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Week 6 - Washington Commanders (2-3) @ Atlanta Falcons (3-2)
Nuts & Bolts
Date: October 15, 2023
Time: 1:00 p.m.
Venue: Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta, GA
How to Watch: CBS
Matchup History: Commanders lead all-time series 16-10-1
Last Meeting: Washington def. Atlanta 19-13 on 11/22/22
Betting Lines: Via DraftKings
Spread: Washington +2.5
Over/Under: 42.5
Prediction: Washington 16, Atlanta 21
Official Game Notes: HERE
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Head Coach: Ron Rivera (4th season, 24-30-1 record in Washington)
Record: 2-3 (0-1, T-3rd in NFC East)
Last Time Out: Lost vs. Chicago 40-20 on 10/5
Highlights HERE
Player to Watch: Sam Howell
The Commanders are in trouble.
In just a five day span, the Commanders went from a team that took the defending NFC champion Eagles to overtime to a team that lost by 20 to a Bears team that hadn’t won a game in its last 12 tries dating back to last season.
Washington trailed 27-3 at the half on Thursday night, in its only primetime home game of the entire season, on the way to a 40-20 defeat thanks in large part to a 230 yard and 3 touchdown night from Bears receiver DJ Moore, the most yards of any receiver in a game since 2020.
Now, the Commanders head to Atlanta for a road date with the Falcons following their ‘mini bye.’
Following back-to-back wins to open up the season, Washington lost three straight and is being picked by many to be on the way to an abysmal 2023 campaign.
Quarterback Sam Howell and the offense need to start faster, there’s no denying that. At one point on Thursday, the Commanders called 55 straight passing plays, probably because they trailed by three possessions by halftime.
And yet, it’s the defense that appears to be the most glaring issue. The headlines are heavily surrounding 2023 first round draft pick Emmanuel Forbes, a cornerback from Mississippi State, who has been benched in back-to-back games for poor performance.
It’s not just Forbes, but the whole defense that needs to pick up the pace. The Washington defensive group is supposed to be the backbone of the team, given that there are so many young pieces on offense.
And yet, for four straight games, the defense has given up at least 33 points.
Even if Patrick Mahomes was playing quarterback, it’s extremely difficult to win when the defense surrenders that many points.
If Washington can’t slow down Desmond Ridder and the Falcons offense, a group that has proved to be inept at times, then the narrative of a long 2023 season may prove to be more and more likely.
Head Coach: Arthur Smith (3rd season, 17-22 record in Atlanta)
Record: 3-2 (1-0, 2nd in NFC South)
Last Time Out: Won vs. Houston 21-19 on 10/8
Highlights HERE
Player to Watch: Bijan Robinson
It’s been an odd season for the Falcons.
Atlanta sits 3-2 through its first five games. In the wins, they’ve scored 24, 25, and 21, respectively.
In the losses, they’ve scored 6 and 7, respectively.
The success of the team relies heavily on the offense doing its part, specifically quarterback Desmond Ridder, who is in his first season as the starting quarterback.
This past offseason, Atlanta made a point to completely redo its defense, adding defensive end Calais Campbell, safety Jessie Bates, linebacker Bud Dupree, cornerback Mike Hughes, and others in free agency.
The return, through five weeks, is the 7th best defense in the NFL in total yards allowed while allowing just 16 points per game.
The defense is giving Atlanta the platform, and this team is good enough to win the NFC South, perhaps the weakest division in the NFL.
Atlanta’s defense should cause problems for the Washington offense. Where the game will likely be won or lost is when the Atlanta offense goes against Washington’s defense.
Bad offense vs. bad defense…who wins?
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