Washington Commanders QB Jayden Daniels continued his sensational rookie season, leading his team to its first postseason berth since 2020 with a 30-24 overtime win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night.
Here are five takeaways from Sunday’s thrilling nightcap:
Jayden Daniels’ TD strike to Zach Ertz sends Washington back to playoffs
The Commanders won the toss and never gave the Falcons a chance in the extra frame. This connection from Daniels to Ertz clinched the win and a playoff berth for the Commanders.
That was the second TD of the game for Ertz. The win vaults Washington to the sixth seed in the NFC and clinches the NFC West for the Los Angeles Rams.
After finishing with a sub .500 record in two of their last three seasons, Daniels has rejuvenated the Commanders and completely turned them around.
Falcons squander opportunity to clinch NFC South
After the Tampa Bay Buccaneers let the division lead slip away last Sunday night, the Falcons decided to return the favor a week later.
With Atlanta’s loss on Sunday, the Falcons fall to 8-8, one game behind the Buccaneers (9-7). Considering the Falcons’ record is worse than each of the three current wild-card teams in the NFC, Atlanta must win the division if it is going to play in the postseason.
Heading into Week 18, the Falcons have to win their game against the Carolina Panthers (4-12) and hope for a Buccaneers loss to the New Orleans Saints (5-11).
Now that the division race has completely shifted, the stakes could not be higher for the Falcons as they look to rebound and find a way into the postseason.
Michael Penix Jr. continues to provide a spark to Falcons offense
Before Penix Jr. taking over for Kirk Cousins in Week 16, it had been a rough stretch for the veteran. Over a five-game stretch from Nov. 10 to Dec. 16, Cousins threw one TD and nine interceptions with the Falcons losing four of those five games.
After going 18-of-27 for 202 yards with one interception in his debut against the New York Giants, Penix Jr. completed 19 of his 35 pass attempts for 223 yards with one TD and one interception vs. the Commanders.
This dime to TE Kyle Pitts tied the game at 24 with 1:19 remaining in the game. It also served as Penix Jr.’s first career NFL TD.
The sample size has been small, but Penix Jr. has provided a spark to a Falcons offense that desperately needed it.
Jayden Daniels makes history
Sunday night was another example of Daniels’ skill set. The rookie sensation was 24-of-36 for 227 yards with three TDs and one interception. Daniels also added 127 yards on the ground.
With his performance against Atlanta, Daniels now has the most rush yards in a season by a rookie QB in NFL history (820).
Daniels made the Falcons look silly on this run in the third quarter with the Commanders trailing 17-14.
This effort from Daniels put Washington in a position to capitalize on the game-winner in overtime.
Entering the game, Daniels’ QBR (71.8) was fourth in the NFL. Four times this season, Daniels has had at least one passing and rushing TD in a game, which speaks to his versatility and what he brings to the Washington offense.
That was on full display once again Sunday night.
Bijan Robinson feasts on Commanders defense
Robinson had himself a night against Washington. The second-year player had 17 carries for 90 yards and two TDs.
Per the NBC broadcast, Robinson forced eight missed tackles in the first half, which gave him a league-leading 107 for the season.
This was Robinson’s second TD of the game, which gave Atlanta a 14-7 lead late in the first half.
Sunday night was Robinson’s fourth multi-TD game of the season and the ninth time he has rushed for at least 90 yards.
It did not amount to a win against the Commanders, but Robinson continued to be a force for Atlanta.
