Five things we learned from Falcons loss to Commanders

The Falcons are not going to out run the South unless they get some help from their friends from New Orleans.

The Falcons need to beat the Panthers and hope the Saints can beat the Bucs. By the way, the Bucs dropped 51 on the Saints in their last meeting.

So, basically, the Falcons may be playing for pride as their playoffs hopes have a 19% probability by the NFL, which used Next Gen Stats for their win-probability issues.

Here are five things we learned from the overtime loss to the Commanders:

1. Timeouts: Falcons coach Raheem Morris was holding onto his timeouts like they were rollover Marriott points.

You don’t get to sell them on e-Bay if you don’t use them.

Timeouts are there to be used. We’ll need a better explanation from the coach on why he took three timeouts into the locker room at halftime and didn’t use them again late in regulation.

2. Passing game not timed up: When the Falcons went to Michael Penix Jr., one of the issues we duly noted was that the timing of the deep passing game would be off.

Penix had not worked with the first-team receivers until he was named the starter before the Giants game two weeks ago.

Against the Commanders, Penix overshot running back Bijan Robinson, who was open on a wheel route.

Right before the half, he overthrew Drake London in the end zone.

London finished with seven catches for 106 yards and amassed more than 1,000 yards receiving on the season (1,084) for the first time in his career.

It was London’s fifth 100-yard game.

Both London and Penix cited their lack of work together after the game.

So basically, the Falcons were trying to get lucky on those deep balls because they had not been timed up properly.

“Just throwing the ball at practice pretty much,” London said. “I keep on reiterating to him that it’s only been, now after this game, it’s only been eight quarters that we’ve played together. To be able to play a ball game like this, it’s only been that much time, I think that later down the road, it’s going to be really fun here.”

Penix, who took over for Kirk Cousins, was put in a tough spot with three games to go. But he rallied the offense and forced overtime.

“He’s an absolute dog,” London said. “That goes with everybody on the offense. I’m not going to say too much because they know themselves. I’m the same type of person, I don’t need nobody to get me going or anything like that. He’s an absolute dog. He stays poised. You may not see it. But he’s got that (stuff) in his eyes for sure.”

3. Dirty Bird Robinson: The Falcons broke out their version of the Wildcat with mixed results. Robinson took a direct snap and scored a touchdown in the first half.

With the game on the line at end of regulation, center Drew Dalman fired back a high snap that Robinson had to scramble and recover.

Robinson rushed for 82 yards and two touchdowns in the first half. He finished with 90 yards.

The Commanders controlled the time of possession as the Falcons only had three plays in the third quarter. The Falcons had to move away from the run as the Commanders put up 17 unanswered points to take a 24-17 lead.

Robinson also had three catches which put him at 59 on the season, topping his total of 58 from last season.

Robinson has 1,286 yards rushing and 428 receiving (1,714 total scrimmage yards). He is the sixth Falcons to amass more than 1,700 yards in a season and the first since Julio Jones lead the league 1,871 yards receiving in 2015.

Robinson, Philadelphia’s Saquon Barkley and Baltimore’s Derrick Henry are the only three players with more than 1,700 scrimmage yards this season.

4. Terry not so Scary: The Falcons held Washington wide receiver Terry McLaurin in check. The former Pro Bowler caught 1 of 7 targets for five yards.

Former Falcons wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus led the Commanders in receiving. He caught 8 of 9 passes for 85 yards and a touchdown. He also had a rush for eight yards.

The Commanders also featured tight end Zach Ertz, who caught 6 of 7 targets for 72 yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winner in overtime.

Nickel back Dee Alford, who’s 5-foot-11 and 180 pounds, was covering Ertz, who’s 6-5 and 250 pounds. Alford is tough as nails, but that’s a tough assignment.

5. Big game experience: A lot of the Falcons have not been in many high-stakes late-season games in the NFL.

“For me it means a lot, obviously I’ve never been in a game like that even in college,” Falcons left guard Matthew Bergeron said. “Never been in one of those meaningful games in December so it felt good. We came up short. They made some awesome plays on offense and defense. We have to do better.”

The Falcons were well aware of their playoff plight. If they could somehow squeeze into the playoffs, the game against the Commanders could be steppingstone.

“No doubt, as soon as you get in the playoffs, anything can happen,” Bergeron said. “Our focus is just getting in. Whatever is possible. In the playoffs you see a bunch of stuff happen all the time. I think the focus of the whole team is getting in. Bouncing back from this loss. Hopefully, we get some help from other teams and we just get it.”