The Sports Xchange

ATLANTA — First-year Atlanta Falcons coach Dan Quinn said the team talked about the possibility of having to put in some extra time against the Washington Redskins on Sunday. He was right.

Cornerback Robert Alford returned an interception 59 yards for the winning touchdown in the Falcons’ 25-19 wild overtime win over the Washington Redskins on Sunday.

The Falcons are 5-0 for the time since 2012, a season in which they had a number of dramatic finishes en route to hosting the NFC Championship Game. Sunday was no different.

Atlanta running back Devonta Freeman rushed for 153 yards and scored a fourth-quarter touchdown that put the Falcons up 19-16 ahead with 24 seconds to play. It was Freeman’s seventh touchdown in his last two games and came two plays after his apparent touchdown reception was overturned by replay.

With only 17 seconds to work with, Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins completed three straight passes on the ensuing drive, marching the Redskins to the Falcons’ 34-yard line to set up Dustin Hopkins’ 52-yard field goal that forced overtime.

Washington took possession first in overtime and was near midfield when Alford jumped in front of a Cousins pass and raced down the sideline for the winning touchdown.

“I thought this was a real clear demonstration of our toughness, our grit and our mindset to finish,” Quinn said. “We knew this might go the distance. We totally expected that. In fact, we even talked about it last night. If we’re asked to go extra, we’ll go extra. We’re always prepared to go as long as we have to.”

Atlanta wide receiver Julio Jones, held without a reception in the first half, finished with five receptions for 64 yards and recovered a Freeman fumble in the end zone for a touchdown that put the Falcons ahead 12-7 with 9:14 to play.

Washington answered right back, taking advantage of a 43-yard pass interference penalty on Alford that set up running back Matt Jones’ go-ahead touchdown run.

Ryan completed 24 of 42 passes for 254 yards with no touchdowns and two interceptions.

Cousins completed 21 of 32 passes for 218 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions.

“I wasn’t good enough on some of my throws today,” Cousins said. “I will make those in the long haul, but today, I left too many out there.”

What we learned about the Redskins:

1. With both starting corners out with injuries, a matchup with Atlanta QB Matt Ryan and WR Julio Jones didn’t seem favorable for Washington. But backups Will Blackmon and Bashaud Breeland held their own. Jones didn’t catch a pass until the third quarter, and Breeland had a key fourth-quarter interception. When starters Chris Culliver and DeAngelo Hall return, Washington should boast some good depth in the secondary.

2. The running game by committee may need some rethinking. Washington managed just 51 yards on the ground. Rookie RB Matt Jones led the team with 20 yards on 11 carries, but suffered an injured toe in the second half and did not return. Washington averaged just 2.1 yards per carry.

3. Wide receiver Jamison Crowder is emerging as a playmaker for the offense. Crowder, a rookie from Duke, had a team-high eight catches for 87 yards. He caught a 7-yard pass on Washington’s final drive in regulation, helping setting up kicker Dustin Hopkins’ 52-yard field goal to force overtime.

Etc.:

–RB Matt Jones, a rookie, led the Redskins with 20 yards rushing on 11 carries and scored a touchdown before suffering a toe injury in the fourth quarter. Jones was unable to return.

–WR Jamison Crowder caught a team-high eight passes for 86 yards. The rookie out of Duke is emerging as a playmaker for Washington’s passing game.

–CBs Bashaud Breeland and Will Blackmon started in place of injured starters DeAngelo Hall and Chris Culliver. Breeland had a key interception in the fourth quarter, leading to a Dustin Hopkins field goal.