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Studs and duds: Brian Robinson powers Commanders to huge Week 12 win

By Jerry Trotta

LANDOVER, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Brian Robinson Jr. #8 of the Washington Commanders celebrates a touchdown with teammates in the first quarter of a game against the Atlanta Falcons at FedExField on November 27, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)
LANDOVER, MARYLAND - NOVEMBER 27: Brian Robinson Jr. #8 of the Washington Commanders celebrates a touchdown with teammates in the first quarter of a game against the Atlanta Falcons at FedExField on November 27, 2022 in Landover, Maryland. (Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images) /
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Nov 27, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) runs with the ball past Washington Commanders safety Darrick Forrest (22) during the first quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 27, 2022; Landover, Maryland, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) runs with the ball past Washington Commanders safety Darrick Forrest (22) during the first quarter at FedExField. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports /

Dud: Interior defensive line/run defense

The Commanders had no answer for Marcus Mariota on the ground. Early in the second quarter, Mariota had four rushes for 37 yards; over nine yards per clip. At that same point, Mariota had just 32 passing yards. For the game, Mariota, Tyler Allgeier, Cordarrelle Patterson and Caleb Huntley combined for 167 rushing yards on 5.8 YPC.

On Atlanta’s second scoring drive, Washington allowed 60 rushing yards; their second-highest for any drive in 11 games this season. It’s not often opposing teams create gaping holes against Jonathan Allen and Daron Payne, but Sunday was a glaring outlier in that regard.

To their credit, Allen and Payne (and Montez Sweat) came alive when the Commanders needed them most in the second half, but it was pretty alarming to see Atlanta gash this front on the ground the way they did.

Stud: Brian Robinson

You knew we’d get to BRob eventually. All of a sudden, Robinson is starting to find his footing in the NFL. Even when Robinson isn’t ripping off big runs, his punishing style of running goes a long way towards exhausting the defense. Much like Derrick Henry and other physical backs, defenders should know better than to go high to tackle Robinson. This defender will think twice the next time he meets BRob in the open field.

Gets better every time.

Robinson notched career-highs in scrimmage yards and rushing yards. He was a catalyst in the win and seems to be coming into his own. The rookie ripped off at least five highlight-reel-worthy runs. He bounced off tacklers all game.

Dud: Christian Holmes

Holmes held up well in coverage in his first career start, but he committed a costly facemask after a 15-yard run from Cordarrelle Patterson. Knocking on the door, the Falcons were granted half the distance, and they fittingly capitalized (often the case with penalties) in the form of a Mariota touchdown pass to MyCole Pruitt.

This will serve as a learning moment for Holmes, who’ll need to tackle with more discipline to earn playing time in the secondary once Benjamin St-Juste returns to the lineup. Never a good time for a facemask, but this one put Washington’s already-reeling defense with its back against the wall in the red zone.

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