Official Game Thread - Week 17 - Falcons @ Commanders - SNF

[Primus Porcus]

Atlanta Falcons (8-7) vs Washington Commanders (10-5)

VS

When: Sunday, December 29th, 2024 - 8:20 PM
Where: Northwest Stadium - Landover MD


​

 

[SkinsNumberOne]

It feels good to see double-digits in the W column. Been far too long!

 

[Blaze Thunderball]

Even longer since the team had more than 10 wins on the season. It would be nice to win out. That way the extra game doesn't become a factor in exceeding the 10 win mark.

I don't expect an easy ride here. Penix wasn't revelatory last week and the opposition was much weaker, but allowing rookie and back up quarterbacks to look decent is one persistent problem that this team hasn't solved yet. Dalton, Murray and Watson, while not fitting either definition, are the only ones they've made life hell for.

if the falcons D is as bad as advertised, getting off to a fast start and maintaining it is key to a comfortable win. Can't allow a repeat of what happened in the second half vs the Saints.

 

[burgold]

I wouldn't worry about focus in this game. They see the playoffs in their hands. This is the IT game. I might worry about tightness and nerves. This team hasn't entirely proven it can avoid choking. The start against the Eagles suggested that sometimes, at the start of the game, some games can still be too big for them.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

I wouldn't worry about focus in this game. They see the playoffs in their hands. This is the IT game. I might worry about tightness and nerves. This team hasn't entirely proven it can avoid choking. The start against the Eagles suggested that sometimes, at the start of the game, some games can still be too big for them.

I agree. My concern is this feels like it could be a Dallas game situation: clearly should win, have the expectations to win, will get good things if they win, and come out tight and wound up because of trying too hard.

However, they’ve done that once already and now have the experience, so I’m guessing the coaches will work with them through it.

In reality. If they just come out and play loose and execute, they should win this game without a lot of drama.

We will be the first non-checked out team Penix will face. And our offense is a far sight better than the Drew Locke helmed Giants.

I expect a good effort from Atlanta. Morris is a good coach. But we should win this game. Doesn’t mean we will. But we should.

 

[MartinC]

Penix is a good QB and the Falcons have weapons on offense. They will be a challenge.

 

[CapsCommies]

Jayden's clutch and rises to the occasion in primetime. Penix is fine but this is only his 2nd ever start and first against a non-dumpster fire team. Falcons defense is above average against the run but below average against the pass, bad in the red zone, and terrible on 3rd down. I expect a win.

Btw, re: double-digit wins (and any other season-level stats), to properly compare to the 16-game era just take out the Titans game as that is the 17th game in our schedule. So stricly for comparison's sake, I have us at 9-5 with two more games to go. Beat Atlanta and Dallas and we'll still have our best season since '91.

 

[method man]

Jayden's clutch and rises to the occasion in primetime. Penix is fine but this is only his 2nd ever start and first against a non-dumpster fire team. Falcons defense is above average against the run but below average against the pass, bad in the red zone, and terrible on 3rd down. I expect a win.

Btw, re: double-digit wins (and any other season-level stats), to properly compare to the 16-game era just take out the Titans game as that is the 17th game in our schedule. So stricly for comparison's sake, I have us at 9-5 with two more games to go. Beat Atlanta and Dallas and we'll still have our best season since '91.

I think Whitt is the type of DC who is going to be aggressive here and try to confuse him. I think we will see a lot of blitzing, especially in obvious passing downs.

I really hope Lattimore is back to cover London.

 

[Spearfeather]

 

[prodigy]

glad there is an ES alternative (signed up for both). was weird during pre and post game periods without the forum. anyway...

I'm scared of Robinson and Penix is an unknown. woulda felt more comfortable if it was Kirk helming their ship. hopefully the team is amped up for quinn's revenge game.

commanders: 31
falcons: 20

 

[RedWolf]

Protect our house. Now is the time to step up

 

[MartinC]

I think Whitt is the type of DC who is going to be aggressive here and try to confuse him. I think we will see a lot of blitzing, especially in obvious passing downs.

I really hope Lattimore is back to cover London.

He’s a hard QB to sack, quick release and good pocket awareness. But if you can move him off his spot and not let him set his feet he becomes very ordinary.

If he can stay healthy (IF) I think he will develop into a good NFL starter. Second start though and the first against a team that actually has something to play for.

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

He’s a hard QB to sack, quick release and good pocket awareness. But if you can move him off his spot and not let him set his feet he becomes very ordinary.

If he can stay healthy (IF) I think he will develop into a good NFL starter. Second start though and the first against a team that actually has something to play for.

I think the defense had to just “hold serve.” Stop the run, force Penix to hold the ball, and play good coverage. If they can do that, they’ll be fine.

Then it’s going to be up to the offense to score points and put them away.

 

[SkinsFTW]

It's hard to decide what to expect from this defense after they made Rattler look like a pro bowler.

I'm thinking that this should be a pretty easy win, but you just never know.

Washington 30
Atlanta 20

 

[Boone]

It's hard to decide what to expect from this defense after they made Rattler look like a pro bowler.

I'm thinking that this should be a pretty easy win, but you just never know.

Washington 30
Atlanta 20

I gotta push back on this. Rattler completed 10 passes brother. 10!!! 10/21 for 135 yds and a single TD with no rushing yds. Yeah - I get he didn't play the whole game. He had a few good plays but that's it.

And while this defense is not perfect, they have pulled our chestnuts out of the fire numerous times this season, including against the Eagles. They more or less shut Philly and Barkley down after a rough 1st quarter. I think we are way too hard on them.

 

[Riggo Reincarnated]

Will this be a statement game where we win by 20 pts or more similar to the 35-7 wiin over Dallas in 2005?

 

[Voice_of_Reason]

Will this be a statement game where we win by 20 pts or more similar to the 35-7 wiin over Dallas in 2005?

I don’t care if we win by 1 point. Just win baby.

Every win in the NFL is hard, and this is a playoff game for them. Their season is over if they lose so we’re going to get their best shot.

 

[Primus Porcus]

The best thing we can do this week is get out to an early lead and force Penix to stop being comfortable handing it off to Robinson. We need to make them 1 dimensional because Robinson has the ability to control a game and make it very easy on his quarterback.

Penix is still a rookie, and the Falcons have shown what they do with bad QB play. Robinson is good, but he wasn’t good enough to overcome the downfall of Kirk Cousins, so I don’t think hes on the same level as Barkley, or even Kimara, who we have faced, and beat over the last two weeks.

We’ve said it 100 times if we’ve said it once, the NFL is a week to week league. At a minimum, this season, we have played like the better team.

They have a rookie QB in his 2nd start. Yes, we also have a rookie QB, but for the last 15 weeks he has played well above the ‘standard’ level of a rookie QB. Does that mean he’s immune in week 16? No, of course not, but I also think we’re past the point of thinking good games are anomalies, and seeing enough data points to have confidence what we’ve seen is the standard. Penix just doesn’t have the track record… yet… so i don’t think it’s problematic to expect him to have his struggles.


I think that’s where it starts. What are we going to see from Penix? Obviously that’s not the end all, but it’s the most important thing. If Penix struggles, it’s likely the Falcons are doomed from the start. If he plays well, there are a number of other factors, but none of which are going to be ‘better’ than what we just faced. Does it guarantee a win? Nope. But i like our chances.

 

[Spearfeather]

Forecast is currently calling for rain all day Sunday. 80% chance Sunday night.

 

[SkinsFTW]

We just saw the team turn the ball over 5 times and still score 36 points and the falcons have a much worse defense so I definitely expect to win but it's still the NFL so you never know.