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Highlights: WAS clinches playoff berth with OT win

The Commanders needed extra time, but made the most of overtime by not allowing the Falcons to possess the ball, earning a 30-24 victory and clinching a playoff berth for the first time since 2020.

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Terry McLaurin

WAS Wide Receiver #17

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Terry McLaurin caught 1-of-7 targets for five yards in the Commanders’ Week 17 win over the Falcons.

His Week 17 performance goes down as his second consecutive modest-output game after being confined to a 5-60-1 line against the Eagles a week ago, with both games paving the way for Olamide Zaccheaus to be featured through the air. We can’t fault McLaurin for either performance considering the matchups he had to overcome, this time in the face of one of the true lockdown corners remaining in the league. It is unclear how the Commanders will handle personnel decisions in what now amounts to a meaningless game against the Cowboys in Week 18.
Zach Ertz

WAS Tight End #86

Zach Ertz caught 6-of-7 targets for 72 yards and two touchdowns in the Commanders’ Week 17 win over the Falcons.

Ertz’s first score came in the third quarter to bring the team within three points while his second walked the game off in overtime to lock up the team’s first playoff berth since they made the postseason in 2020 with a losing record by winning the division. He also made a ridiculous catch in the fourth quarter to extend what would be a touchdown drive by pinning the ball between his legs. The veteran tight end is unlikely to see immense weekly volume but has enough of a connection with quarterback Jayden Daniels to see sporadic spike weeks such as this one. It is unclear whether Ertz will suit up in Week 18 against the Cowboys considering his veteran status and the fact the team locked up a playoff spot this week.
Olamide Zaccheaus

WAS Wide Receiver #14

Olamide Zaccheaus caught 8-of-9 targets for 85 yards and a touchdown in the Commanders’ Week 17 win over the Falcons.

Zaccheaus has become one of quarterback Jayden Daniels’ top targets in the previous two games without Noah Brown on the field, the latter of whom was sent to injured reserve during the team’s Week 14 bye. A week after scoring twice, Zaccheaus provided quite the encore while returning 22.5 PPR fantasy points against the Falcons. It’s enough of a wave to ride into Week 18, assuming he plays considering the Commanders locked up a playoff berth with the win. Should he suit up, it’ll come against the vulnerable Cowboys secondary on the road.
Brian Robinson Jr.

WAS Running Back #8

Brian Robinson rushed 13 times for 60 yards in the Commanders’ Week 17 win over the Falcons, adding nine yards on two receptions.

The meager fantasy production comes one week after the veteran back lost two fumbles for the Commanders in a game they would ultimately win over the Eagles. Many assumed the absence of Austin Ekeler would vault Robinson into a workhorse role for the Commanders, but the presence of Chris Rodriguez, who scored in this one, and Jeremy McNichols have proved those predictions false. After locking up a playoff berth and seemingly having nothing left to play for, there is the possibility the Commanders rest key starters in Week 18 against the Cowboys. That could provide more run for Rodriguez, who managed 16 yards on five carries and a score in Week 17.
Jayden Daniels

WAS Quarterback #5

Jayden Daniels completed 24-of-36 passes for 227 yards, three touchdowns, and one interception in the Commanders’ 30-24, Week 17 overtime win over the Falcons, adding 127 yards on 16 carries.

That now marks four elite fantasy outings in a row for the electric dual threat quarterback, with this one clinching a playoff spot for the Commanders in the NFC. Down 17-7 at the half, Daniels emerged from the locker room on a clear mission to will his team to victory, eventually scoring 17 unanswered points to hold a 24-17 lead with under five minutes to play. The Falcons would drive the field while converting two fourth downs to know the game with just over a minute remaining before a missed field goal by the Falcons as time expired sent the game to overtime. The Commanders would win the toss and not allow the Falcons to see the ball again, with Daniels completing a walk-off touchdown pass to tight end Zach Ertz for the second time in the game to send the team to the postseason. Up next for the Commanders are the Cowboys in Week 18 with seemingly little left to play for.
Kyle Pitts

ATL Tight End #8

Kyle Pitts caught 4-of-5 targets for 44 yards and a touchdown in the Falcons’ Week 17 loss to the Commanders.

Pitts committed a drop late in the fourth quarter on the team’s penultimate drive of the game which forced the first fourth down of the drive for the Falcons. Quarterback Michael Penix would convert that fourth down to sustain the drive, one that ultimately concluded with a fourth down touchdown reception by Pitts to tie the game with just over a minute remaining to play. They would force a quick three-and-out and drove into field goal position via a defensive pass interference penalty, but the 57-yard field goal attempt ultimately fell just short to send the game into overtime. Jayden Daniels would ensure the Falcons would not see the ball again, sending the team to the No. 8 seed in the NFC. They now require a win over the Panthers and a Buccaneers loss to the Saints in Week 18 to make the postseason.
Drake London

ATL Wide Receiver #5

Drake London caught 7-of-13 targets for 106 yards in the Falcons’ Week 17 loss to the Commanders.

London served as rookie quarterback Michael Penix’s top target after departing the team’s Week 16 game with a hamstring injury, an injury that typically forced pass-catchers to miss time considering what is asked of them during a game. He made several spectacular catches for the Falcons, two of which extended the team’s penultimate drive which eventually resulted in them tying the game. They would get the ball back late in the game after a quick three-and-out from the Commanders but a 57-yard field goal came up just short to send the game into overtime. The Falcons enter a Week 18 meeting with the Panthers in need of a win and a Buccaneers loss to the Saints to reach the postseason.
Bijan Robinson

ATL Running Back #7

Bijan Robinson rushed 17 times for 90 yards and two touchdowns in the Falcons’ Week 17 loss to the Commanders, adding eight yards on three receptions.

Robinson did the bulk of this damage before halftime, scoring both touchdowns in the first two quarters as the team took a 17-7 lead into the break. The Falcons would then struggle to sustain drives in the second half, something the nuked Robinson’s opportunities in the process. The Falcons ultimately fell in catastrophic fashion in overtime after missing a 57-yard field goal as time expired in regulation, dropping them to the No. 8 seed in the NFC with one game remaining in the regular season. Their path to the postseason now involves a win over the Panthers in Week 18 and a Buccaneers loss to the Saints.
Michael Penix Jr.

ATL Quarterback #9

Michael Penix Jr. completed 19-of-36 passes for 223 yards, one touchdown, and one interception in the Falcons’ 30-24, Week 17 overtime loss to the Commanders, adding three yards on two carries.

Penix watched from the sideline as the Commanders controlled the fourth quarter, ultimately kicking a field goal with just over four minutes remaining to take a seven point lead. He then drove the length of the field to tie the game with just over a minute remaining, a drive in which he converted two fourth-and-long situations to tie the game. The Falcons would then force a quick three-and-out and had a chance to steal the victory in regulation following a defensive pass interference call, but the 57-yard attempt fell just short to send the game to overtime. The Commanders won the toss and Jayden Daniels would ensure the Falcons would not see the football again. The loss drops the Falcons into the No. 8 seed in the NFC, now requiring a win over the Panthers in Week 18 and a loss by the Buccaneers to the Saints to reach the postseason.
Tua Tagovailoa

MIA Quarterback #1

NFL Network’s Cameron Wolfe reports, “Mike McDaniel tells reporters it’s too early to say if Tua Tagovailoa (hip) can play” in Week 18 against the Jets.

McDaniel reportedly affirmed his decision not to play Tagovailoa in Week 17, saying, “from a medical standpoint, it was not an option for him to play” through his hip injury. Wolfe adds, “surgery is not on the table right now” though the “right now” aspect is notable. Hopefully, the injury does not require surgery and Tagovailoa can suit up in Week 18.

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Highlights: WAS clinches playoff berth with OT win

December 29, 2024 11:55 PM

The Commanders needed extra time, but made the most of overtime by not allowing the Falcons to possess the ball, earning a 30-24 victory and clinching a playoff berth for the first time since 2020.

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