For the 2025 NFL season, digital team reporter Terrin Waack will provide select stats, facts and quotes from the most recent Atlanta Falcons game to consume with Miller Lite.
ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons defeated the Washington Commanders, 34-27, last Sunday in their Week 4 game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in front of 71,492 ticketed fans.
STATS TO CHEERS OVER
-- Falcons wide receiver Drake London had a game-high 110 yards receiving, while running back Bijan Robinson totaled a second-best 106 yards receiving.
- It was London's seventh career game with at least 100 yards receiving. It was Robinson's third.
- London and Robinson became the first wide receiver-running back duo in the NFL to each have at least 100 yards receiving since Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Chris Godwin (103) and running back Jacquizz Rodgers (102) did so in Week 10 of 2018, when they lost to the Commanders.
- London and Robinson were the first Falcons wide receiver-running back duo to each have at least 100 yards receiving since wide receiver Alfred Jackson (109) and running back Williams Andrews (124) did so in Week 11 of 1981, when they lost to the Pittsburgh Steelers.
-- Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. was perfect on passes of less than 10 air yards, according to Next Gen Stats. He completed all 13 for 180 yards and both of his touchdowns.
-- With his interception in the third quarterback, safety Xavier Watts is now at two in his debut season. He's the first Falcons rookie with multiple picks since linebacker Deion Jones in 2016 and the first with multiple picks through the first four games specifically since Kenny Johnson and Al Richardson in 1980.
-- The Falcons have recorded 10 sacks through four games this season, which is the most through four games since the 2017 season. They had two against the Commanders.
-- The Commanders converted on just one of their eight third-down attempts. The last time the Falcons held an opposing offense to one or fewer third-down conversions in a game was their Week 17 overtime win against the Buccaneers in 2019. Tampa Bay also went 1-of-8.
FACTS TO SIP ON
-- The Falcons were the only NFC South team to win in Week 4.
- The Buccaneers lost to the Philadelphia Eagles, 31-25.
- The Carolina Panthers lost to the New England Patriots, 42-13.
- The New Orleans Saints lost to the Buffalo Bills, 31-19.
-- The Falcons' 34 points marked their second most after being shut out in franchise history. The most was 35 points in 2004; Atlanta lost, 27-0, to the Buccaneers in Week 14 and beat the then-Oakland Raiders, 35-10, in Week 15.
-- The Falcons are 154-5 all-time, including postseason, when leading by 15 or more points in the fourth quarter. They were up by exactly 15 when the fourth quarter began.
-- The Commanders muffed two punts, putting Falcons opponents at four muffed punts this season. That's the second most in a single season in franchise history.
-- The Commanders attempted an onside kick in the fourth quarter but failed to recover it. Teams are 0-for-7 on onside kicks against the Falcons since the last successful recovery by the Dallas Cowboys in Week 2 of the 2020 season. The Cowboys won that game.
QUOTING RAHEEM MORRIS
On whether this win was bigger than normal…
"They're always big. But when you talk about coming off the nasty, disgusting taste we left out there for ourselves (against the Panthers), that was our apology to our fans today to be able to go out and get us a win so we can go out and enjoy our bye week and everybody can be happy."
On wide receiver Drake London's performance…
"To stop you guys from writing about receivers not having touchdowns is beautiful."
QUOTING THE FALCONS
Wide receiver Drake London
On what this win does for the team's confidence…
"It can mean the world to a lot of people. It meant the world to me."
Safety Jessie Bates III
On having the Bills on tap after the bye…
"We need our fans. We need the whole city to come out and support us because we're going to get hot. I know we will."
QUOTING THE OPPONENT
Commanders head coach Dan Quinn
On what allowed Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. to get into a rhythm…
"Probably the run game. That allows you to run, play pass into that spot. We'll dig into it and check. Probably made some good throws, honestly, on some, which, obviously, we know he's capable of. It's a talented group that didn't play well last week."
Commanders quarterback Marcus Mariota
On how he felt being back in Atlanta…
"Yeah, it was good to see a lot of old faces. Definitely wanted to come out with the win. But at the same time, it's a good organization. A lot of good people there, and it was just fun to be out there again."
GAME LEADERS
Top passers
- Falcons: Michael Penix Jr. | 20-of-26 for 313 yards, 2 touchdowns (intercepted once, sacked once)
- Commanders: Marcus Mariota | 16-of-27 for 156 yards, 2 touchdowns (intercepted once, sacked twice)
Top rushers
- Falcons: Bijan Robinson | 17 carries for 75 yards, 1 touchdown
- Commanders: Chris Rodriguez Jr. | 7 carries for 59 yards
- Falcons: Tyler Allgeier | 16 carries for 51 yards, 1 touchdown
Top receivers
- Falcons: Drake London | 8 receptions for 110 yards, 1 touchdown
- Falcons: Bijan Robinson | 4 receptions for 106 yards
- Commanders: Deebo Samuel | 6 receptions for 72 yards, 1 touchdown
Top tacklers
- Commanders: Bobby Wagner | 10 total tackles, 4 solo
- Commanders: Frankie Luvu | 8 total tackles, 5 solo (1 sack)
- Commanders: Jeremy Reaves | 8 total tackles, 4 solo
LAST CALL
The Falcons (2-2) have a Week 5 bye, the earliest possible for the league this season. Atlanta returns to action on Oct. 13 when it hosts the Bills for a "Monday Night Football" game in Week 6.
The Commanders are coming off a 41-24 win against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3.
Get an inside look at the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Washington Commanders at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during Week 4, presented by Grady.
