Washington, Maryland (AP)--

Santana Moss celebrates the first of his two touchdowns.

T.J. Duckett made it clear that on Sunday he would prove to the Atlanta Falcons that they had spent the last four years making a big mistake, and would pay for their decision to trade him.
However when it was all said and done, it would be the Falcons rushing attack, minus Duckett, that would get the last laugh in the sour relationship as the Falcons, behind 209 yards of rushing, would come through late to pull out a 31-26 victory over the Washington Redskins.
After being selected in the first round of the 2002 draft by the Falcons, Duckett would never attain the leading back role as he would always be a backup to Warrick Dunn, primarily used as a goal line threat, rushing for 31 touchdown from 02-05 for the Falcons. Duckett’s patience eventually ran out, and his dissatisfaction would move him out of Atlanta in a three way trade which brought Ashley Lelie to Atlanta from Denver and sent Duckett to the Redskins.
Duckett never really received a major role in Washington this season, but after starter Clinton Portis was unable to go, Duckett would get the start he would be waiting for and would show his determination all game long to express to the Atlanta what they had been missing out on. Duckett would end up with 100 yards rushing on 20 attempts, but his performance was overshadowed by the leagues best rushing attack of the Falcons. Warrick Dunn would continue to build on his career year with 130 yards rushing and a score, while Michael Vick would run for 64 yards and two scores as well as 184 passing yards and a touchdown pass.
It looked as if the Falcons had rediscovered their swagger on offense, as after a streak of games where Vick struggled mightily to pick up yardage, he came out on Sunday and looked like the Vick of old, restoring his case for MVP.
In the beginning, it would be the Redskins who would take advantage of the home crowd to build a 10-0 lead after the first quarter. Santana Moss would turn a short catch into a 60 yard touchdown play after poor tackling by the Falcons would cost them as Moss would use his quickness to put the ‘Skins ahead early. Another long pass reception this time by Christian Fauria for 46 yards would set up a John Hall 23 yarder, to put the Redskins up 10-0 after the first quarter.

Warrick Dunn is brought down by Sean Taylor after a big pickup.

After ending the first quarter with a promising drive, the Falcons would end it early in the second quarter, as Warrick Dunn would run it in from 13 yards out. Dunn would be the catalyst of the drive, picking out the holes and running into the Washington secondary consistently.
It looked as if Atlanta were going to replicate their scoring drive later in the second quarter. After Vick and Dunn marched the Falcons down the field to the Redskins 9 yard line, Dunn would take a handoff but fumble the football after contact. The ‘Skins would pounce on the football and end the Falcons drive. Jim Mora Jr. would try his best to overturn the call but after review the play stood and the momentum, which the Falcons had built up, was suddenly gone.
The first half would end with both teams exchanging scores. Michael Koenen would connect from 36 yards to tie up the score momentarily before a 36 yard touchdown from Mark Brunell to Antwaan Randle El late in the half broke the tie and put the Redskins back on top 17-10. After ruling the Randle El catch out of bounds and not a touchdown, it was Joe Gibbs turn to try his luck at the replay system. And unlike Mora, Gibbs would prove successful and the call would be overturned and Washington would get the score.
The back and forth first half came to and end with the score 17-10, and it was clear that it was going to go down to the wire between these two teams, however the Falcons defense knew they would have to regroup after Mark Brunell spent the majority of the first half under little pressure and picking out open receivers for big gains.
Duckett was relatively quiet in the first half, as Gibbs stayed with what was working, using the passing game to success, and using Duckett sparingly for short pickups.
The Falcons would tie the game back up at 17 early in the second half as Vick would connect with Roddy White for a rare long completion for 60 yards, all coming through the air. White would get separation from Kenny Wright at the last second to haul in the catch for the Falcons longest completion in 6 weeks.
The momentum would take another series of momentum swings in the third quarter. Duckett would finally start to get more opportunities with the football taking some hard runs where Falcon defenders would find it difficult to bring down their former back by themselves. After marching the football deep into Atlanta territory it looked as if the Redskins were destined to retake the lead however an errant Brunell pass intended for Randle El would be picked off by the alert Ed Hartwell ending the drive and possibly saving the Falcons hopes for a victory as the 17-17 scoreline would stay in tact heading into the final quarter.

This Ed Hartwell interception would be a huge momentum swinger.

Vick would take advantage of the Redskins mistake, as he would lead the Falcons on a masterful drive in the forth quarter to give the Falcons their first lead of the night after Vick would use his wits to run it in from one yard out on third down.
Duckett would be determined to have a say in the outcome of this game as he continued to dish out punishment on his runs, leaving Falcons defender tired and bruised. Duckett would run over smaller players as he led the Redskins back down the field on another promising drive. However once again the Falcons defense would step up to keep the lead. On a third down passing attempt by Brunell, rookie Jimmy Williams would come on a corner blitz to sack Brunell for the second time in the game and cause the ‘Skins to settle for a field goal.
After a rocky start to the season, Williams has bounced back to impress Mora, making solid tackles on special teams, while stepping up big in his nickelback role. Mora has hinted that Williams may win back his cornerback role from Jason Webster which he lost in week 5.
With the score 24-20, Washington was given one last chance to win the game with under two minutes to play. However the 90 yard drive proved to difficult for the Redskins who had suddenly lost their stellar play which they showed in the first half, as a turnover on downs would give the Falcons the football back. With a short field Vick would run in for another touchdown adding to the lead before a Santana Moss touchdown cut back into the Falcons lead, which is where the game would end, the Falcons victorious 31-26.
After the game it was clear that the Falcons were pleased with their second half performance, showing signs that the dominant offense which they had earlier in the year had returned. Vick strengthened his case for league MVP with three more touchdowns giving him a total of 23 on the season. A New Orleans loss also restored the Falcons two game lead for tops in the NFC South, a division which looks more and more like the Falcons to take as the season progresses into its late stages. A win over 4-8 Tampa Bay next week would add to the Falcons lead, while also giving them their tenth win of the 2006 season.

Game Boxscore.