ATLANTA (Ticker) -- Patrick Ramsey is starting to grow up.
Ramsey passed for a career-high 356 yards and two touchdowns as the Washington Redskins rallied for a 33-31 victory over the Atlanta Falcons.
A first-round pick in 2002, Ramsey is in his first full season as the starter in coach Steve Spurrier's "Fun N' Gun" offense.
Ramsey, who led a late game-winning drive in the season opener against the New York Jets, came up big again. He rallied the Redskins (2-0) from a 17-point deficit by completing 25-of-39 passes and overcoming six sacks.
Spurrier praised his young quarterback.
"He played very well," Spurrier said. "He jot jammed on his shoulder in the first half, his left one so he was able to continue. He hung in there and made some beautiful throws. He's sort of growing up."
Ramsey threw a 21-yard touchdown pass to Rod Gardner in the third quarter, tying the contest at 24-24. His 19-yard TD pass to Laveranues Coles early in the fourth quarter opened a 33-24 lead.
Like Ramsey, Coles and Gardner both enjoyed huge games. Coles had 11 catches for 181 yards and Gardner nine for 118.
"We came out a little bit shaky, then guys got open to make catches," Ramsey said. "This week we were able to come together as a team."
Trung Canidate rushed for 89 yards and Ladell Betts ran 13 yards for a TD for the Redskins, who improved to 2-0 for the first time since 1991 - the last time they won the Super Bowl.
"We got off to a rough start but our guys hung in there and kept playing," Spurrier said. "It came down to a safety. It was a heckuva game but we were fortunate to be on the winning end."
Falcons quarterback Doug Johnson passed for two touchdowns, but was intercepted twice and tackled in the end zone for a safety.
T.J. Duckett had a pair of touchdown runs for the Falcons (1-1).
It looked like the Falcons would roll to their second straight win after Jay Feely kicked a 37-yard field goal and Duckett had touchdown runs of 13 and one yard, giving the Falcons a 17-0 lead early in the second quarter.
Duckett's second touchdown was set up when defensive tackle Ed Jasper recovered a fumble by Ramsey at the 1. Ramsey was sacked five times in the opening half and had the ball jarred loose a couple of times.
But the Redskins were able to climb back into the game by scoring two touchdowns less than five minutes apart.
Betts capped a 13-play, 65-yard drive with a 13-yard TD run with 8:36 left in the half.
The second score was set up when safety Ifeanyi Ohalete intercepted Johnson and returned the ball 16 yards to the Atlanta 1. Rock Cartwright plowed over from one yard, pulling the Falcons within 17-14 with 5:37 left before intermission.
After Johnson tossed a one-yard TD pass to tight end Alge Crumpler, John Hall kicked a 54-yard field goal with 12 seconds left in the half, pulling the Redskins within 24-17.
Johnson, who started out 5-of-8 for 93 yards, struggled the rest of the way. He finished 16-of-36 for 197 yards and two touchdowns with two interceptions.
"We've got to learn to finish people," Johnson said. "We did that last week but today we just couldn't get it done in the second half, offensively. We let them get back into the game. There were a bunch of turning points."
Ramsey was able to hang in after the pounding he took in the opening half. He immediately established himself to open the second half, directing a 10-play, 76-yard drive.
Ramsey connected with Coles for 14 yards to the Atlanta 20, and two plays later, he found Gardner from 21 yards, tying the contest at 24-24.
Thanks to their defense, the Redkskins took the lead with under 30 seconds left in the third quarter when linebacker Jesse Armstead sacked Johnson in the end zone for a safety.
On the ensuing possession, Ramsey directed a five-play, 71-yard drive that opened a 33-24 lead. He found Coles for 33 yards to the Atlanta 23, and two plays later, Ramsey connected with his speedy wide receiver on a 19-yard touchdown with 12:47 remaining.
"Patrick had a great game today," Coles said. "He stepped up. He's the leader of this football team. He really helps demonstrate the character of this football team."
"Coles is incredibly tough," Ramsey said. "A great addition. He's just so talented. He finds a way to get open. He's a tenacious guy."
Johnson threw a 42-yard TD pass with 2:22 remaining, pulling the Falcons within 33-31. But the Falcons got the ball back at his own 9 with under 20 seconds left
"It's a game that we felt we could win and would win," said Falcons coach Dan Reeves, who remained one win shy of 200 for his career. "You have to give them credit because they battled back so it's a tough loss. "
