ATLANTA — Michael Penix Jr. completed 20 of 26 passes for 313 yards, two touchdowns and an interception on Sunday, as the Atlanta Falcons posted a 34-27 victory over the visiting Washington Commanders.
Bijan Robinson had four catches for 106 yards, while rushing for 75 yards and a score as the Falcons (2-2) beat Washington for the first time since 2018 following four straight losses in the series. Drake London had eight catches for 110 yards and a score in the win.
Former Atlanta quarterback Marcus Mariota started for Washington in place of the injured Jayden Daniels. Mariota threw for 156 yards, two touchdowns and an interception for the Commanders (2-2), who were outgained 435-294. Matt Gay went 4-for-4 on field goal attempts in the loss.
Trailing by seven after halftime, Washington cut Atlanta’s lead to 17-13 on Gay’s 52-yard field goal at the 10:12 mark of the third.
On the next play from scrimmage, Penix found Robinson out of the backfield, who ran 69 yards to Washington’s 7-yard line. Penix then connected with Kyle Pitts for a 7-yard touchdown pass to give the Falcons a 24-13 lead.
Mariota and Penix traded interceptions before Gay’s 40-yard field goal then trimmed Washington’s deficit to eight.
Atlanta answered with a seven-play, 72-yard drive, stamped with Tyler Allgeier’s 15-yard rushing touchdown, extending the lead to 31-16.
On fourth-and-three from Atlanta’s 24-yard line, Mariota perfectly placed a touchdown pass to Deebo Samuel. Mariota found Zach Ertz on the two-point conversion, pulling Washington within seven at the 8:48 mark of the fourth.
Atlanta converted its first three third down attempts on the next drive, including Penix’s 22-yard pass to Pitts, which ultimately set up John Parker Romo’s 26-yard field goal.
After advancing to Atlanta’s 24-yard line, Gay drilled his fourth field goal with 1:33 left. Pitts recovered the ensuing onside kick to seal the win.
Romo’s 38-yard field goal began the scoring in the first quarter, before Penix hit London on a 5-yard touchdown pass to extend the Falcons’ lead to 10-0 with 49 seconds left in the opening quarter.
Mariota then found Luke McCaffrey for a 5-yard touchdown to cut the Commanders’ deficit to three at the 11:31 mark of the second quarter.
After Penix’s 43-yard pass to London, Robinson juked and spun his way to a 14-yard touchdown, pushing Atlanta’s lead back to 10 with 8:27 left in the first half.
Gay’s 43-yard field goal then trimmed Washington’s deficit to 17-10.
–Jack Batten, Field Level Media
