Jayden Daniels did it again, leading another comeback to get the Commanders into the postseason for the first time since 2020.
The rookie quarterback directed a 12-play, 75-yard touchdown drive in overtime, delivering a 30-24 win.
The Commanders moved to 11-5 and wrapped up a wild-card berth, while the Falcons (8-8) fell a game behind the Bucs in the NFC South. Atlanta needs to beat the Panthers and have the Bucs lose to the Saints.
The Commanders’ victory also clinched the NFC West for the Rams.
Daniels threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Zach Ertz on third-and-goal with 2:42 remaining in the extra period. Daniels ran for 42 yards on the drive and threw for 22, completing all five passes.
The Commanders outgained the Falcons 412 to 337, with Daniels completing 24 of 36 passes for 227 yards with three touchdowns and an interception. He also ran for 127 yards on 16 carries, and in the process, set the NFL record for rushing yards by a rookie quarterback for a single season.
Ertz caught six passes for 72 yards and two touchdowns, and Olamide Zaccheaus had eight receptions for 85 yards and a touchdown.
The Falcons, who led 17-7 at halftime, had only nine plays for 14 yards on their first two drives of the second half as Washington controlled the ball and the clock. But they put together a 12-play, 68-yard tying touchdown drive late in the fourth quarter.
Falcons center Drew Dalman snapped the ball over running back Bijan Robinson’s head on first-and-goal from the 5. Robinson picked up the ball but was tackled by Jalyn Holmes for a 21-yard loss. On second-and-26, Michael Penix completed a 13-yard pass to Drake London followed by an incompletion.
That set up fourth-and-goal from the 13, and Penix threw a dart to tight end Kyle Pitts with Jeremy Chinn draped on him for a touchdown. Riley Patterson’s extra point tied the game with 1:19 left.
Patterson had a chance to win it in regulation after Atlanta drove from its own 19 to its own 49. The Falcons drew a 13-yard pass interference penalty on Commanders defensive back Michael Davis on third-and-5 that left 2 seconds on the clock, but Patterson’s 56-yard field goal try was short.
That sent the game to overtime, and the Commanders won the coin toss. Atlanta never saw the ball again.
Penix was 19-of-35 for 223 yards with a touchdown and an interception, and Robinson rushed for 90 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries. Drake London caught seven passes for 106 yards.
Atlanta was 2-for-2 on fourth down and Washington 3-for-3.
The Commanders are guaranteed of finishing with a winning record for the first time since 2016 when they went 8-7-1.
