Wow, what a nail biter! The Atlanta Falcons game against the Washington Commanders was definitely one to watch. It was a tough loss, going all the way to overtime, but there were some real positives to take away from this game. I want to talk about those good things, but I also want to touch on the clock management stuff that happened at the end. Honestly, though, I’m not sure it would have changed the final score.
The Good Stuff
First off, let’s give credit where it’s due. Our offense looked pretty good for a lot of the game. We were moving the ball, making some great plays, and putting points on the board. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., even though he’s a rookie, showed some real poise and made some impressive throws. He ended the game with 223 passing yards and a touchdown! Wide receiver Kyle Pitts also had a fantastic game. He caught a touchdown pass late in the fourth quarter that tied the game and sent it into overtime.
That was an awesome moment!
Our running game was also strong. We were able to run the ball effectively, which helped us control the clock for parts of the game and keep their offense off the field. This balance between running and passing is something we’ve been working on, and it was good to see it working well in this game.
Even though we lost, the team showed a lot of fight. We were down at times, but we kept battling back. That shows a lot of heart and determination, which is something to be proud of. It would have been easy to give up, but this team never did.
A Little Bit About the Clock
Now, about that clock management… There were a couple of times at the end of the game where it seemed like we could have managed the clock a little better. Maybe we could have run a few more plays or used our timeouts differently. But honestly, it’s easy to say that sitting here after the game. In the heat of the moment, with all the pressure, it’s tough to make perfect decisions every time. And like I said, even if we had done things a little differently, there’s no guarantee it would have changed the outcome.
The Big Question: Playoffs?
This loss to the Commanders really hurts, especially when it comes to our playoff chances. So, the big question is: are we in, or are we out?
Well, with this loss, we now have an 8-8 record. This means we’ve lost control of our own destiny. We don’t have a winning record and we are not leading our division. This loss really puts a damper on our playoff hopes.
Looking Ahead
Even though this loss is tough, we can’t let it bring us down. We still have one game left in the regular season, and we need to focus on finishing strong. We need to learn from this game, correct our mistakes, and come out ready to play our best.
No matter what happens with the playoffs, there are still positives to take away from this season. We’ve seen growth and improvement in many areas, and that’s something to build on for next year. We have a young team with a lot of potential, and I’m excited to see what the future holds.
This game against the Commanders was a tough one, no doubt. But it was also a game that showed the heart and fight of this Falcons team. We came up short this time, but we’ll be back.
