Week 17 Game Recap – Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders

Commanders Clinch Playoff Spot in Exciting Overtime 30-24 Win

December 30, 2024

By Noonefromtampa

First Quarter

The Falcons received the opening kickoff and started on offense. Bijan Robinson took the first carry for 7 yards. KhaDarel Hodge caught the first pass from Michael Penix Jr. for 9 yards and the first down. After a 1 yard catch by Robinson and an incompletion by Penix, on third and nine, Penix overthrew his intended target and Quan Martin made the interception, returning it 29 yards to the Atlanta 38-yard line.

Jayden Daniels opened with a 12 yard completion to Olamide Zaccheaus. Brian Robinson gained 2 yards over right guard and then Daniels hit Zaccheaus for 9 yards. After a 1 yard run by Robinson and an incompletion, Daniels hit Jamison Crowder for 7 yards. The Commanders elected to go for it on fourth and two, they ran an option play which Daniels threw to Zaccheaus for a 7 yard touchdown. Zane Gonzalez converted the extra point for a 7-0 lead.

After the touchback, Robinson ran for 13 yards. Two plays later, Penix hit Kyle Pitts for 23 yards to put Atlanta on the Washington 34 yard line. The drive petered out at the Washington 28 yard line but on the field goal attempt Mike Sainristil was offside giving the Falcons a first down. A 13 yard pass to Drake London put the ball in first and goal. Mike Davis committed pass interference in the end zone on third down. Robinson scored on a direct snap on the next play. The extra point was good, to tie the game.

Washington went 3 and out on the next series, which included a 13 yard sack of Daniels which nearly caused a serious leg injury on a low hit. Luckily, Daniels was not injured and completed a third down pass well short of the first down marker.

After the Tress Way punt, Washington held Atlanta to a three and out aided by a false start penalty on the Falcons.

Second Quarter

After Crowder returned the punt 22 yards, Zach Ertz caught a 9 yard reception and Robinson ran for 12 yards. Robinson ran for 7 yards on the next play and 5 more yards were added for defensive holding. Daniels was able to get two more first downs on a 9 yard slant to Crowder and 13 yards to Zaccheaus. With a first and 10 from the Atlanta 12 yard line, Tyler Biadasz was called for holding backing the Commanders up 10 yards. Daniels threw an interception on the next play trying to hit Crowder on another slant.

Atlanta was able to march down the field behind the running of Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, who combined for 48 yards on the drive. Penix also completed a pass of 14 yards to London. The drive was also aided by a roughing the passer penalty on Dante Fowler. Robinson was able to score from the 1 yard line after his first touchdown attempt was overruled on instant replay review. The extra point was good giving Atlanta a 14-7 lead.

After the touchback, Daniels ran around left end for 25 yards and then wheels fell off the bus. A 10 yard holding penalty and a 10 yard sack put the Commanders into a second and 30 to go. Washington was only able to pick up 10 yards and was forced to punt after the two-minute warning.

Washington was called for holding on the punt, which moving the ball out to Atlanta’s 28 yard line. Robinson ran twice for 19 yards and Penix hit London for 17 yards and Darnell Mooney for 12 yards. The drive ended at the Washington 21 yard line after a couple of incompletions. Riley Patterson kicked a 39 yard field goal to give the Falcons a 17-7 lead going into halftime.

Third Quarter

Washington got bailed out on their first drive after getting hit with another holding penalty on the first play. Atlanta was called for illegal contact on a third down and 22 to go sack. Robinson gained 10 yards rushing two plays later. After another holding penalty, on K.J. Osborn, Daniels hit Ertz for 37 yards. Jeremy McNichols ran for 5 yards and Daniels scrambled for 9 yards. After a Crowder catch came up 1 yard short on third down, Daniel ran around right end for 4 yards. Three plays later Daniels hit Ertz for the 10-yard touchdown. The extra point was good, cutting Atlanta’s lead to 17-14.

On Atlanta’s next possession, Washington was able to stop Robinson for 1 yard on first down. After a short completion on second down, Fowler strip-sacked Penix for a 6 yard loss, with Penix recovering the fumble. The Atlanta punt went 42 yards to the Washington 30 yard line.

Daniels opened the next drive with a 13 yard scramble. After a false start and batted down pass, Daniels ran for 18 yards and a first down. After gaining 5 yards on the first three downs, Daniels hit McNichols who with a second effort made the first down. Atlanta then had to call a timeout with too many men on the field. Daniels hit Zaccheaus for 6 yards and then Zaccheaus ran a jet sweep for 8 yards. Daniels ran for 5 yards on a designed run play to end the third quarter.

Fourth Quarter

Chris Rodriguez ran for a tough four yards on second down and picked the first down with a two-yard run. On first and goal from the Atlanta 8 yard line, Rodriguez ran for 6 yards. He then took a pitchout from Daniels, breaking a tackle in the backfield to score the touchdown. The extra point was good, giving the Commanders a 21-17 lead.

After the touchback, Charlie Woerner caught a 6 yard pass to start the drive. Robinson ran for 2 yards and Ray-Ray McCloud picked up 13 yards on a short pass over the middle. After two incompletions, Dorance Armstrong sacked Penix for a 6 yard loss forcing a punt, which Crowder returned 17 yards to the Washington 36 yard line.

Daniels hit Zaccheaus for 16 yards to begin the drive. Daniels ran for 7 yards around left end. Then Brian Robinson came back into the game and gained 11 yards and 12 yards on successive runs. After a short run by Robinson, Daniels hit a wide-open John Bates over the middle for 14 yards to the Atlanta 3 yard line. Daniels ran for 2 yards to the one and then Robinson lost one yard. Sam Cosmi was called for holding on a Zaccheaus touchdown catch and then Daniels had to throw the ball away on a blitz. Gonzalez put a 31 yard field goal through the uprights to make the lead 24-17.

After the kickoff return, Robinson ran for 5 yards and Penix threw an incompletion on second down. Penix then hit London for 14 yards. The Falcons were called for holding on the next play. They picked up 9 yards, putting them in a third and eleven. A deep throw to Pitts was broken up by Jeremy Chinn in third down. Penix made a great throw on fourth down to London who picked up 31 yards. McCloud then gained 14 yards around right end down to the Washington 5 yard line. The wildcat snap went over Robinson’s head, and they lost 21 yards. London caught a 13 yard pass and then Penix threw an incomplete pass.  On fourth down, Penix hit Pitts for a 13 yard touchdown and the extra point was good, tying the game at 24 apiece.

After the touchback, Washington started its drive with 1:19 left on the clock. Daniels was sacked for a one yard loss and threw two incompletions, forcing a punt.

Atlanta got the ball back with 40 seconds on the clock. Penix hit Mooney for 25 yards and then threw two incompletions. Daron Payne was called for a neutral zone infraction,, which gave Atlanta 5 free yards  A pass interference penalty on Michael Davis gave Atlanta a shot at a 56 yard field goal, which was short.

Overtime

Washington won the coin toss and elected to take the ball. They started with a false start. Daniels then ran for 7 yards and threw to Ertz for 10 yards. Daniels ran for 7 yards and Robinson ran for 1 yard. On third and 2, Daniels scrambled for 16 yards. Ertz caught a 4 yards pass and Rodriguez picked up 12 yards on a reception. Robinson caught a 4 yard pass and Daniels ran for 6 yards making it first and goal at the Atlanta 8-yard line. After running for no gain, Daniels scrambled for 6 yards down to the 2 yard line. Daniels hit Ertz for the game winning touchdown.

Thoughts

Washington can’t keep making so many penalties, especially ones on third or fourth down which give opponents a first down and expect to win games.

Kliff Kingsbury made some nice adjustments on offense to counter what Atlanta was doing on defense.

Jayden Daniels put this team on his back in overtime and won the game.

Washington needs to draft and sign some decent free agent cornerbacks.

Michael Penix is going to be a good quarterback for Atlanta.