LANDOVER, Md. -- The Falcons had a chance to show the nation on prime-time television that they were a legitimate playoff team.
They slugged it out with the Commanders before falling 30-24 in overtime on Sunday at Northwest Stadium.
“Tough loss,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “I’m so proud of this football team and what they put out there. We’ve got one more game to handle our business and see what happens after that.”
The Falcons dropped to 8-8 on the season. They need to beat the Panthers in the regular-season finale and hope that the Saints can upset the Buccaneers, who improved to 9-7 with a win over the Panthers earlier in the day.
If the Bucs win, the Falcons’ season will be over.
The Commanders improved to 11-5 on the season and clinched a wild card playoff berth.
Some players were upbeat after the team blew its chance to control their own playoff destiny.
“The fight,” defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. “The effort. The last drive, the offense (went) down and (quarterback) Mike Penix (Jr.) throws that dart to Kyle (Pitts). Just the confidence that we (showed). Even on the defensive side, we did some good things. (There were so) many good things.”
Some were not as upbeat.
“No,” Lorenzo Carter said when asked he could answer a few questions.
Penix, who was making his second start, tossed his first NFL touchdown pass to tie the game with 1:19 to play. The Falcons’ defense, which had been mauled by the Commanders in the second half, got a three-and-out. The offense put kicker Riley Patterson in position for a 56-yard field goal attempt that was short. (Patterson’s career long was 53 yards).
The Falcons wasted 17 seconds on the drive by not using one of the two timeouts. That was a enough time to potentially get Patterson closer.
“I’m even proud of our new kicker,” Jarrett said. “He came in and made a crucial extra point to send us to overtime. He came up a split second short on the (potential game-winning) kick. At the end of the day, he just showed up. He gave us his best and that’s all that we can ask.”
The Commanders won the coin toss and marched down for the winning touchdown. Washington’s Jayden Daniels tossed a 2-yard pass to tight end Zach Ertz (6-foot-5) who ran inside of nickel back Dee Alford (5-foot-11).
Penix’s touchdown pass to Pitts bailed out center Drew Dalman.
The Falcons drove down to the 5-yard line. Dalman made a high snap to running back Bijan Robinson, who was in a wildcat formation, that was recovered for a 21-yard loss to make it second-and-goal from the 26.
On fourth-and-goal from the 13, Penix found Pitts, who has been struggling this season, in the end zone.
“I love the kid,” Morris said. “I love the kid’s fight. I love his desire. Anybody who can go out there and stand in the face of adversity and throw that strike like he threw to Kyle Pitts to give us an opportunity to win that football game ...”
The Falcons got off to a good start, but struggled to move the ball in the second half. The Commanders found a gear and stormed back with 17 unanswered points with time-consuming drives.
Penix completed 19 of 35 passes for 223 yards, a touchdown and an interception. He finished with a passer rating of 71.5.
“It’s always tough losing,” Penix said. “Playing in the National Football League, we’re playing against the best of the best each and every week. We have to come with our A-game. There are things we wish we could have back.”
The Falcons couldn’t contain Daniels, who rushed 16 times for 127 yards. Daniels, the favorite to win the offensive rookie of the year award, also completed 24 of 36 passes for 227 yards, three touchdowns and an interception. He finished with a passer rating of 100.1.
“He’s hell on wheels,” Morris said of Daniels.
For the Falcons, Robinson finished with 90 yards rushing after amassing 82 and two touchdowns in the first half. Wide receiver Drake London had seven catches for 106 yards.
Behind a powerful rushing attack and a big interception by linebacker Kaden Elliss, the Falcons held a 17-7 lead at halftime.
The Falcons got off to a slow start before they turned the ball over to Robinson and Tyler Allgeier.
On the fifth play of the opening drive, Penix was intercepted by Commanders safety Quan Martin, who returned it 29 yards to the Falcons’ 38-yard line.
Daniels picked up a first down and tossed two passes to wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, the former Falcon. He drove the Commanders down to the 7-yard line. On fourth-and-2, the Commanders went for it. Daniels found Zaccheaus open in the end zone for a touchdown to make it 7-0.
On Atlanta’s second possession, the Falcons went on the move. Robinson scored a yard touchdown run to cap a 10-play, 70-yard drive that took 4:23 off the clock to tie the game, 7-7.
The Commanders were mighty helpful with two penalties, one for lining up in the neutral zone by cornerback Mike Sainristil on field goal block, which gave the Falcons a first down. Commanders cornerback Michael Davis then had a defensive pass interference on third down to move it to the 1.
Robinson took a direct snap and ran in for the score.
Falcons linebacker JD Bertrand sacked Daniels for a 12-yard loss to help force a three-and-out and a punt on Washington’s next possession.
The Falcons were back in business at their 29-yard line after a 13-yard return by Avery Williams. The Falcons couldn’t move after a false start by tight end Charlie Woerner threw them off schedule. They were forced to punt after Penix over threw an open Robinson on third down.
Elliss stopped the Commanders next drive when he dropped into coverage and intercepted a pass intended for wide receiver Jamison Crowder with 10:37 left in the second quarter.
The Falcons then put together a bone-rattling, 11-play, 72 yard touchdown drive that took 6:13 off the clock. Robinson scored from a yard out for his 12th rushing touchdown of the season. Robinson’s TD run gave him the most in a season since the Michael Turner had 12 back in 2010. Turner set the franchise mark with 17 rushing TDs in 2008.
Washington continued to commit penalties and were forced the punt.
The Falcons put together an eight-play, 51-yard drive. Patterson added a 39-yard field goal with :02 left in the first half to make it 17-7. The Falcons could have used their timeouts, but elected to keep playing.
Washington had the ball to start the second half. The Falcons forced a third down-and 22, but outside linebacker DeAngelo Malone was called for illegal contact to give them a first down. The Commanders took advantage and kept the drive alive.
On the 15th play of the drive, Daniels tossed a 10-yard touchdown pass to Ertz to make it 17-14.
The Falcons had a three-and-out and were forced to punt. Penix was sacked on third down and there was a holding penalty.
The Commanders, on a drive that carried into the fourth quarter, gave the Falcons a dose of their own medicine. They powered the ball at the defense. Running back Chris Rodriquez Jr. scored on a 2-yard run to cap a 14-play, 70-yard drive that took 7:03 off the clock.
The Commanders led 21-17 with 13:03 to play.
On the Falcons’ next position, they converted their first third down and moved into Washington territory. On the subsequent third down-and-10 from Washington’s 49, Penix was sacked by Dorance Armstrong. Dalman recovered the fumble.
The Commanders, with the Falcons defense out of steam, drove down for a 31-yard field goal with 4:32 left.
The Falcons answered with the game-tying drive, but couldn’t get off the field in overtime.
“We just have to sustain drives,” Penix said. “We can;t go three-and-out. My mindset is every time we step on the field is to get points.”
Now, the Falcons need to beat the Panthers and get some help from the Saints.
About the Author
