Four takeaways from the Commanders’ 19-13 win over the Falcons

With Atlanta facing third and one from the Washington 5-yard line, an offside penalty on Montez Sweat gave the Falcons a first down. The Commanders used their final timeout after Marcus Mariota was tackled for a loss of two yards with 1:03 to play on the ensuing play. After that, Washington came up with the defensive play of the game.

Daron Payne deflected Mariota’s pass at the line of scrimmage, and cornerback Kendall Fuller intercepted it in the end zone. Atlanta has all three timeouts remaining. (Commanders 19, Falcons 13, 0:58 left in the fourth quarter)

The Falcons will face third and three from the Washington 19-yard line after the two-minute warning. Atlanta is in position for the go-ahead score after a 44-yard catch and run by wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, who got open after quarterback Marcus Mariota slipped in the backfield. (Commanders 19, Falcons 13, 2:00 left in the fourth quarter)

Atlanta’s defense came up big, stuffing Antonio Gibson and Brian Robinson Jr. on first and second down before forcing Washington’s first three-and-out of the game. Needing a touchdown, the Falcons will begin their next drive from their own 16-yard line. (Commanders 19, Falcons 13, 5:03 left in the fourth quarter)

Washington picked a great time for its best defensive series of the game. After Daron Payne tackled Cordarrelle Patterson for a loss on first down, Montez Sweat sacked Marcus Mariota for the first time today. The Falcons failed to convert on third and long. With another long drive, the Commanders could put this one away. (Commanders 19, Falcons 13, 7:08 left in the fourth quarter)

Washington took another seven minutes off the clock with an 11-play drive that culminated in a 45-yard field goal by Joey Slye. The march included five runs, including a bruising 11-yard carry by Brian Robinson Jr., who is up to 99 yards on 15 attempts. (Commanders 19, Falcons 13, 9:05 left in the fourth quarter)

The Falcons cut Washington’s lead in half with a 48-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo. A 21-yard run by Cordarrelle Patterson put Atlanta in Commanders territory, but the drive stalled after Marcus Mariota threw a pair of incompletions intended for wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus. (Commanders 16, Falcons 13, 1:17 left in the third quarter)

Taylor Heinicke snapped a streak of six consecutive incompletions with a 16-yard touchdown pass to tight end John Bates to cap an 11-play drive that lasted more than six minutes. Joey Slye missed the ensuing extra point.

On fourth and one from the Atlanta 40-yard line, Washington kept its offense on the field and handed the ball to Brian Robinson Jr., who converted with a strong run up the middle. Robinson was a force on the march, with six carries for 29 yards, including four straight carries to begin the possession. (Commanders 16, Falcons 10, 4:03 left in the third quarter)

Washington’s defense forced a three-and-out deep in Atlanta territory. After a pair of short runs by Tyler Allgeier, Marcus Mariota couldn’t find anyone open on third down before throwing an incompletion. The Commanders will begin their next drive from their own 40. (Commanders 10, Falcons 10, 10:16 left in the third quarter)

Trai Turner left the game in the first half.