead overall series, 15-8-1
— Redskins lead regular season series, 14-8-1
— Last meeting: Dec. 15, 2013 (27-26, ATL)
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Check out these top photos from the Washington Redskins 2015 Week 4 matchup against the Philadelphia Eagles Oct. 4, 2015, at FedExField.
TELEVISION: FOX **— Chris Myers (play-by-play)
— Ronde Barber (color)
— Jennifer Hale (sidelines)
RADIO:Redskins Broadcast Network
— Larry Michael (play-by-play)
— Sonny Jurgensen (color)
— Chris Cooley (analysis)
— Rick "Doc" Walker (sidelines)
THE OPPONENTThe Atlanta Falcons enter Week 5 with a 4-0 record after defeating the Houston Texans, 48-21, last week. Last year, the Falcons finished third in the NFC South with a 6-10 record.
Eighth-year quarterback Matt Ryan leads the Falcons aerial attack having completed 96-of-143 passes for 1,202 yards this season with six touchdowns and two interceptions. Ryan has started all 16 regular season games in five consecutive seasons and has missed just two regular season starts since entering the league in 2008.
Running back Devonta Freeman leads the Falcons in rushing in his second year with the team. Freeman has recorded team highs in carries (66) and rushing yards (252) with a league-leading seven rushing touchdowns. Rookie running back Tevin Coleman has also contributed 112 yards on 29 carries (3.9 avg.) with one touchdown.
Wide receiver Julio Jones leads the Atlanta receiving corps with his league-leading 38 receptions and league-high 478 yards (12.6 avg.) with four touchdowns. Fellow wide receiver Leonard Hankerson has contributed 17 catches for 241 yards (14.2 avg.) with two touchdowns.
Safety William Moore leads the Falcons defense with two interceptions in addition to contributing 25 tackles (20 solo). Eighth-year linebacker Justin Durant has a team-high 27 tackles (21 solo) as well as a forced fumble. Rookie linebacker Vic Beasley has recorded a team-high two sacks and one forced fumble through four games.
Kicker Matt Bryant handles field goal kicking duties for Atlanta and has converted six-of-six field goals as well as all 15 extra point attempts. Punter Matt Bosher handles all other kicking duties for the Falcons and has averaged 52.4 yards on 19 punts through four games.
Wide receiver Eric Weems has been the team's primary returner through four games. Weems has returned five punts for 57 yards (11.4 avg.) and six kickoffs for 132 yards (22.0 avg.).
WHAT TO WATCH FOR THIS WEEK
• The Redskins playing their 1,200th game in team history, including postseason play.
• The Redskins facing a rookie head coach (Dan Quinn) for the first time this season. It is also the first of two consecutive games in which the Redskins will face a rookie head coach, as Washington will face Todd Bowles and the New York Jets the following week.
• The Redskins playing their only guaranteed indoor game of the season. Including postseason play, the Redskins are 31-24 all-time in games played indoors, including games contested in stadiums with closed retractable roofs.
• The Redskins maintaining their league lead in average time of possession (36:19). The Redskins' current average is almost four minutes longer than the one posted by last season's time of possession leader (Pittsburgh, 32:24).
• The Redskins holding an opponent to 100 or fewer rushing yards for a fifth consecutive game in a single season for the first time since Weeks 3-7 of the 2012 season.
• The Redskins allowing 100 or fewer rushing yards in each of the first five games of a season for the first time in records available dating back to 1940.
• The Redskins posting five sacks in consecutive games for the first time since Weeks 13-14 of the 1999 season.
• The Redskins notching multiple takeaways in back-to-back contests for the first time since Weeks 12-13 last season.
• The Redskins recording 125 or more rushing yards four times in a five-game span for the first time since Weeks 9-13 of the 2013 season.
• The Redskins posting a third down conversion rate of 40 percent or better in a fifth consecutive game for the first time since doing so in six straight contests across Weeks 6-11 of the 2013 season.
• The Redskins allowing one sack or fewer for a third consecutive games for the first time since Weeks 11-13 of the 2009 season.
• The Redskins scoring two more two-point conversions to tie the team record for two-point conversions in a season (three in 1994).
• Quarterback Kirk Cousins becoming the first Redskins quarterback to record three consecutive 30-completion games in records available dating back to 1960. He is already one of three Redskins passers to post 30 or more completions in back-to-back games (Sonny Jurgensen, Weeks 11-12 in 1967; Jason Campbell, Weeks 11-12 in 2007).
• Cousins recording a passing touchdown in a fifth consecutive game to tie the longest such streak in his career (Weeks 2-6 in 2014).
• Cousins throwing for at least 275 yards for a third consecutive game for the first time in his career. He would be the first Redskins quarterback to do so since Robert Griffin III in Weeks 1-3 of the 2013 season.
• Cousins (105) completing 21 passes to record the most by a Redskins quarterback through the first five games of a season since the 1970 merger (125, Robert Griffin III in 2013).
• Cousins throwing zero interceptions in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
• Wide receiver Pierre Garçon recording a touchdown reception in back-to-back games for the first time since Weeks 6-7 last season.
• Wide receiver DeSean Jackson (21) recording a 50-plus-yard touchdown to tie Joey Galloway (22) for fifth-most total touchdowns of 50 yards or more in the NFL since the 1970 merger.
• Jackson improving upon his 30 career regular season receptions of 50 yards or more, the most in the NFL since he entered the league in 2008.
• Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan (39.5) recording a sack to pass Brian Orakpo (40.0) for fifth-most sacks in team history.
• Kerrigan forcing a fumble to improve upon his 16 career forced fumbles, the most by a member of the Redskins since 1994.
• Kerrigan (16) forcing a fumble to tie Charles Tillman (17) for the most by any player since Kerrigan entered the league in 2011.
• Running back Alfred Morris starting his 53rd consecutive regular season game, the longest active streak among NFC running backs.
• Morris maintaining the highest rushing average in team history (4.48).
• Morris registering his 13th career 100-yard rushing game to pass Earnest Byner, George Rogers and Terry Allen (12) for sole possession of fifth-most 100-yard rushing games in team history.
• Morris (28) scoring two rushing touchdowns to become the seventh player in Redskins history to record 30 career rushing touchdowns.
• Tight end Jordan Reed adding to his 24 receptions, the most by a Redskins tight end through four games in team history.
• Rashad Ross (one) returning a kickoff for touchdown to tie Eddie Saenz' franchise record for kickoff return touchdowns in a single season (two in 1947).
• Ross recording his second kickoff return touchdown to tie the team record for career kickoff return touchdowns. Andy Farkas (1938-44), Eddie Saenz (1946-51), Bobby Mitchell (1962-68) and Brian Mitchell (1990-99) are tied for the franchise lead with two each.
A WIN WOULD…... give the Redskins their third victory of the 2015 season.
... be the Redskins' 595th all-time victory, including postseason play.
... represent victories in consecutive games for the Redskins for the first time since Weeks 7-8 last season.
... even the Redskins' road record at 1-1 this season.
... give the Redskins a record above .500 after five games for the first time since 2011 (3-2).
... push the Redskins to 16-8-1 all-time against the Falcons, including postseason play.
... make the Redskins 7-5-1 all-time in regular season road games in Atlanta.
... snap a four-game losing streak against the Falcons.
... represent the Redskins' first victory against the Falcons since Sept. 14, 2003.
... be the Redskins' first win against an NFC South opponent since Sept. 30, 2012 (24-22 at Tampa Bay).
REDSKINS-FALCONS CONNECTIONSFormer Redskins on Falcons:
- Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan (2010-13)
- Asst. Head Coach/Defensive Passing Game Coordinator Raheem Morris (Defensive Backs Coach, 2012-14)
- Wide Receivers Coach Terry Robiskie (Passing Game Coordinator, 1994-99; Interim Head Coach, 2000)
- Quarterbacks Coach Matt LaFleur (2010-13)
- Running Backs Coach Bobby Turner (2011-14)
- Offensive Line Coach Chris Morgan (Asst. Offensive Line Coach, 2011-13)
- Offensive Assistant Mike McDaniel (2011-13)
- G Chris Chester (2011-14)
- WR Leonard Hankerson (2011-14)
Former Falcons on Redskins:
CB DeAngelo Hall (2004-07)
Falcons from the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area:
- WR Justin Hardy (Washington, D.C.)
Redskins from Georgia:
- DE Kedric Golston (Tyrone)
- DE Frank Kearse (Savannah)
- LB Perry Riley, Jr. (Stone Mountain)
- LB Preston Smith (Stone Mountain)
Falcons who went to college in the D.C./Maryland/Virginia area:
- Head Coach Dan Quinn (Salisbury)
- LB Justin Durant (Hampton)
Redskins who went to college in Georgia:
- DE Kedric Golston (Georgia)
Notable Pro Connections:
- Offensive Coordinator Sean McVay, Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Chad Englehart and Falcons K Matt Bryant were all members of the Florida Tuskers of the United Football League in 2009.
- Director of Football Operations Paul Kelly (2004-08), Offensive Coordinator Sean McVay (2008), CB Deshazor Everett (2015), LB Mason Foster (2011-14), S Dashon Goldson (2013-14), Falcons Offensive Coordinator Kyle Shanahan (2004-05), Falcons Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Passing Game Coordinator Raheem Morris (2002-11), Falcons DE Adrian Clayborn (2011-14) and Falcons K Matt Bryant were all members of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at various times.
- TE Derek Carrier and CB Phillip Adams played together in Atlanta in 2012. Also, S Jeron Johnson, TE Anthony McCoy and Adams played together in Seattle in 2011. Lastly, S Dashon Goldson, DE Ricky Jean Francois and Adams played together in San Francisco in 2010.
- Johnson, McCoy and Falcons G Mike Person played together in Seattle from 2012-13.
- T Ty Nsekhe and Falcons T Bryce Harris played together in New Orleans in 2014. Also, Nsekhe, Person and Falcons T Jake Long played together in St. Louis in 2013.
- CB Chris Culliver, Goldson, Jean Francois and Person played together in San Francisco in 2011.
- DE Chris Baker and Long played together in Miami in 2010.
- DE Stephen Paea and Falcons WR Devin Hester played together in Chicago from 2011-13.
- WR Rashad Ross and Falcons DE Tyson Jackson played together in Kansas City in 2013. Also, Ross and Falcons G Andy Levitre played together in Tennessee in 2013.
- WR Andre Roberts and Falcons OLB O'Brien Schofield played together in Arizona from 2010-12.
- LB Jackson Jeffcoat, Johnson, McCoy and Schofield played together in Seattle in 2014.
- NT Terrance Knighton and Falcons LB Justin Durant played together in Jacksonville from 2009-10. Also, DE Jason Hatcher and Durant played together in Dallas in 2013.
Notable College Connections:
- DL Chris Baker, Falcons TE Mickey Shuler and Falcons LB Nate Stupar played together at Penn State in 2007.
- CB Will Blackmon and Falcons QB Matt Ryan played together at Boston College from 2004-05.
- CB Bashaud Breeland, Falcons OLB Vic Beasley, DE Malliciah Goodman and DT Grady Jarrett played together at Clemson from 2011-12.
- WR Jamison Crowder and Falcons QB Sean Renfree played together at Duke from 2011-12.
- CB Chris Culliver and FB Patrick DiMarco played together at South Carolina from 2007-10.
- RB Chris Thompson, K Dustin Hopkins and Falcons RB Devonta Freeman played together at Florida State from 2011-12.
- DE Ricky Jean Francois, LB Perry Riley, Jr. and Falcons DE Tyson Jackson played together at LSU from 2006-08.
- LB Ryan Kerrigan and Falcons S Ricardo Allen played together at Purdue in 2010.
- TE Anthony McCoy and Falcons LB Allen Bradford played together at USC from 2006-09.
- LB Trent Murphy and Falcons TE Levine Toilolo played together at Stanford from 2009-12.
- DE Stephen Paea and Falcons G Andy Levitre played together at Oregon State in 2008.
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