The Washington Commanders got it done Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons. The 24-16 win won’t get them any style points, but style points don’t help you make the playoffs.
At 3-3, Washington has a chance to stack another win against the New York Giants on Sunday.
What do we take away from week 6?
Consider these points.
A Defensive Mixed Bag
After a month of giving up 30-plus points per game, the defense finally put its collective foot down. Sort of. The 16 points allowed ties for the least amount so far this year, but Atlanta still racked up 413 yards of offense.
The Commanders picked off Atlanta QB Desmond Ritter three times, including once in the end zone and another on the Falcons’ last offensive play of the game.
It could have been much different. Ritter missed Kadarel Hodge on a deep cross on the Falcons’ second play of the game; he also overthrew Van Jefferson for a long touchdown that might have changed the direction of the game.
Giving up big plays has been a problem for the defense all year, against a better team, it would have been a problem again.
Sam Howell continues to check boxes.
The second-year quarterback didn’t have his best game or his worst. In fact, according to his overall PFF grade, it was literally the middle of the pack.
The biggest positive to take away?
No turnovers. The key to any team’s success and potential victory is ball management. The Commanders took care of the ball which led to the win.
The biggest problem?
Sacks.
Atlanta’s defense got to Howell five times. He still holds the ball too long at times, but he got the job done.
The Jamison Crowder signing paid off
The Commanders brought the veteran in for a second tour of duty in D.C. early this season when Dax Milne went down. Crowder has been an improvement on punt returns and with Washington trailing 7-3 early in the second quarter, broke a 63-yard run that set up the Commanders’ first touchdown.