Commanders escape with critical 19-13 win over Falcons
Sometimes you just need a little luck. Luck and key defensive players making big plays when it mattered the most helped the Washington Commanders escape with a 19-13 win over the Atlanta Falcons Sunday from FedEx Field.
The Falcons were driving with a chance to tie — and win with an extra point — when quarterback Marcus Mariota dropped back to pass on second and goal from the four-yard line. Defensive tackle Daron Payne deflected Mariota’s pass. The ball fell toward the end zone, and cornerback Kendall Fuller made a terrific play, coming away with the interception and the touchback.
The Commanders ran three consecutive run plays, with the Falcons calling three timeouts. Atlanta was going to get one more chance to drive for a win. Washington punter Tress Way boots away a 52-yard punt that Avery Willams catches and returns eight yards before he is pushed out of bounds at the Atlanta 28-yard line.
There is a flag.
Falcons linebacker Adetokunbo Ogundeji made contact with Way and was called for running into the kicker. The result of the play was a five-yard penalty, giving the Commanders a first down and ending the game.
Whew.
The Falcons moved the ball at will with their running game, rushing it 29 times for 167 yards. Mariota accounted for 49 yards rushing on six attempts and was a problem all day for a Washington defense that had essentially shut down every opposing running game since Week 2.
As for Washington’s offense, things started well when quarterback Taylor Heinicke completed all four of his attempts on the Commanders’ first drive, which ended with a 14-yard touchdown pass to rookie running back Brian Robinson Jr.
However, Washington’s offense struggled to stay in rhythm and the first half ended when Heinicke was intercepted, ruining a potential scoring opportunity.
Heinicke found tight end John Bates in the second half to give the Commanders a 16-10 lead, but kicker Joey Slye missed the point after. Washington’s defense held the Falcons to a field goal and then forced a three-and-out.
The offense failed to capitalize outside of one Slye field goal, giving the Commanders a 19-13 lead.
Ultimately, Washington did enough to win the game, although it wasn’t pretty. These are the types of games the franchise would always lose in the past.
Heinicke completed 14 of 23 passes for 138 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The Commanders rushed for 176 yards, led by Robinson’s career-high 105 yards.
Next up for Washington is back-to-back games against the New York Giants with a bye week between the two meetings.
