After a big match, Desmond Ridder missed out this week. Three decisive losses of ball cost his team the victory
Atlanta Falcons (3-3) – Washington Commanders (3-3): 16-24
Desmond Ridder (28/47, 307 yards, 2TD, 3 INT) cracked! After a decent start to the match, the Falcons quarterback weighed down his team with 3 interceptions in the second half. 2 of these interceptions came on 3rd attempts in the Commanders camp and with less than 5 minutes on the clock…
Loss of balls which allowed the Commanders to win 24 to 16. A deserved victory for Washington, often ahead in the score. But Ron Rivera’s men gave the Falcons many (too many) opportunities to try to come back. There is still work to be done in Washington.
Washington takes charge
The Commanders control the first half perfectly. In attack, they score on all their series except one. On the first, they score a field goal (0-3). Then, they scored two touchdowns on receptions from Antonio Gibson and Curtis Samuel (4 recs, 42 yards, 1TD).
In his series, the visitors were helped by advantageous starting positions on the field thanks to a big punt return from Jamison Crowder and a 4th missed by the Falcons at midfield.
On defense, the Commanders are also doing well. Apart from the first drive where the defense is overwhelmed by the aerial play of the Falcons and a field goal awarded just before halftime (10-17), the Washington team most often blocks Desmond Ridder and his partners.
The young Falcons quarterback only found the fault on his first series with a pass to Kyle Pitts (4 rec, 43 yards, 1TD) and the touchdown. Behind, imprecision and a ground game that was not very effective in this first half.
Desmond Ridder cracks
From the outset, the Falcons quarterback was intercepted. A loss of ball which allows the visitors to move away from the opposing 30. A gift fructified by Sam Howell (14/23, 151 yards, 3TD) who two actions later found Gibson for the touchdown (10-24).
Atlanta returns to contact thanks to a big offensive series of 91 yards and 7 minutes of possession. Ridder concludes by finding Jonnu Smith, his favorite target for several weeks (16 24, 2-point conversion missed).
In the last quarter, the Commanders give the ball back to the Falcons too quickly each time. But the defense made the difference by intercepting the opponent twice and blocking them on a 4th attempt in the last five minutes of the match.
