Turner’s Big Day Leads Atlanta Over Washington 31-17

By: Matt Loede

The Falcons all season long had been waiting for Michael Turner to get back to the form of 2008. It may have taken 9 weeks, but Sunday at home vs the Redskins, “The Burner” was indeed back to form. Turner blasted his way for 166 yards on 18 carries, a 9.2 yard per carry average and two scores as the Falcons topped the struggling Washington Redskins 31-17 at home.

The win for Atlanta breaks their two-game losing streak as they improve to 5-3 on the season. The Falcons also got an efficent day from QB Matt Ryan, who went 17-for-24 for 135 yards with a touchdown to tight end Tony Gonzalez and a pick with a QB rating of 81.1.

Washington’s issues on both sides of the ball continue. They fall to 2-6 on the season, and lost leading rusher Clinton Portis early in the game with a concussion. Jason Campbell was 15-for-22 for 196 yards with a touchdown and a pick. Todd Collins was 4-for-5 for 12 yards for the Skins, who put up 312 yards of offense, but played from behind all day.

The team got within 7 at 24-17 early in the fourth quarter when Campbell hit Todd Yoder with a 3-yard score, but Turner put Atlanta ahead for good with a 58-yard score with 11:23 left to seal the win, making it 31-17. Ladell Betts ran for 70 yards on 15 carries and a score for Washington.

The Redskins in the first half in falling behind 24-3 had five possessions, punting three times, losing the ball on a pick, and then getting their only points of the half with a field goal. The Falcons had five possessions, scoring two touchdowns, and also losing the ball on a punt and an interception.