Penix Jr., Robinson, others shine in 34-27 win.
Sep 28, 2025
The Atlanta Falcons rolled back into Mercedes-Benz Stadium, determined to scrub the lousy remnants of their humbling shutout loss to the Carolina Panthers the previous Sunday from everyone’s collective memories.
In notable ways, it was like the Falcons were playing themselves today. The Washington Commanders’ coach was their former coach, Dan Quinn. The quarterback was their ex-QB, Marcus Mariota. The Falcons desperately wanted to avoid being handed another stinging loss by those guys, to say nothing of the troubling discomfort of winding up with a discouraging 1-3 record so soon in their season.
Being in that position in Week 4, facing a bye week, then the Bills, then the 49ers, both hot teams right now, would be a nightmare for a Falcons team hoping to turn the page from back-to-back-to-back-to-back losing seasons.
Thankfully, the Falcons don’t have to worry about those issues. They found the discipline, drive, and will to win today, and used them to beat the scrappy Commanders 34-27 in front of a home crowd that included homegrown luminaries Usher, Atlanta Hawks Trae Young, Pastor Troy, Jermaine Dupri, and others.
“Nice to get a win heading into the bye,” said Falcons coach Raheem Morris at a post-game presser where he didn’t have a group of frowning, questioning faces looking back at him.
It wasn’t a perfect game by the Falcons, but they didn’t collectively need to be perfect. They did what they needed to do, which was doing their jobs and doing them to the best of their ability. Michael Penix Jr. passed the rock to the right targets, and those targets, more often than not today, came up big.
Bijan Robinson once again showed he can do wonderful things on a Sunday afternoon (or whenever he’s on the field). 181 total yards, 21 touches, 75 rushing yards, 17 carries, 4.4 yards per carry. Robinson becomes the first Falcon running back to have more than 175 yards from scrimmage since Devonta Freeman in 2017. (Credit Falcons reporter Tori McElhaney for that fact.)
Number 7 wasn’t the only Falcon who had a great day at the Benz.
QB Michael Penix Jr. racked up 313 total yards today, the sixth Falcon QB to rack up more than 300 passing yards in a single game in franchise history. He went 20 of 26 passing attempts for two touchdowns. Only one interception, but that was a small blemish in an otherwise stellar performance today. Penix Jr. spread the ball around, and his targets delivered. (Both he and Robinson are my Ballers of the Game.
Drake London got 110 receiving yards from 8 receptions, which led to one touchdown. London and Robinson are the first Falcons RB/WR duo with 100 receiving yards since 1981, when the Falcons shared Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium with the Braves.
Falcons’ defense was also impressive today, with Jessie Bates III getting 7 tackles (4 of them solo), one sack (Zack Harrison), and two successful field goals (no goose eggs today from new kicker, Parker Romo).
The Falcons also did something rare today. They held on to a lead and didn’t fritter it away. One of the Falcons’ biggest issues is keeping their feet on their opponent’s necks and not letting them jump ahead. That did not happen today.
Maybe because Penix Jr. spread out his targets and kept feeding them. Or the offensive guns made plays when they were needed. Maybe the defense adapted to the Commanders’ offensive moves. Or it was moving offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to the field for better communication with the players.
Whatever the reason, the Falcons got the win. And a week after 30-0, the team’s confidence in Penix Jr. and themselves got a reboot.
“Monday, when he came to work, I believed in him that day,” said coach Raheem Morris about his quarterback’s drive to flip the script after Sunday’s loss. “This kid is unshakeable. He’s gonna lead us for a while.”
Penix Jr. thought today’s win was a narrative changer for the Falcons.
“It showed what this team is really about,” he said after the game.
This is a team win that should carry them through next week, a bye week. After that, the Falcons will take on their next mission, and it won’t be easy considering their upcoming schedule: more victories like today’s. They will have to continue to be on point on both sides of the ball. Just like today.
Notes
The Falcons were the only team in the NFC South to get a W today. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers lost to Philly Eagles 31-25. The New Orleans Saints lost to Buffalo 31-19, and the New England Patriots beat the Carolina Panthers 42-13.
Atlanta is now in 2nd place in the NFC South, with a .500 winning percentage.
Former Falcon QB Mariota got 156 passing yards (half of Penix Jr.’s 313) and was 16 of 27.
The Falcons were apparently well aware of the fans’ disdain for their shutout loss to the Panthers. “That was our apology to our fans today,” said coach Morris.
The Falcons next face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday Night Football, October 13th. They have their work cut out for them. The Bills are tops in the AFC East and are undefeated both home and away.
