Turner Carries Falcons

NFL News - November 8th, 2009 - Written by John

The Washington Redskins' last two games have proven two things.

In the first half, they are as bad as any team in the league. In the second, well, they are quite competitive.

As bad of a first half as it was for Washington, they were able to claw back to get within seven points on a significant improvement from quarterback Jason Campbell. But it could get no closer as Michael Turner erupted for a season-best 166 rushing yards, and the Atlanta Falcons secured a 31-17 victory on Sunday.

With back-ups Jason Snelling and Jerious Norwood out with injuries, Turner scored two touchdowns and did it on only 18 carries. His 9.2 yards per carry paced the first wave of games on the day. It was the first time the Redskins allowed over 30 points in their last 24 games.

Washington fell behind 24-3 heading into halftime, surrendering two scoring plays of 30-yards or more. The first came when cornerback Tye Hill stepped in front of a Campbell pass just behind midfield and weaved his way into the end zone. After a Redskins field goal, Turner then blasted through with his first score of the day, a 30-yard dash that made it 21-3.

But head coach Jim Zorn opted to stick with Campbell after the break, and it seemed to pay off. Campbell was 5-for-8 with an interception in the first half, but completed seven of his first eight passes to start the second. His resurgence allowed the Redskins to score their first touchdown of the game at the start of the third quarter. Ladell Betts capped off the 13-play, 80-yard drive with a one-yard push that made it 24-10.

The Redskins continued their impressive comeback, driving deep into Atlanta territory at the start of the fourth quarter. The drive, which started at their own 19, picked up five first downs and Campbell converted a third-down when he hit Antwan Randle El on an eight-yard out. On the next play, Campbell rushed for a first down that put the ball at Atlanta's four-yard line and the drive was capped on a sensational catch in the back of the end zone by Todd Yoder. Campbell scrambled around and seemingly just flipped the ball away to avoid a sack. But Yoder sprawled out and gobbled up the pass, keeping two feet in before his body landed out of bounds to make it 24-17.

But the Falcons answered immediately on their next drive when Turner took the third play from scrimmage and darted 58 yards to the house to bring the lead back to 14 points.

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