Atlanta Falcons Preparing For 'Very, Very Good' Washington Commanders Defense

Can the Atlanta Falcons offense take a step forward this week agains the talented defense of the Washington Commanders?

Can the Atlanta Falcons offense take another step forward this week when they face the Washington Commanders? That's the goal, but it won't be an easy one to accomplish.

Falcons offensive coordinator Dave Ragone recently spoke with the media about some specific challenges he expects to face from Washington's defense on Sunday. In short? He believes that unit is good in all phases, and he gives credit to defensive coordinator Jack Del Rio for its performance.

“You see a defense [where] a lot are talking about the front, and that’s rightfully so," Ragone said. "I mean, they’re very, very good. Have a ton of respect for what they do. Coach Del Rio has been there a long time. He has a great understanding of how to attack offenses."

Oct 1, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Washington Commanders defensive end Chase Young (99) celebrates his sack against the Philadelphia Eagles during the second quarter at Lincoln Financial Field / © Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

The front seven is not the only concerning part for Ragone this week. With a quarterback in Desmond Ridder who has been up-and-down so far this season, the linebackers and secondary could also pose some problems for Atlanta.

"You look at what they do up front, you look at how the linebackers match with the defensive line, and they’re all in cohesion together," Ragone said. "The secondary does a good job of trying to disguise the coverages. They play with their eyes. So all three levels – like every week, but especially this week – all three levels are going to present a lot of issues for us, and we need to be able to fix them and find a way to move the ball.”

Last week, Ridder had arguably the best game of his NFL career in a low-scoring win over the Houston Texans. Now, he and Ragone will have their hands full once again with a defense in Washington's that can give offenses nightmares on Sundays.