Washington’s two sets of threes brought the Atlanta Falcons to their knees allowing the Commanders to beat them 24-16 before 69,921 disappointed fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Each quarterback had a distinct set of threes.
Commanders quarterback Sam Howell threw three touchdown passes while going 14-23 for 151 yards.
Atlanta quarterback Desmond Ridder threw three interceptions while going 28-47 for 307 yards and two touchdowns.
His third and most costly pick occurred on a third and one play on the Washington 34-yard line. His pass with 31 seconds to play in the game to running back Bijan Robinson was intercepted by linebacker Jamin Davis. This allowed Washington to run out the clock and improve to (3-3).
Washington took a 3-0 lead but Atlanta came back and scored a touchdown on a Ridder nine-yard pass to tight end Kyle Pitts making the score 7-3 with 2:46 to go in the first quarter.
Howell countered with second quarter scoring passes to running back Antonio Gibson for one-yard and wide receiver Curtis Samuel for seven-yards giving the Commanders a 17-7 lead with 5:18 to go in the second quarter.
The Falcons finished the first half scoring with a 47-yard field goal making the halftime score 17-10.
Ridder completed his first pass to a Commander on a third and seven at the Atlanta 45-yard line. Corner back Kendall Fuller jumped in front of the pass and returned it 23 yards to the Atlanta 27-yard line.
This set up Howell’s third scoring strike a 24-yard screen pass to running back Brian Robinson Jr. who barreled into the endzone giving the Commanders a 24-10 lead with 12:03 to go in the third quarter.
After two punts Ridder engineered a 12-play 81-yard drive that ended with a two-yard scoring pass to tight end Jonnu Smith making the score 24-16 with 12:38 to go in the game. Their two-point try failed.
Ridder has his team moving again but on a third and goal from the Washington seven-yard line he underthrew a pass right into the arms of Washington corner back Benjamin St-Juste who kneeled down in the endzone for a touchback.
Washington was shut out in the fourth quarter but the defense came up with three big plays to secure the win. Linebacker Cody Barton led Washington with 15 tackles. Defensive end Casey Toohill had two of the Commanders three sacks.
Atlanta out gained Washington 402-193 yards and the time-of-possession was 36:23 to 23:37 again in favor of the Falcons. Washington led in the only thing that matters…the score.
Washington benefitted from a 61-yard punt return by wide receiver Jamison Crowder that set up the Gibson touchdown.
Robinson Jr. led Washington in rushing with 31 yards on 10 carries.
Wide out Terry McLaurin was their leading receiver with six catches for 81 yard including a 22-yard catch.
Running back Tyler Allgeier was the leading rusher for Atlanta with 51 yards on 13 attempts.
Wide receiver Drake London had a good game gaining 125 yards on nine catches in a losing effort for the (3-3) Falcons.
