5 winners (and 2 losers) from Commanders' playoff-clinching triumph vs. Falcons

The Washington Commanders are going to the postseason following a thrilling victory against the Atlanta Falcons. They didn't make it easy on themselves, but getting the job finished was all that mattered.

It was a nervy evening at Northwest Stadium for Washington's regular-season home finale. You could tell everyone was playing a little tighter than usual in the first half. There were sloppy mistakes and hesitancy where once there was nothing but conviction. Thankfully, getting the chance to regroup at the halftime interval galvanized this squad to better fortunes.

The Commanders looked like a different team in the second half. Even when they were pegged back as the Falcons forced overtime, nobody flinched. This is not the same organization of old. There is a real purpose to the way they go about their business and it showed in the biggest moment.

With the Green Bay Packers losing to the Minnesota Vikings, the Commanders have the sixth seed within their grasp. One more victory against the Dallas Cowboys will secure it, but cementing their playoff place represents a significant achievement for head coach Dan Quinn regardless of how things go from here on.

That's for the not-too-distant future. For now, here are five winners and two losers as Washington reached the knockout rounds versus the Falcons.

Winners and losers from Commanders' victory vs. the Falcons

Winner No. 1

Olamide Zaccheaus - Commanders WR

Much was made about Dan Quinn going up against a team he once coached in a high-pressure setting. But there was another former Atlanta Falcons employee who seemed extremely eager to make his presence felt in Week 17.

Olamide Zaccheaus stepped up. He was assured aside from one disappointing drop. His aggressive running after the catch helped set the tone. The wideout also managed to get his hands on another touchdown following some outstanding improvisation from rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels early in the contest.

Zaccheaus finished the day with eight receptions from nine targets for 85 receiving yards and a score. He also had one carry for eight rushing yards to further enhance his influence.

With prolific pass-catcher Terry McLaurin being locked down by A.J. Terrell, this contribution from Zaccheaus was pivotal to the Washington Commanders' success.

Loser No. 1

Michael Davis - Commanders CB

Not having Marshon Lattimore available once again was a body blow to the Washington Commanders. The four-time Pro Bowler's hamstring remains a serious concern. This also meant others further down the pecking order needed to make a bigger impression.

The coaching staff started Michael Davis in Lattimore's place over Benjamin St-Juste. It didn't take long for the Atlanta Falcons to figure out he was the weak link.

When the Falcons needed a big play, rookie signal-caller Michael Penix Jr. often looked in Davis' direction. It didn't matter who the defensive back was up against, that's where the football was going more often than not.

Davis couldn't cope. Whether it was defensive pass interference penalties or simply being unable to keep up with the Falcons' explosive pass-catchers, it was a disaster from start to finish. Fortunately for the Commanders, Atlanta's offense didn't get the chance to do more damage in overtime.

If the Commanders want to make some noise in the postseason, they need Lattimore in the lineup. This game proved that Davis is not up to the challenge.

Winner No. 2

Quan Martin - Commanders S

One could make a strong case for anyone drafted under the Ron Rivera regime being under more pressure than most to perform. There aren't many left following general manager Adam Peters' drastic roster cull, but a couple are starting to firmly establish themselves under the new regime.

Quan Martin is one of them. The physical safety looks tailormade for Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.'s defensive scheme. His performance against the Atlanta Falcons was arguably his best since joining the Commanders as a second-round selection in 2023.

Martin was impactful in coverage, mirroring opposing wide receivers and tight ends well. He provided assured support to the cornerbacks on the back end, especially in the second half as Washington started to build momentum. This hasn't always been the case in 2024, but rising to the occasion on the biggest stage is going to do his confidence a significant amount of good.

This was a huge step in the right direction for Martin. He's set a new bar for himself that the Commanders' coaching staff will be expecting him to keep up moving forward.

Winner No. 3

Zach Ertz - Commanders TE

As previously mentioned, it was difficult for wide receiver Terry McLaurin to firmly establish himself on Sunday Night Football. That's no disgrace considering Atlanta Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell is one of the league's best shutdown cornerbacks when firing on all cylinders, but it forced the Washington Commanders to go elsewhere in critical moments.

Jayden Daniels had one guy in mind. When it was time to push the chips into the middle, the rookie signal-caller looked to veteran tight end Zach Ertz. As has been the case throughout the three-time Pro Bowler's career, he answered the call.

Ertz's experience came to the fore positively. He's been involved in plenty of high-profile games throughout his career. This served him well en route to an influential display that played a significant role in Washington's eventual triumph.

The former second-round selection out of Stanford brought in six receptions from seven targets for 72 receiving yards and two touchdowns, including the game-winning score in overtime. Ertz also managed to hit some sizable bonuses in his contract, which is a win-win for everybody.

Winner No. 4

Jayden Daniels - Commanders QB

It's hard to put into words just how big of an impact Jayden Daniels has had on the Commanders franchise. Perhaps the biggest compliment one could pay the rookie quarterback is how calm everything appeared in the highest-pressure situation imaginable.

There's supreme confidence in Daniels. From the players to the coaches and fans, everyone had complete faith that the signal-caller would come through when it counted. No moment is too big, which is remarkable for someone in Year 1 of their NFL journey.

Daniels took the game over in the second half. He relaxed a little bit and relied on the elite-level athletic traits that got him this far. His poise, composure, and accuracy in critical moments were astonishing. The Atlanta Falcons had no answer in their pursuit of containing the Heisman Trophy winner out of LSU.

When the Commanders won the overtime toss, that was the window of opportunity Daniels needed to seal the deal. He did so with aplomb, carving up yards on the ground and finding Zach Ertz for the final score.

This was the latest in a series of truly astonishing performances from Daniels. His will to drag the Commanders through rough waters and into the postseason is rare for someone so young. And this sleeping giant is going to benefit for years to come.

Loser No. 2

Commanders OL

It was a fantastic outcome for the Washington Commanders. Securing 11 victories and reaching the playoffs is a tremendous accomplishment in the first year under head coach Dan Quinn. However, this didn't come without a few frustrations in Week 17.

This contest could have been a lot more comfortable had it not been for several penalties in critical moments — often negating big plays or first downs. The offensive line was largely at fault, which cannot continue if the Commanders want to make an impression when the knockout stages arrive.

Washington's protection didn't put together its finest performance of the campaign. They've been superb overall, but this wasn't their finest moment. Things would have looked even worse had Jayden Daniels not evaded pressure almost constantly with his jaw-dropping elusiveness despite getting sacked five times.

There were nerves. Brandon Coleman looked littery on the blindside, which isn't surprising for a rookie. Sam Cosmi should know better, although one of his holding infringements seemed extremely dubious.

Couple this with starting center Tyler Biadasz and veteran swing tackle Cornelius Lucas both going out of the game through injury, and it was an evening to forget despite the eventual outcome.

Winner No. 5

Commanders fans

This one was for every Commanders fan around the world.

You deserve this.

Over two decades of misery and underachieving. Seeing a once-proud NFL cornerstone descend into a national disgrace. The organization was crumbling to the ground with almost no hope for the future under Dan Snyder's ownership. That's not the case anymore.

The Commanders are reborn. They are reinvigorated under Josh Harris' ownership group. Their complete rebuild from top to bottom of the football operation had an instant impact. Reaching the postseason at the first time of asking is only going to assist their chances of perennial contention in the coming years.

Everyone believes again. You could sense it even when the Commanders were forced into overtime. The fans played their part and were rewarded when Jayden Daniels led a masterful drive to cement their playoff status in 2024.

Nobody deserves this more than Washington's long-suffering fanbase. They have been the league's laughingstock for too long. The tide is officially turning and the entire region is buzzing as a result.

Enjoy it. Savor it. Embrace it. This success has been a long time coming.

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