It’s Week 9 on the NFL schedule and teams like the Washington Redskins have positioned themselves to take further command of their respective divisions. The Redskins hold a game and a half lead in the NFC East division over the defending Super Bowl Champion, Philadelphia Eagles.
Sunday, the Redskins (5-2) will take on the Atlanta Falcons (3-4) and win would further help the Redskins playoff chances and increase their impressive streak of wins over the NFC Conference this year to six games.
Here are several statistical feats to watch for in the Redskins fifth home game of the season.
The Redskins look to force a turnover for the 12th consecutive week dating back to last season and continuing the second longest active streak in the NFL.
Washington will try to score 20 or more points in the first half for the third time this season and the first time since scoring that many points in the first half in three games since the 2016 campaign.
The Redskins No. 4 ranked defense holding their opponent to under 100 yards rushing for the fifth consecutive week and the first time since Week 3-Week 7 of the 2012 season.
The Redskins 10th ranked defense in total sacks (21) recording four-plus sacks for a third consecutive week for the first time since Week 15-17 of the 2015 season.
Quarterback Alex Smith (33,449) throwing for 13 yards and passing Phil Simms (33,462) for 34th on the NFL’s all-time list. If Smith (33,449) throws for 54 yards he will pass John Hadl (33,503) for 33rd on the NFL’s all-time list. If the 14-year veteran who currently has 2,530 rushing yards, runs for 126 yards, he will pass No. 16 Daunte Culpepper (2,652), No. 15 Bobby Douglass (2,654) and No. 14 Greg Landry (2,655) on the NFL’s all-time list for rushing yards among quarterbacks.
A Redskins win over Falcons would …
Adrian Peterson (103) needs to score two rushing touchdowns to pass Redskins Hall of Famer John Riggins (104) for sixth on the NFL’s RB all-time list. Peterson (6) needs to rush for 200 or more yards to set an NFL record for the most career games with 200-plus yards rushing. He is currently tied with Hall of Famer O.J. Simpson (6) for the NFL record. If Peterson (25) scores two or more rushing touchdowns, he will move into sole possession of fourth place on the NFL’s list of career games with two-plus rushing touchdowns. He is currently tied with Shaun Alexander (25), Marcus Allen (25) and Priest Holmes (25).
Pro Bowl tight end Jordan Reed (23) needs to catch two touchdowns to take sole possession of No. 10 among Redskins in all-time touchdown receptions.
Fellow tight end Vernon Davis (558) is chasing No. 8 Jimmy Graham (584), No. 7 Heath Miller (592) and No. 6 Greg Olsen (651) on the NFL’s list of career receptions by a tight end. Davis (61) needs to catch a touchdown to tie Hall of Famer Shannon Sharpe for sixth on the all-time list of career touchdown receptions by a tight end in NFL history.
Safety DJ Swearinger Sr. will try to record multiple interceptions in consecutive games. He would become the first Redskins player since Paul Krause to accomplish the feat. Krause accomplished the feat in 1964.
Defensive lineman Matt Ioannidis will try to record two or more sacks in consecutive weeks for the first time in his career and becoming only the sixth Redskin in NFL history to accomplish the feat.
Linebacker Ryan Kerrigan will start his 120th consecutive regular season game, the longest active streak among active NFL linebackers. Kerrigan has not missed a start in his NFL career. Kerrigan remaining as one of six NFL players (and only three non-quarterbacks) to have started every game since the start of the 2011 season (Brandon Carr, Patrick Peterson, Philip Rivers, Matt Ryan, and Matthew Stafford). If the Purdue standout records his fourth career interception return for a touchdown, he would take sole possession of second-most in franchise history. Kerrigan is currently tied with DeAngelo Hall, Monte Coleman, Andre Collins, Brig Owens and Mike Bass (three each).
Kicker Dustin Hopkins (3) needs to connect on one field goal from 50-plus yards to tie a single-season franchise record, which is currently held by Graham Gano (4 in 2011), John Hall (4 in 2003) and Mark Moseley (4 in 1977). Hopkins (8) needs to connect on one field goal from 50-plus yards to tie Chip Lohmiller (9) for second on the franchise list for career field goals made from that distance.