The Sports Xchange

FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. — Julio Jones wasn’t himself in the last game. He isn’t sure if he will play on Thursday against the Saints but if he does, the Atlanta Falcons’ star wide receiver likely will be limited again.

There’s a good chance he won’t have his usual outstanding acceleration. Jones may not be able to reach his top-end speed or out-leap defenders, like normal. His physical limitations against the Redskins threw off his timing with quarterback Matt Ryan, and it could be a problem again against the Saints.

Or Jones might find his normal gear for one or two big plays that change the game for the Falcons.

“In terms of getting a rhythm back with Julio, we are one play away from that,” Ryan said Tuesday.

And that’s the dilemma for the Saints. If they decide not to use extra defenders to contain Jones because he’s physically limited, he’s still capable of making them pay by making important plays. It could be risky for them to assume he can’t do it.

Jones appeared to lack his usual explosiveness while catching five passes for 67 yards against the Redskins on Sunday. But the Redskins still had to respect his big-play ability, and Jones made two key catches on the final touchdown drive.

Jones said he didn’t aggravate the injured hamstring and that it’s improved since Sunday. He said he thinks he still can be valuable for the Falcons even if he’s not 100 percent.

“If I can go, I am going to go,” Jones said. “I am going to have to be really down bad not to go out there and play. If I feel like I am putting myself in danger as far as going out there and not being able to make a defender miss, then I won’t go. If I feel like I can do that and help my team by drawing coverage and doing my job, I’m going to go.”

–Entering Sunday’s game, the Redskins led the NFL with 140 rushing yards per game, but were held to 51 yards in the Falcons’ 25-19 overtime win.

Head coach Dan Quinn said the team’s goal going into the game was to stop Washington running backs Matt Jones and Alfred Morris and focus on limiting as many yards as possible.

“We knew both the backs were as tough as could be,” Quinn said. “A point of emphasis for us going into the week was to make sure the runs would be two (yards per carry) and stay at two.”

Before facing the Redskins, the Falcons’ defense allowed opponents an average of 82.5 rushing yards per game. Defensive tackle Jonathan Babineaux said he was proud of his team’s effort Sunday to limit the Redskins to 2.1 yards per carry.

“I think we did a great job shutting down their run game,” Babineaux said. “We know we did a great job attacking the run and getting after the ball carrier.”

–Another powerful factor in shutting down Washington’s running game was O’Brien Schofield.

Quinn said Schofield’s versatility and strength made a difference in limiting Washington’s run game.

“He’s very comfortable on the inline, against a tackle or a tight end,” Quinn said. “I think it’s that training that he’s put in in the past. He’s such a versatile linebacker and as a defensive end, he can stand up and we can move him around in different spots.”