Football Team @ Falcons
Final Score: Football Team 34, Falcons 30
Writer: AJ Passman (@ajpassman on Twitter)
Full disclosure: I’m a Falcons fan. So let’s get this out of the way:
If I have to be objective (I do), I’ll admit this was a really fun game to watch, albeit with special teams miscues, a few penalties, several missed connections, and a potentially serious injury to tight end Logan Thomas.
After a slow start, this back and forth game included four touchdown receptions for Atlanta running backs from Matt Ryan and this 101-yard kickoff return from return specialist DeAndre Carter:
🗣 HEY MR. CARTER
🗣 TELL US WHERE YOU BEEN📺 » FOX | #WASvsATL pic.twitter.com/ki072pr8FB
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 3, 2021
Washington was ultimately able to seal the win with this 30-yard touchdown reception from J.D. McKissic:
.@JdMckissic for the win!! 🔥
(via @NFL)pic.twitter.com/pEDgZjcmad
— FOX Sports: NFL (@NFLonFOX) October 3, 2021
The play was reviewed and stood. Atlanta needed a touchdown to win it but fell short as time expired.
Let’s dive in:
Washington Football Team
Quarterbacks
Taylor Heinicke: 23/43, 290 yards, 3 TDs | 5 carries, 43 yards
Heinicke continues to do his best Ryan Fitzpatrick impersonation, showing no fear of slinging the ol’ pigskin around. He started slowly, missing Terry McLaurin on a few routes. But it wasn’t for lack of effort. Heinicke targeted McLaurin 13 times, and also showed immediate faith in new signing Curtis Samuel, who was recently activated from injured reserve. His game-winner was a desperation toss across his body to J.D. McKissic, but Heinicke’s best pass was this 33-yard score to Terry McLaurin:
Terry's certified everywhere, ain’t gotta print his résumé
📺 » FOX | #WASvsATL pic.twitter.com/ZMnvfdhhSh
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 3, 2021
He was always going Terry’s way on that one. Dropped it right in, special delivery.
And there was this:
It’s a touchdown for #WashingtonFootball! @TheTerry_25
📺: #WASvsATL on FOX
📱: NFL app pic.twitter.com/WtIlIkBmrh— NFL (@NFL) October 3, 2021
Heinicke also added 43 yards on the ground, including this crucial 20-yard scramble in the second quarter to set up Antonio Gibson’s 2-yard score a play later:
Noice, noice, noice
📺 » FOX | #WASvsATL pic.twitter.com/MqXX0ex4Ip
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) October 3, 2021
Running Backs
Antonio Gibson: 14 carries, 63 yards, 1 TD | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards
J.D. McKissic: 7 carries, 15 yards | 5 targets, 5 receptions, 1 TD
A two-yard touchdown run saved Antonio Gibson’s fantasy day, but head coach Ron Rivera continues to give valuable snaps to J.D. McKissic. McKissic had five targets to Gibson’s two and was on the field for the game-winning drive. Gibson’s burst and athleticism were clear when he was on the field, but he was again not given the workhorse role in the backfield.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Terry McLaurin: 13 targets, 6 receptions, 123 yards, 2 TD
Adam Humphries: 1 target, 1 reception, 19 yards
Dyami Brown: 2 targets, 1 reception, 19 yards
Curtis Samuel: 4 targets, 4 receptions, 19 yards
Logan Thomas: 0 targets, injured in first quarter**
Logan Thomas came into Week 4 as a key part of the Washington offense, having already found the endzone twice this season and tacking on 12 receptions for 117 yards in the first three weeks. He appeared to injure his hamstring during Washington’s first punt of the game and never returned.
The Terry McLaurin breakout continued in Week 4, as he dominated targets and remained Taylor Heinicke’s favorite option.
Curtis Samuel was activated for Week 4 and played limited snaps. However, when Samuel was on the field, he was involved. He already looked to be reducing Adam Humphries and Dyami Brown to afterthoughts in the offense.
Atlanta Falcons
Quarterback
Matt Ryan: 25/42, 283 yards, 4 TD | 1 carries, 17 yards
In the first three weeks of the season, Matt Ryan was averaging 4.2 air yards per attempt. Not great. The story changed in Week 4, as Matt Ryan threw 42 times, including his first real downfield shots of the season. All four touchdown throws went to running backs, but Ryan continued to pepper Calvin Ridley and Kyle Pitts with targets, showing that this Falcons offense may have some life left after all.
Running Backs
Mike Davis: 13 carries, 14 yards | 2 targets, 2 receptions, 12 yards, 1 TD
Cordarrelle Patterson: 6 carries, 34 yards | 6 targets, 5 receptions, 82 yards, 3 TD
Wayne Gallman: 6 carries, 29 yards
The story of this week was Cordarrelle Patterson’s three touchdown receptions. The first was a blown coverage by Washington’s secondary:
#MattyIce❄️ goes DEEP to CP!
📺: FOX | @ceeflashpee84 pic.twitter.com/trfhmdU0i8
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 3, 2021
And it just continued from that point. Patterson continued to look better than Mike Davis, and Wayne Gallman also took a chunk of the rush attempts in his Atlanta debut. Davis did salvage his day with his own impressive receiving score, breaking multiple tackles before crashing into the end zone, but his hold on this backfield continues to weaken.
And if the first two touchdowns weren’t enough to convince head coach Arthur Smith, “Scoredarrelle” showed off his receiving chops with this grab over cornerback Kendall Fuller:
Make that THREE touchdowns for SCOREDARRELLE PATTERSON!
📺: FOX | @ceeflashpee84 pic.twitter.com/6iOYZjp3Yy
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) October 3, 2021
This scoring barrage did come with one caveat, however: Patterson continued to be involved in less than 50% of Atlanta’s offensive snaps, a mark he has not surpassed in 2021.
Wide Receivers/Tight Ends
Calvin Ridley: 13 targets, 7 receptions, 80 yards
Kyle Pitts: 9 targets, 4 receptions, 50 yards
Hayden Hurst; 4 targets, 4 receptions, 29 yards
Matt Ryan targeted both Ridley and Kyle Pitts early and often, with Ridley continuing to be the most reliable pass catcher in the Atlanta offense. Ridley had two fewer receiving yards on the day than Cordarrelle Patterson and was not able to capitalize on a couple of deep targets from Matt Ryan. It was the first time this season Ridley was targeted down the field, and his day could have been a lot bigger. Kyle Pitts still looks like a rookie tight end; on one incompletion, Pitts failed to get both feet in bounds in what should have been a chance to move the sticks. However, Pitts continued to be treated as Atlanta’s second receiving option in the offense.
— AJ Passman (@ajpassman on Twitter)