Michael Penix, Falcons Lose Heartbreaker to Commanders: 3 Takeaways

The Atlanta Falcons' playoff hopes took a considerable hit Sunday night.

Atlanta Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. threw his first touchdown Sunday against the Washington Commanders. / Geoff Burke-Imagn Images

LANDOVER, Md. -- The Atlanta Falcons entered Sunday with a chance to clinch their first playoff berth since 2017. They left Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md., with heartbreak.

Atlanta (8-8) fell 30-24 in overtime to the Washington Commanders (11-5) on Sunday Night Football, with Commanders rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels hitting tight end Zach Ertz over the middle for a touchdown.

The Falcons led 17-7 at halftime, seemingly in control of the game, and quickly put the Commanders in a third-and-22 on the first drive of the second half. Then, Falcons outside linebacker DeAngelo Malone committed an illegal contact penalty, giving Washington new life and turning the game on its head.

Led by star rookie quarterback Daniels, the Commanders' offense methodically wore down the Falcons' defense. Atlanta's offense counterpunched with a game-tying touchdown inside of 100 seconds to play, and after a three-and-out, the Falcons gave kicker Riley Patterson a chance to win it from 56 yards out.

But Patterson's kick, which was straight on, fell short.

In overtime, the Commanders received the kickoff and marched down in the field, taking over seven minutes off the clock. Daniels threw the dagger to Ertz on third-and-2 with 2:45 remaining.

The Commanders secured their playoff ticket. The Falcons enter next weekend needing a win and Tampa Bay Buccaneers loss to the New Orleans Saints.

And Atlanta's left picking up the pieces from a slow-bleeding death in perhaps its biggest game in seven years.

Here are three takeaways ...

Falcons fight late, fall short

In the third quarter alone, Washington ran 25 plays, possessed the ball for 12:53 and gained 145 net yards. Comparably, Atlanta had just three plays over 2:07 and lost one yard.

As the Commanders' offense grew more confident and the Falcons' defense became more tired, Washington turned its 10-point halftime deficit into a 24-17 lead midway through the fourth quarter.

Atlanta had a chance at the end of regulation but, no pun intended, fell short.

Penix has late-game magic in second NFL start

Falcons rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. struggled to ride the wave of momentum created by a strong first start in the team's 34-7 victory over the New York Giants last week -- until he needed it most.

Penix went 19-for-35 passing for 223 yards, one touchdown and one interception. He hit a few big throws to receiver Drake London, headlined by a 31-yard catch-and-run on fourth-and-11 on the team's final drive, but also missed a handful of passes.

He hit tight end Kyle Pitts for a 13-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-goal late in regulation, the first touchdown pass of Penix's NFL career.

Milestones

Falcons linebackers JD Bertrand and Kaden Elliss each made personal history in the first half. Bertrand, a fifth-round rookie, notched his first NFL sack, while Elliss, a sixth-year pro, recorded his first NFL interception.

Receiver Drake London broke the 1,000-yard mark for the first time in his professional career with a 14-yard catch from Penix midway through the second quarter

Next Up

The Falcons (8-8) host the Carolina Panthers (4-12) at 1 p.m. Sunday inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.