The opinions expressed in this article do not reflect those of the team.
The Washington Commanders are looking to get to 3-1 in back-to-back seasons with a road win over the Atlanta Falcons. Here are three keys to how they can pull it off.
1. The defense must have a good day.
The Commanders' patched-up offense ended on a good note last week against the Las Vegas Raiders, but it took them some time for the unit to find its footing. The defense gave them that luxury in Week 3, and they'll need another solid performance from that side of the ball to win this week.
The Falcons have been a perplexing team to start the season. They have the firepower to be one of the best offenses in football with Kyle Pitts, Drake London, Darnell Mooney and Bijan Robinson, and yet they are tied for 20th in yards per play. They clearly move the ball, as they rank 11th in first downs per game, but they're also last in average points per play.
The Commanders aren't focusing on those stats, though, because they know the Falcons are too talented to be stuck in the mud forever. Robinson is sixth in rushing yards this season with the second-most receiving yards for a running back. London doesn't have eye-catching numbers, but defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. complimented his toughness and willingness to block. At the center of it all is Michael Penix Jr., who only averages 7.3 yards in his depth of target but has one of the strongest arms in the league.
Washington's defense, while imperfect, has played objectively better compared to last year. They're stout against the run and have generated 73 pressures, according to Pro Football Focus. However, the Falcons will be one of the tougher opponents they've seen so far because of the potential from their weapons. Atlanta's offense has sputtered at times to start the season, and the Commanders must make sure it stays that way.
2. More contributions from depth players at receiver.
The Commanders are thin at receiver right now with Terry McLaurin dealing with a quad injury and Noah Brown still out with a groin issue. Regardless of who starts at quarterback, the Commanders need to get more out of their depth players to keep the offense running smoothly.
The Commanders got some of that last week against the Raiders. Luke McCaffrey got open for a 43-yard touchdown -- the first of his career -- while Chris Moore added two catches for 25 yards. With McLaurin and Brown likely out for Sunday, both players will need to take on larger roles to mitigate those losses. There's also Jaylin Lane, who the staff believes can be more of a weapon on the outside and in the slot. The latter would be the more ideal situation, but his performance in training camp showed the coaches he can be more of a weapon than they anticipated.
There's also the possibility that the Commanders will elevate one of their practice squad receivers to the gameday roster on Saturday. That list includes Tay Martin, Jacoby Jones and Ja'Corey Brooks. Jones and Brooks showed flashes in camp but needed more time to develop. Perhaps they will get the chance to show how much they have learned over the last month.
3. Give the offense short fields.
Deebo Samuel's 69-yard kickoff return set the tone for the rest of the afternoon, and Washington's special teams unit might have to provide that spark against the Falcons.
The Commanders currently have one of the best special teams units in the NFL. They're first in punt return yards and kickoff return average. Samuel already has 221 yards on six returns, while Lane leads the league in punt return yards with the second-longest punt return of the year through three games.
Both units will need to deliver another solid performance against the Falcons, who have a strong group of their own. They rank seventh in kickoff return average allowed and are around league average in punt return yards allowed.
With the offense currently dealing with injuries, the Commanders will need another complete game against the Falcons. That doesn't mean they need another game-breaking touchdown from Lane, but they will need to help move the offense into better scoring positions.
