NFL Football
2024-12-29 - Atlanta Falcons at Washington Commanders
A Sports Betting Pick by FirstDown
United States : NFL Week 17
Sunday 29th December 2024 - Scheduled 8:20pm
1:20am (British Time)
Preview
No one would have expected the Washington Commanders (10-5) to challenge for a Playoff spot in 2024 under a new Coaching staff and a rookie Quarter Back. They are on the brink of confirming a Wild Card spot at the very least, while there is still an opportunity to win the NFC East and the Commanders look to have found their franchise Quarter Back.
There is so much to like about Jayden Daniels and everything he brings to the Commanders and you have to believe his experiences in 2024 will set him up for so much more to come. Washington will be looking to build the team around a Quarter Back on a rookie contract and Daniels co-ordinating a drive to beat the Philadelphia Eagles in a big spot in Week 16 can only help the Quarter Back grow further.
This is another big spot for the Washington Commanders when hosting the Atlanta Falcons (8-7) who have made a Quarter Back change and taken over as the leaders of the NFC South.
Two wins will means the Falcons are in, but one defeat opens the door for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and there is plenty of pressure on Michael Penix Jr at Quarter Back who took over from Kirk Cousins before the Week 16 crushing win over the New York Giants.
Atlanta will be hoping to keep the pressure away from Penix Jr by running the ball and the Falcons Offensive Line have been playing well down the stretch. They have a quality Running Back in Bijan Robinson and we have seen the Commanders struggle in stopping the run for much of the season.
Improvements have been made in the Secondary play, but this Falcons team have a lot of Receivers that can make plays for the Quarter Back and Drake London has been cleared to play.
Michael Penix Jr is being given plenty of good advice from veteran Kirk Cousins and he is playing behind an Offensive Line that will give him time to make plays in the pocket. Of course this is a much bigger spot than facing the New York Giants looking forward to the end of the season, but Michael Penix Jr can help the Falcons sustain some success Offensively and give the Defensive unit something to protect.
One of the reasons the Falcons are in a position to earn a Playoff spot is the big improvements made by the Defensive unit and they will need to be at their best to keep Washington quiet.
The Defensive Line have really clamped down on the run and the Line of Scrimmage looks like it is going to be keenly contested- the Commanders have Brian Robinson Jr and Jayden Daniels capable of ripping out some big gains on the ground, but there is little doubt that the Falcons have had more intensity in clamping down on the run and this could determine the whole game.
Any time the Falcons have Washington in obvious passing situations, the pass rush is likely to have a big impact on Jayden Daniels and the time he has to throw down the field. He can scramble and give himself more time, but Daniels has faced plenty of Sacks too and the Falcons can protect the Secondary by putting the Quarter Back under duress.
For all of the successes Jayden Daniels has had in his rookie season, Interceptions can be an issue and this Falcons Secondary have been picking off passes in recent games to just ensure the team is still in a position to reach the post-season.
Turnovers could be key in this game as well, but the feeling is that Michael Penix Jr and this Atlanta Falcons team can keep this one close on the scoreboard, even on a primetime spot.
Both teams should be bringing their best with so much on the line, and this could be one that goes right down to the wire with big implications around the top of the NFC.
Prediction
Take the points with the road underdog in this Sunday Night Football game.
The Pick :
Washington Commanders 23-20 Atlanta Falcons
