Atlanta outmuscles Washington as rare double safeties headline 22–5 win

ATLANTA, GA - Fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium witnessed a piece of league history Sunday, as the Atlanta Falcons defeated the Washington Commanders 22-5 in one of the most unusual games ever played. Not only was it the first game in league history to end with a final score of 5, but it was also the first time either franchise had been involved in a contest featuring two safeties.

Game Recap

The afternoon started with both teams trading field goals. Matt Gay converted from 43 yards to give Washington the early lead, but Younghoe Koo answered with a booming 54-yarder as the first quarter expired.

The game's first safety came midway through the second quarter, when James Pearce Jr. burst through and tackled Austin Ekeler in the end zone after Washington had stuffed Atlanta on 4th-and-goal at the 1-yard line. The Falcons quickly turned the momentum into points, as rookie quarterback Michael Penix Jr. hit Bijan Robinson for a 23-yard touchdown. Koo's second field goal before halftime gave Atlanta a 15-3 cushion.

In the third quarter, Penix called his own number, punching in a one-yard sneak to extend the Falcons' lead to 22-3. Washington's only points in the second half came in bizarre fashion: with just over four minutes remaining, Penix lost track of the back line of the end zone and stepped out for a safety, cutting the margin to 22-5.

Key Stats

Penix Jr. was far from flawless, throwing three interceptions, but still finished with 209 yards passing and two total touchdowns. Robinson was the star of the day, rushing for 124 yards on 17 carries and adding five receptions for 54 yards and a touchdown.

For the Commanders, Jayden Daniels fought hard, throwing for 245 yards and rushing for 42 more, but his three interceptions proved costly. Terry McLaurin was a bright spot with five catches for 84 yards. Washington's defense forced three turnovers but was ultimately undone by Atlanta's physical ground game.

Coach Reactions

Falcons head coach Chuck Davis praised his team's resilience: "You don't expect to win when your quarterback throws three picks, but our defense and run game carried the day."

Commanders’ head coach Dan Quinn was blunt about the execution: "Too many mistakes, especially in critical moments. The safeties, the turnovers - that's not winning football."

Up Next

The Atlanta Falcons will have a bye week next week, then they’ll return home in Week 6 to host the Buffalo Bills. Meanwhile, the Washington Commanders travel west to face the Los Angeles Chargers next week.