Commanders’ defense looks to carry team as Daniels’ status remains in doubt against Falcons

The Commanders’ resurgent defenders are hungry to prove themselves in Atlanta against a floundering Falcons attack on Sunday.

The Falcons, who are starting second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr., were shut out 30-0 by the mediocre Carolina Panthers last week.

The changes were swift in Atlanta. The Falcons fired wide receivers coach Ike Hilliard and announced plans to move offensive coordinator Zac Robinson from the coach’s box to the sideline — anything for a spark.

“I thought this was just a good time to reset,” Robinson told reporters on Wednesday.

Last week’s loss, which saw the Falcons fail to take a snap in the red zone, contributed to the move.

“I take full responsibility, full accountability for the performance we had on offense. …” the second-year coordinator said. “Obviously, it was an incredibly humbling day out there.”

The Falcons’ offense has sputtered to start the season. They rank second-worst in the league with an uninspired 14 points per game. Penix, despite a promising rookie campaign, has posted an abysmal 71.3 passer rating. He ranks 28th among 31 qualified passers in the efficiency stat.

The Commanders’ defense has an opportunity to keep the strong start rolling after middling performances last season.

Washington hassled Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Geno Smith throughout last week’s 41-24 beatdown. The Commanders recorded five sacks, including a pair from veteran linebacker Bobby Wagner.

“The old head can still move,” defensive tackle Javon Kinlaw said of his defensive signal-caller. “I’ve got to get me one too.”

The Commanders aren’t underestimating the Falcons’ second-year quarterback, though. The No. 8 pick in the 2024 draft put plenty of highlight-worthy throws on tape during last year’s game between the two teams.

Washington needed an overtime touchdown drive by quarterback Jayden Daniels to secure the win at home.

“He’s a strong-arm guy that moves better than people think,” defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. said of Penix. “He put a ball in on that fourth and 13th last year up the seam against us that shouldn’t have got in there in the coverage that we were in, but he got it in there.”

Washington’s eager pass rushers are clued into Penix’s agility. They don’t want to let the signal-caller slip through sacks to extend plays, as Smith did last week.

The Commanders recorded 26 pressures, including several plays that almost added to the sack total before Smith escaped.

“He’s mobile,” Commanders defensive tackle Daron Payne said of Penix. “He doesn’t really look to escape, but he has the capability to get out the pocket. We just got to be sound in our pass rush lanes.”

The run fits might be more daunting for the defense, though. Falcons halfback Bijan Robinson is widely considered one of the most explosive runners in the league.

His 239 rushing yards ranked fifth in the NFL entering Week 4, even as long runs have eluded him. Robinson has a single rush of more than 20 yards on the season. The Commanders are wary of him breaking out.

“We put up the key players each week, and you put the strengths and the weaknesses. And I didn’t have any weaknesses for the guy,” Whitt said. “He can run inside, outside. He can catch, he can block, he can run the screen game. He does it all very, very well.”

On the other side of the ball, the Commanders’ offense is full of question marks. Coach Dan Quinn hasn’t confirmed who will start at quarterback as Daniels continues to recover from a knee sprain.

“It’s up to the doctors,” said Daniels, who noted that he feels good enough to play. “Not my decision.”

Mariota, who played in 13 games for the Falcons in 2022, would make his second consecutive start if Daniels remains sidelined.

“There’s subtle differences, but at the end of the day it’s about how I can be at my best for them,” veteran tight end Zach Ertz said of the uncertainty under center. “It doesn’t matter if it’s Jayden or if it’s Marcus; I’ve got to go out there, focus on my job, execute to the best of my ability, help them as much as I can.”

Whichever quarterback plays will likely do so without top wide receivers Terry McLaurin and Noah Brown. 

McLaurin has missed practice with a quad injury, while Brown missed last week’s game with a groin issue.

Neither pass-catcher had been ruled out of Sunday’s game after Thursday’s practice, but their odds of playing appeared slim.

Their absences would create opportunities for rookie Jaylin Lane and second-year receiver Luke McCaffrey. 

Offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury said he’s been creating a game plan that balances creative ways to use the youngsters without putting too much on their shoulders.

“You have to walk that fine line of making sure that whatever you’re asking you guys to do, they’re comfortable with it and they can feel like they can excel in it and make that play,” he said. “Last thing you want to do is get too far out of the box and guys aren’t playing with confidence.”

The 2-1 Commanders host a final practice on Friday before heading to Atlanta, where the 1-2 Falcons await.