It was a rough first half for the Falcons offense as the Redskins forced three Atlanta punts and two turnovers.
Early in the second quarter, Redskins defensive end Ryan Kerrigan made an incredibly instinctive leap to pick off a Matt Ryan screen pass, which he returned for a touchdown to give Washington a 7-0 advantage.
Later Ryan would fumble a snap with the team inside the Washington 30-yard line, which the Redskins would also recover. The Falcons turnover ratio, which has been so impressive this season, suddenly looked very ugly.
But the turning point in this half would come when kicker Billy Cundiff missed a 31-yard field goal, giving the ball to the Atlanta just before the two-minute warning.
And the Falcons offense delivered.
Ryan was able to march his team down the field on a brilliant ten play, 79 yard two-minute drill. He capped off the drive with a one yard play-action TD pass to Tony Gonzalez, tying the game at seven points apiece with just thirty seconds left in the half.
Gonzalez has been a force, compiling nine receptions for 86 yards and a score in this first half alone. Julio Jones also contributed with eight catches for 47 yards, including three on the final drive of the half.
The defense has also been generally impressive. Rookie "sensation" Robert Griffin III has had a very quiet first half, completing six of his ten passes for 52 yards and zero yards on the ground. Mike Nolan has done an excellent job containing the rookie thus far.
The only sore spot has come, once again, in containing the ground game. Running back Alfred Morris has run rampant, tallying 86 yards on ten carries thus far.
Stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta for second-half updates.