ATL Standard

The Atlanta Falcons faced a challenging defeat against the Washington Commanders in an overtime game, concluding with a 30-24 score at Northwest Stadium. The match was witnessed by 63,480 fans and marked Week 17 of the NFL season.

In terms of performance, the Falcons managed five sacks against their opponents, maintaining a streak of three or more sacks for five consecutive games—a feat last achieved in 1997. Kaden Elliss made history as the first Falcons player to record over 100 tackles, five sacks, and an interception in one season. A.J. Terrell's defensive efforts limited Terry McLaurin to just one reception for five yards.

On the Commanders' side, rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels set a new benchmark with 127 rushing yards in this game, contributing to his record-breaking total of 864 rushing yards for a rookie quarterback in a single season.

Bijan Robinson stood out for the Falcons with two touchdowns on short runs, echoing Devonta Freeman's performance from 2016. Despite leading in time of possession during the first half, Atlanta was outpaced by Washington in the second half.

The loss has impacted Atlanta's playoff chances significantly. Their probability dropped from 50% to 13%, necessitating both a win against the Panthers and a Buccaneers loss to secure their postseason spot.

Michael Penix Jr., playing as quarterback for Atlanta, threw his first career touchdown pass under pressure late in the game. Notably, this matchup featured two rookie quarterbacks starting together in prime-time for the first time ever.

Both Jessie Bates III and JD Bertrand recorded their inaugural career sacks during this game. For Washington, it marked their first season since 1991 with eleven wins.

Post-game reflections included insights from Raheem Morris on strategic decisions and comments from Michael Penix Jr., Chris Lindstrom, Dan Quinn, and Jayden Daniels regarding various aspects of play and outcomes.

Looking ahead, Atlanta will host Carolina Panthers at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for their final regular-season game while hoping results elsewhere favor their playoff aspirations.