Game 12: Redskins (4-7) vs. Falcons (5-6)

vs.

In the terminology of football, this game is known as an opportunity game. The Falcons come into Redskins Stadium Sunday at 1pm, a team that started the year 5-2 with playoff aspirations and is now on a four-game slide. If you are conscious and following the NFL, you know that Michael Vick left the field after last week's loss to the Saints flipping the bird to the fans...in Atlanta, and he's definitely not himself right now. Are the Falcons falling apart? Meanwhile in the nation's capital, Joe Gibbs is sounding a little like Joe Gibbs, productively unhappy about the great success last week. And Troy Vincent and Michael Vick have a two business meetings this weekend.

(Curly R aside: Tom Boswell so perfectly captures the Vanderjagt non-signing episode. Skin Patrol and I were falling over ourselves to get that one up on Tuesday.)

The Redskins have an opportunity to get a game from a team that started strong and is figuring out if it really ever was that good. Falcons fans and media are down on the team's receivers, and according to Curly R 5 Questions partner The Falcoholic, the Ashley Lelie-TJ Duckett trade didn't work out so well for the Falcons either:

Lelie's been more or less a bust, as well. He's shown flashes of talent, but he doesn't get open enough and Vick can't seem to get the ball to him, so he's done roughly jack. He's on pace to produce 26 receptions and 447 yards with no TDs, which...isn't very good

The Redskins offense has an opportunity to exploit a weak Atlanta pass defense. The Falcons are ranked 22nd in overall defense, 30th against the pass. For a team that is still re-finding itself in the air with Jason Campbell and his footballs, this kind of thing could be a panacea. And the good news about the bad news? The Falcons may be 9th overall against the run at 98 yards a game, but the Redskins are having fun in the run game. I like that matchup.

The Redskins defense has an opportunity to show the improvement last week was real and limit the effectiveness of the Falcons passing game. Despite bringing Ashley Lelie in from Denver in the same trade that sent TJ Duckett to Washington, the Falcons receiving corps is average at best. They had five drops against the Saints (receivers only tallied 3 catches for 20 yards, and Lelie was shut out for the second week in a row) and there is no Atlanta player among the top 30 in either receiving yards or receptions. But then again there are no Redskins on those pages either, so whatev. Let's let Sean Taylor, Shawn Springs, Carlos Rogers and Vernon Fox be themselves and play a tight game in coverage. Yes, Michael Vick will get his yards and do some crazy stuff, but the goal for the line and backers tomorrow will be contain contain contain. And if the rook is starting on the line, let's see him make a play. Make a play, rook.

And finally, the Redskins have an opportunity to put all this mess about blabbing players and bickering on the set behind them. One thing I know for sure is that Gregg Williams doesn't give a shit about what anyone writes about him.

Are the Redskins the opposite of the Falcons? Did they start weak, and is it possible that they are now finding themselves? (If you are not sure, you must read Tandler's on this.) The Redskins played a remarkably well-rounded game last week and appear to believe in their improvement. If they can put one of those together again this week, they can win.

Other game previews: Hogs Haven, and sorry Skin Patrol, you don't have Saturday cornered. The Curly R has published its game preview every Saturday for the entire season (though usually before 9pm). The Falcoholic, very in-depth. The Redskin Report's helpful 'did you know.' AJC Enemy Watch (amusing, and Redskins Stadium may be 'soulless,' but Dan Snyder didn't have to ask permission to sell the naming rights. Pfft.).

This is a gameday open thread.