Behind Sam Howell’s three touchdown passes and key interceptions by Kendall Fuller and Benjamin St-Juste, the visiting Washington Commanders earned a 24-16 road win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.
Howell completed 14 of 23 passes for 151 yards, while Fuller added nine tackles in addition to his third-quarter pick.
Terry McLaurin led the Commanders (3-3) in receptions (six) and yards (81). Curtis Samuel added four receptions for 42 yards and a score. Running backs Brian Robinson and Antonio Gibson added scoring receptions.
Ridder passed for 307 yards and two touchdowns but threw three costly interceptions, including one in the end zone grabbed by St-Juste with 5:17 to play in the fourth quarter.
Atlanta had a chance to tie the game late, but Desmond Ridder threw his third interception of the game to Jamin Davis to seal the Falcons’ fate.
Tyler Allgeier rushed for a team-high 51 yards. Bijan Robinson added 37 yards on the ground and had five receptions for 43 yards.
Drake London led the Falcons (3-3) in receptions (nine) and yards (125). Kyle Pitts had four catches for 43 yards and a score, while Jonnu Smith hauled in four passes for 36 yards and a TD.
After Joey Slye’s 38-yard field goal put Washington up 3-0 with 8:45 to play in the first quarter, Atlanta took a 7-3 lead when Ridder connected with Pitts on a 9-yard scoring strike.
A 61-yard punt return by Jamison Crowder late in the first quarter led to a 1-yard touchdown reception by Gibson, which put the Commanders up 10-7 with 11:47 to play in the second quarter.
Following a turnover on downs by Atlanta at the Washington 48-yard line, the Commanders upped their lead to 17-7 on a 7-yard touchdown reception by Samuel.
The Falcons cut Washington’s lead to 17-10 on their ensuing possession when Younghoe Koo capped a 10-play, 46-yard drive with a 47-yard field goal with 1:31 to go in the first half.
On Atlanta’s opening possession of the second half, Fuller picked off Ridder at the 50-yard line and ran to the Falcons’ 27. Two plays later, Robinson scored on a 24-yard touchdown reception to put the Commanders up 24-10.
The Falcons trimmed it to 24-16 on a 2-yard scoring reception by Smith. After Atlanta got bailed out on a failed two-point conversion attempt by a pass interference call, Allgeier was stopped on a second two-point conversion attempt.
–Field Level Media
