The Washington Commanders vs Atlanta Falcons match player stats tell the story of a game decided by Atlanta’s passing efficiency, explosive plays and ability to extend possessions. The Falcons defeated Washington 34–27 on September 28, 2025, at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, during Week 4 of the 2025 NFL regular season.
Michael Penix Jr. threw for 313 yards and two touchdowns, while Bijan Robinson contributed 181 yards from scrimmage. Drake London added 110 receiving yards and a touchdown. Washington stayed competitive behind two touchdown passes from Marcus Mariota and four successful field goals from Matt Gay.
This was the most recent completed meeting verified at the time of writing. All game statistics below refer exclusively to that September 28 matchup, using the NFL’s official gamebook and both teams’ published records.
Atlanta Established the Lead and Kept Washington Chasing
The Falcons never trailed. They built a 10–0 first-quarter advantage through Parker Romo’s 38-yard field goal and Penix’s five-yard touchdown pass to London.
Washington responded early in the second quarter when Mariota found Luke McCaffrey for a five-yard touchdown. Atlanta immediately restored its cushion with Robinson’s 14-yard scoring run, and the Falcons reached halftime ahead 17–10.
The pattern continued after the break. Washington added points, but Atlanta repeatedly answered with touchdowns. Kyle Pitts scored on a seven-yard reception, and Tyler Allgeier’s 15-yard touchdown run extended the lead to 31–16 near the end of the third quarter.
Deebo Samuel’s fourth-quarter touchdown gave Washington another opening. However, Atlanta’s next possession consumed almost seven minutes and produced the field goal that made the remaining comeback task considerably harder.
Both teams finished the afternoon with 2–2 records. The seven-point margin reflected Washington’s persistence, although Atlanta held clear advantages in offensive yardage and possession.
Quarterback Stats: Penix Created More With Fewer Attempts
Penix and Mariota each finished with two touchdown passes and one interception. Those matching totals conceal a substantial difference in passing production.
| Quarterback | Completions/Attempts | Passing yards | Passing TDs | Interceptions | Passer rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michael Penix Jr., Atlanta | 20/26 | 313 | 2 | 1 | 126.0 |
| Marcus Mariota, Washington | 16/27 | 156 | 2 | 1 | 84.8 |
Michael Penix Jr. combined accuracy with explosive gains
Penix completed 76.9% of his passes, compared with Mariota’s 59.3%. He also generated more than twice as many passing yards despite attempting one fewer throw.
His biggest completions included a 43-yard pass to London and a 69-yard catch-and-run by Robinson. Those plays gave Atlanta ways to advance quickly without having to sustain every possession through a long sequence of short gains.
Atlanta’s postgame statistical report, citing Next Gen Stats, noted that Penix completed all 13 passes traveling fewer than 10 air yards, producing 180 yards and both touchdowns.
That detail helps explain his performance. Atlanta’s passing success included accurate short throws that allowed receivers to create additional yardage, alongside successful downfield connections.
Marcus Mariota kept Washington competitive
Mariota started with Jayden Daniels unavailable because of a knee injury. Washington also played without inactive receiver Terry McLaurin.
Mariota’s touchdown passes went to McCaffrey and Samuel, and he added 20 rushing yards on two attempts. However, Washington’s passing game produced fewer substantial gains. His longest completion was Samuel’s 24-yard touchdown.
The Commanders therefore had less room for error when penalties or unsuccessful plays interrupted possessions. Mariota delivered scoring throws, but Atlanta generated significantly more yardage between its touchdowns.
Bijan Robinson, Drake London and Kyle Pitts Drove Atlanta’s Offense
Atlanta’s principal playmakers supplied different threats. Robinson produced as both a runner and receiver, London led the game in receiving yards, and Pitts provided another reliable target.
Receiving leaders
| Player | Team | Receptions | Receiving yards | Longest catch | Receiving TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake London | Atlanta | 8 | 110 | 43 | 1 |
| Bijan Robinson | Atlanta | 4 | 106 | 69 | 0 |
| Kyle Pitts | Atlanta | 5 | 70 | 26 | 1 |
| Deebo Samuel | Washington | 6 | 72 | 24 | 1 |
| Zach Ertz | Washington | 2 | 21 | 14 | 0 |
| Luke McCaffrey | Washington | 2 | 21 | 16 | 1 |
| Jaylin Lane | Washington | 2 | 18 | 11 | 0 |
The table lists selected receiving contributors, rather than each team’s complete receiving totals.
Robinson carried 17 times for 75 yards and a touchdown, then added 106 receiving yards on four catches. His 181 scrimmage yards illustrate why judging his afternoon by rushing production alone would miss much of his impact.
His most influential play arrived in the third quarter. Robinson turned a short reception into a 69-yard gain, taking Atlanta to Washington’s seven-yard line. Pitts scored on the following snap.
London’s eight catches provided a different kind of value. He supplied both an early touchdown and a downfield threat, with his 43-yard reception helping set up Robinson’s second-quarter rushing score.
Pitts caught all five of his targets for 70 yards. His contribution also extended beyond his touchdown: a 22-yard reception on Atlanta’s late fourth-quarter possession converted third down and helped the Falcons continue draining the clock.
Together, London, Robinson and Pitts accounted for 286 of Atlanta’s 313 receiving yards. Washington had difficulty containing multiple options within the same passing attack.
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Washington’s Rushing Numbers Need Context
Washington actually outrushed Atlanta, finishing with 147 yards on 22 carries, compared with the Falcons’ 128 yards on 37 attempts.
The Commanders’ 6.7-yard average looked impressive. However, a large portion of their rushing production came from one play.
| Running back | Team | Carries | Rushing yards | Average | Rushing TDs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Rodriguez Jr. | Washington | 7 | 59 | 8.4 | 0 |
| Jacory Croskey-Merritt | Washington | 7 | 47 | 6.7 | 0 |
| Bijan Robinson | Atlanta | 17 | 75 | 4.4 | 1 |
| Tyler Allgeier | Atlanta | 16 | 51 | 3.2 | 1 |
Quarterback and receiver rushing attempts are excluded from this running-back comparison.
Chris Rodriguez Jr. led Washington with 59 rushing yards, including a 48-yard run. Subtracting that burst leaves 11 yards across his other six attempts. The long gain was valuable, but his average alone would overstate how consistently those carries moved the offense.
Jacory Croskey-Merritt added 47 yards on seven attempts, with a longest run of 16 yards. Washington received useful production from its backs but finished without a rushing touchdown.
Atlanta’s runners had lower averages, yet Robinson and Allgeier each scored. Allgeier also contributed a 19-yard fourth-quarter run during the possession that ended with Romo’s final field goal.
The contrast shows why rushing efficiency needs to be read alongside scoring and game situation. Washington gained more ground yardage; Atlanta converted its rushing opportunities into two touchdowns and important late progress.
Samuel remained Washington’s leading receiving option, catching six passes for 72 yards. His fourth-quarter score was the Commanders’ biggest offensive play through the air, but no other Washington receiver reached 25 receiving yards.
Defensive Plays and Special Teams Kept the Score Close
Neither team won the turnover battle. Both quarterbacks threw one interception, and neither side lost a fumble.
Atlanta safety Xavier Watts intercepted Mariota in the end zone during the third quarter, ending a Washington scoring opportunity. Commanders cornerback Mike Sainristil answered with an interception of Penix and a 23-yard return.
Sainristil’s play gave Washington possession at Atlanta’s 25-yard line. The offense gained only two yards before settling for a field goal. That sequence captured one of Washington’s central problems: a valuable defensive play did not produce the touchdown needed to apply greater pressure.
Bobby Wagner led the Commanders with 10 combined tackles. Frankie Luvu recorded eight tackles and Washington’s only sack, while Jeremy Reaves also finished with eight tackles.
For Atlanta, Jessie Bates III led with seven combined tackles. Zach Harrison recorded one sack, while Kaden Elliss and Leonard Floyd shared another.
Those individual contributions mattered, but Washington’s broader defensive difficulty was preventing large gains. The Commanders’ own postgame analysis identified communication problems and missed tackles as factors in Atlanta’s offensive success.
Matt Gay and Luke McCaffrey supplied valuable points and field position
Gay made all four field-goal attempts, connecting from 43, 52, 41 and 42 yards. He also converted his only extra-point attempt.
McCaffrey contributed well beyond his touchdown reception. He returned six kickoffs for 199 yards, including a 58-yard return that gave Washington possession at Atlanta’s 41-yard line.
Atlanta also received accurate kicking. Romo made field goals from 38 and 26 yards and converted all four extra points.
Washington’s kicking and return production helped sustain its challenge. The offense, however, could not consistently turn those advantages into touchdowns.
The Two Possessions That Best Explain the Result
Several plays changed the score, but two Atlanta possessions best explain how the Falcons protected their lead.
Robinson’s 69-yard reception stopped Washington’s momentum
Gay’s 52-yard field goal cut Atlanta’s advantage to 17–13 with 10:12 remaining in the third quarter.
The Falcons responded with a two-play, 76-yard touchdown drive lasting just 47 seconds. Robinson supplied 69 yards on the opening completion, and Pitts finished the possession with a seven-yard touchdown catch.
Washington had moved within four points. Before its offense returned to the field, the deficit had grown to 11.
The significance was the speed of the response. Atlanta needed only two successful plays to erase much of the scoreboard progress Washington had made through a longer drive.
Atlanta’s final scoring drive limited the comeback
Mariota’s 24-yard touchdown pass to Samuel, followed by a successful two-point pass to Zach Ertz, brought Washington within 31–24 with 8:48 remaining.
Atlanta then moved 69 yards in 14 plays, using 6:51 before Romo’s 26-yard field goal extended the lead to 34–24.
Pitts and London each converted a third down with a reception during that drive. Atlanta forced Washington to keep defending while the remaining time steadily disappeared.
Gay’s final field goal reduced the margin to seven with 1:29 left. Washington did not recover the ensuing onside kick, and Atlanta finished the game with kneel-downs.
The possession before that kick had effectively removed Washington’s opportunity for a conventional final touchdown drive.
Team Stats Show Why Atlanta Had the Stronger Offensive Game
The final comparison highlights a passing-yardage gap and a major difference on third down.
| Team statistic | Washington | Atlanta |
|---|---|---|
| Total net yards | 294 | 435 |
| Net passing yards | 147 | 307 |
| Rushing yards | 147 | 128 |
| First downs | 17 | 24 |
| Third-down conversions | 1/8 | 6/12 |
| Fourth-down conversions | 2/2 | 1/1 |
| Offensive touchdowns | 2 | 4 |
| Time of possession | 25:45 | 34:15 |
| Turnovers committed | 1 | 1 |
Net passing yards include sack yardage deductions. Mariota’s 156 individual passing yards became 147 team net passing yards after nine yards lost on sacks. Penix’s 313 became 307 after a six-yard sack.
Washington’s 1-for-8 third-down performance was particularly costly. Its two successful fourth-down attempts helped, but Atlanta sustained more possessions through conventional third-down conversions.
The Falcons also scored four touchdowns to Washington’s two. Both teams finished with six scoring possessions, but Atlanta obtained considerably more value from those opportunities.
That distinction is the central lesson of this matchup. Washington produced efficient rushing numbers, strong kickoff returns and perfect field-goal kicking. Atlanta paired those kinds of opportunities with a more productive passing attack and timely conversions. Penix’s accuracy, Robinson’s versatility and the receiving contributions of London and Pitts gave the Falcons enough answers to preserve their lead.
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