Last Sunday the Washington Commanders showed their mettle by overcoming the injury loss of Jayden Daniels, inserting Marcus Mariota into the lineup and beating the Las Vegas Raiders handily (41-24).
While that was going on, the Atlanta Falcons were suffering an ignominious defeat, failing to get close to the end zone in a 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
So do the Falcons have a formula to bounce back here? That’s what is firmly on their minds as they play host to the Commanders at Mercedes-Benz Stadium at 1 PM ET on Sunday.
NFL Betting Odds on the Commanders vs Falcons game
As far as the odds that have been posted by the folks at BetOnline, the Falcons are a slight home underdog:
Washington Commanders -1 (-113)
Atlanta Falcons +1 (-107)
Over 45.5 Points -105
Under 45.5 Points -115
What’s going on with the Commanders
Marcus Mariota came in for Jayden Daniels and did what a backup quarterback has to do, which is deliver a solid performance when given the opportunity. He completed 15 of 21 passes for 207 yards, averaging just under ten yards per attempt. He also added 40 yards on the ground.
Mariota, a Heisman Trophy winner, was the second pick of the 2015 draft. After his tenure with the Tennessee Titans, he bounced around the league, making a stop in Atlanta before Washington signed him last year.
Jayden Daniels, the starter with a knee sprain, remains a day-to-day decision. Head coach Dan Quinn and his medical staff must decide whether to start him or rely on Marcus Mariota against an Atlanta squad that suffered a humbling defeat last week.
What’s going on with the Falcons
It couldn’t have been uglier for the Falcons last weekend. Despite the Carolina Panthers managing only 224 yards from scrimmage, they still came away with a 30-0 laugher that has indeed caused some ripple effects in the organization.
For one thing, coach Raheem Morris has made some changes on the staff. On Monday he fired wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard and moved passing game coordinator TJ Yates into his spot. This would seem to indicate that there were some philosophical differences between the two on how to employ the air attack.
Michael Penix averaged less than five yards an attempt against Carolina and was intercepted twice, one of which was brought back for a touchdown. Kirk Cousins actually got into the game in relief, with seven attempts.
Most keen observers knew that the Falcons were going into the season thin at the wide receiver spot. The only player who has caught a touchdown pass is running back Bijon Robinson, who also leads this team in receiving yards.
What will happen in the Commanders-Falcons game?
The Falcons have been pass-happy at times, but on an overall basis they have run the ball on 45% of all plays. The solution may lie in re-emphasizing the ground attack, although the offensive line doesn’t necessarily blow people back.
Oddly, Atlanta has a statistical advantage over its opponents, outgaining them by over a hundred yards per game, with a seven-minute edge in time of possession, third-down efficiency and a number of other things.
By firing Hilliard, Morris sent a clear message that he won’t tolerate the issues plaguing this team. We’d be looking for a maximum effort this week, coming off such a horribly embarrassing outing. So don’t be too surprised if the Falcons are able to put one in the “ein” column.
THE PLAY: FALCONS +1 (-107)
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