2. Execute situational football

Washington, for the eighth time in as many games, needs a get-right performance on offense. It's been winning games, close games, because strong performances from the defense and a steady run game. This has led to a passing game that is lacking in statistical relevance.

Washington is averaging 213 passing yards per game and 1.1 touchdowns through the air. They're scoring an average of 20.9 points per game, 25th in the league. Those issues have persisted in the red zone, where they're also ranked 25th in touchdown percentage. Sunday could go a long ways in improving those numbers against a Falcons defense that's allowing red zone touchdowns at a high rate.

[This week's Know Your Opponent takes a look at Atlanta's defensive struggles in the red zone.]

This makes Sunday's matchup the perfect opportunity for Washington's offense to get rolling where it counts, and when it counts.

In the first half of games, the Redskins offense has looked up to the task. They've scored first in the five games they've won this season, and have 12 offensive touchdowns in the first half of games.

Unfortunately for the second half of games, it's been the opposite story. Washington has only scored two touchdowns on offense after halftime this season, a number that will surely need to improve.

Head coach Jay Gruden told reporters Wednesday that the team is well aware of its offensive struggles, and that it had a meeting that day to address it specifically. He added that the team's passing numbers are low, in part, because of the success of the run game, and that the stat the team is most concerned with are wins and losses.

"As long as we are winning games, protecting the football, that's the most important thing," Gruden said. "Our offense will be able to throw the ball eventually, with success."

And it's true. It is nitpicking to ask for bigger passing numbers when Washington is 5-2, atop their division and on the path to the playoffs. Regardless, quarterback Alex Smith knows the team can do better in the red zone, and he told reporters Wednesday that the team needs to improve on situational football, third downs (ranked 21st in the league) and red zone touchdowns (25th).

"I think the ones that stand out though are the situational stuff, the third downs that you don't convert because they would have given you a whole other rack of opportunities. The red zone, obviously because it's so vital," Smith said. "I think the situational stuff always tends to jump out when you don't execute, because of its magnitude, but certainly I think, it could first or second down too and you're still obviously trying to correct any of those things."

Smith is right about the possibility of a chain reaction of success, so to speak, if the offense can improve in situational football. If the Redskins convert more third downs, then they get more red zone opportunities, and when they get more opportunities they should get more touchdowns.

That can start this week, and it may have to, if Atlanta's theme of high-scoring games continues.