LANDOVER, Md. (AP) – Julio Jones set his sights on the end zone, twisted to break a tackle and head for the promised land.

A swarm of teammates rushed to the sideline, leaping happily to celebrate the end of the drought of the starter's 12-match touchdown.

Jones was back in the end zone where he was, and the Atlanta Falcons looked like the alleged team in a 38-14 Washington Redskins outburst on Sunday, which extended their winning streak to three games.

"We are a fraternity," said Jones, who has made seven receptions for 121 yards and earned his first touchdown pass since November 26, 2017.

"We support each other.If someone scores points, I try to be the first one out there.No one hates himself in this team." Everyone loves when others go out here and excel playing plays. "

The Falcons (4-4) played many games by bending their offensive muscles with the kind of balanced attack that they lacked during a season of injury and which, until now, have not been enough. has not lived up to expectations. Matt Ryan completed 26 of his 38 passes for 350 yards and four touchdowns, including Jones' 35-yard display that sparked a team-wide party.

Although losing four of his first five games did not give much to celebrate in Atlanta, players are excited about their current position and what they can accomplish more this season.

"The start to the season was not what we were looking for, but we are halfway there, we are 4-4 and we are in the game," said Ryan, who has passed touchdowns of 39 and 10 yards for Tevin Coleman and rookie receiver Calvin Ridley 40 yards.

"The good football teams I've been involved with in my career are the ones that have improved over the years, and mid-way I think we're a better football team than we were at the beginning and we & # 39; We must keep the trend in this direction.

Nowhere is this more evident than on the field, where Coleman rushed 80 yards and Ito Smith had 66 yards and a touchdown. The Falcons passed 100 yards on the ground for the first time since the second week.

"The big guys did the job," said coach Dan Quinn, whose team did not score until mid-quarter quarterback and converted his eight first chances in the third. "We know we are at our best when the race match and our passing game are balanced, and we had it today and the results were there."

Atlanta's 30th ranked defense also did its part, limiting Washington to 35 yards for the first quarter and making a crucial stop after Ryan was eliminated by Quinton Dunbar – the third quarter interception this season.

The NFC Eastern Redskins (5-3) could end their three consecutive wins with hard shots, unfortunate penalties and a series of injuries along the offensive line.

Already without left tackle Trent Williams after surgery to repair his dislocated right thumb, Washington lost left guard Shaun Lauvao following a left knee injury, right guard Brandon Scherff to a left shoulder injury and he's beaten to stop the Falcons when that mattered.

"It was not the preparation, just the execution," D.J. Washington security Swearinger said. "You have to be better, you have to be disciplined, you have to be disciplined in your efforts."

Swearinger and other players blamed officials for part of the Redskins' discipline problem, which added 10 penalties for 147 yards.

Adrian Peterson was kept 17 yards in nine races a week after racking up 149 yards at the New York Giants. Alex Smith was 30 on 46 for 306 yards, an interception and a touchdown pass to Josh Doctson.

KAZEE'S PICK AND THROW

The Falcons' safety, Damontae Kazee, effectively ended all chances of a return to the Redskins when he pushed Smith to about seven minutes from the end. After the match, Kazee ran to the corner of the stadium filled with Falcons fans and made his best impression of Ryan by throwing the ball at the top of the lower deck.

Kazee said that he was trying to pass the ball to his nephew in this corner of the tribune and that he was not afraid of being punished.

"I am fined every week," said Kazee. "I'm not doing anything."

SMITH & # 39; S RUN

As insignificant as Washington's ground game was, Smith achieved his longest win of the day with a frantic race that helped set a touchdown. While Peterson was blocking for him, the 34-year-old had 22 yards before being stopped on a shot by Brian Poole, shoulder to shoulder, at the Atlanta 19.

INJURY

Falcons: Calvin Ridley was allowed to return after being assessed for a head injury. K Matt Bryant missed his second consecutive game due to a right thigh injury, while CB Robert Alford was injured his ankle, his first match since 2015.

Redskins: Played unchallenged by three-fifths of his offensive line and lost Lauvao, knee injury. Lauvao injured his left knee in the third game of the match, was removed from the sideline in a wheelchair and did not return. RT Morgan Moses was injured right knee in the first quarter before returning to the second. Coach Jay Gruden said Lauvao and Scherff would undergo an MRI on Monday. … Dunbar left twice with leg injuries. TE Jordan Reed left briefly with a neck injury.

FOLLOWING

Falcons: Aim for their fourth consecutive victory during their visit to the Cleveland Browns on Sunday.

Redskins: The Tampa Bay Buccaneers rebels are expected to rebound on Sunday.

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