April 18, 2024
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — After running all over the Atlanta Falcons in what has become their offensive identity, the Washington Commanders got one last crucial play from their stout defense to preserve another important victory.
Kendall Fuller intercepted Marcus Mariota in the end zone with 58 seconds left after the pass was tipped by Daron Payne, and the Commanders beat the Atlanta Falcons 19-13 Sunday for their sixth win in seven games.
“We come in every day and work hard for each other and we have fun doing it,” said Taylor Heinicke, who threw for two touchdowns and improved to 5-1 since replacing Carson Wentz as the starting quarterback. “The defense came up huge there at the end, and Kendall just keeps making those plays.”
Fuller, who had a pick-6 last week at Houston, credited Payne with making this interception happen.
Mariota and the Falcons did the same.
“You’ve got to give credit to Washington: They made a play at the end,” coach Arthur Smith said. “Thought we had the look we wanted and the guy tipped the ball up and they caught it. Unfortunately, that’s the way it went.”
Payne started running off the field after Fuller caught Mariota's pass figuring the game was over. The Falcons would have gotten the ball back, but Ade Ogundeji ran into Commanders punter Tress Way with 32 seconds left to send Washington to its best record through 12 games since 2008.
“When you work hard, when you play hard, good things will happen,” said coach Ron Rivera, who won his 100th NFL game counting the regular season and playoffs.
Rivera said the rainy weather didn't change his team's approach. Playing to each team's strength on offense regardless of the weather, the Commanders and Falcons were content to keep the ball on the ground and take some shots throwing it.
Washington ran 37 times for 176 yards to Atlanta's 29 for 167 — using five different ball carriers.
No one got it more for the Commanders (7-5) than rookie Brian Robinson Jr, who ran 18 times for a career-high 105 yards and averaged 5.8 yards an attempt three months after being shot twice in an attempted armed robbery. He also caught Heinicke's first TD pass, getting into the end zone on a 14-yard play by bulldozing cornerback Darren Hall.
“Today was a good day on the ground,” Robinson said. “Probably because of the wet ball, we handed the ball off a lot more. I felt like the offensive line did a great job getting movement up front, moving on to the second level and just allowing me to get up on ’backers and finish.”
Heinicke also found tight end John Bates in the end zone for a 16-yard TD and finished 14 of 23 for 138 yards with an interception.
“It was a bonehead decision,” Heinicke said. “I just threw it right to the guy. It was an awful decision.”
While the Commanders bolstered their hopes of earning an NFC wild-card playoff spot, Atlanta (5-7) has now lost three of four despite surpassing 100 yards on the ground for the 10th consecutive game.
“It is tough,” said Mariota, who was 15 of 25 for 174 yards and a 4-yard TD pass to MyCole Pruitt. “These games as you’re progressing through the season get bigger and bigger. Unfortunately, we didn’t pull this one out, but at the same time we’ve got to bounce back and get ready for Pittsburgh.”
