PRO FOOTBALL : Falcons Go to Washington, Pick Up a Capital W : NFC: Atlanta ends 10-game losing streak at RFK Stadium with a 27-20 victory over Redskins.

The Atlanta Falcons proved two things Sunday: They can win at RFK Stadium, and they can win without a significant contribution from standout wide receiver Andre Rison.

Jeff George was 22 of 35 for 270 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Falcons to a 27-20 victory over the Redskins, their first victory at Washington in 11 tries.

“We’re 1-0 in the new era,” George said. “Everything else is in the past. It’s all forgotten. We’re moving forward now.”

Rison, who was leading the NFL with 29 receptions going into the game, caught four passes for 74 yards.

Instead of looking for Rison, George found Terance Mathis nine times for 92 yards and a touchdown, and Bert Emanuel for four catches and a touchdown.

The Falcons (2-2) capitalized on two interceptions and a fumble by Redskin quarterback John Friesz to score 20 unanswered points in the second half.

“It was an ugly game,” said Atlanta Coach June Jones. “We didn’t play well on offense, but we made the plays we needed to. We’ve played ugly and sputtered here and got beat. The bottom line is we won this time.”

The Redskins (1-3) slowed Atlanta’s run-and-shoot offense several times, notching six sacks and forcing seven punts, but it wasn’t enough.

The game changed early in the second half as Atlanta turned a 13-7 halftime deficit into a 27-13 lead.

With the Redskins’ offense sputtering, Turner benched Friesz in favor of Heath Shuler with 8:05 left.

The rookie from Tennessee led Washington on a 50-yard drive that ended with a three-yard touchdown run by Ricky Ervins with 1:57 to play, making it 27-20.

Washington then forced Atlanta to punt, but their last chance ended when Shuler’s Hail Mary pass was intercepted by Scott Case at the 10-yard line with one second left.

Shuler was 10 of 16 for 93 yards, while Friesz was 17 of 29 for 230 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions.

“I’m not disappointed I was pulled,” Friesz said. “I’m disappointed I didn’t play better and give us a chance to win. I need to do a better job of finding the tight end or getting the ball to the back quicker, so they will have more of a chance to run.”

Friesz hooked up with Henry Ellard on a 73-yard touchdown pass play that gave the Redskins their 13-7 halftime lead, but Atlanta scored on its second possession of the second half when Emanuel made a one-handed grab of a 31-yard pass.