On this week's "Get Loud" podcast, former linebacker London Fletcher joined Fred Smoot and Michael Jenkins to discuss how the Washington Commanders can bring home a win over the Atlanta Falcons.
"If I'm [defensive coordinator Joe] Whitt, I don't play a lot of man [coverage] against them because they have individual players that excel at beating you," Smoot said. "I want to muddy it up with [Falcons quarterback Michael] Penix. Every time he hikes the ball, I want him to look at something different. If you show him enough, he'll start to throw me the ball."
Penix Jr. was replaced in the fourth quarter of last week's game after throwing two interceptions. He has a 58.6 completion percentage and one touchdown so far this season.
"I see a guy with tremendous arm talent," Fletcher said. "He can throw that rock. He can make all the throws. [Last week] was a rough game for him, but he's still growing as a quarterback."
The Commanders have beaten the Falcons in each of the last four seasons, with last year's overtime win clinching a playoff berth for Washington. However, Atlanta has a few individual weapons on their offense in Drake London and Bijan Robinson.
London has averaged 53 receiving yards per game in the first three games of the season. However, in the three games that Penix started in 2024, London averaged 117.3 receiving yards per game. Penix will have his hands full with Washington's defense, which is currently first in the NFL with a 50.4 QB pressure percentage according to Next Gen Stats.
"He hasn't had a lot of NFL starts under his belt and he's probably still seeing new defenses to a certain degree," Fletcher said. "Especially when you get a division opponent, they've seen you a couple times and now they're going to throw a couple wrinkles that you may not have seen. Just a learning curve for him, but I think he has tremendous talent."
Another weapon the commanders defense will need to focus on containing is Falcons running back Bijan Robinson. Although he has yet to have a rushing touchdown this season, he's put significant yardage up for Atlanta's offense, leading with 403 scrimmage yards and a receiving touchdown.
"You don't want necessarily athlete-on-athlete, because that's the one area where they can thrive," Jenkins said of the Falcons offense.
