The Washington Commanders are within touching distance of the playoffs. One more big effort is needed for head coach Dan Quinn's squad to reach this significant milestone in Year 1 of his tenure.
Last weekend's dramatic comeback victory against the Philadelphia Eagles leaves fate in Washington's hands. All they need is one more triumph to book their spot in the knockout rounds, which the Commanders will be aiming to accomplish in Week 17 versus the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football.
The Falcons can secure the NFC South and a postseason spot by beating the Commanders on the primetime stage. They're a dangerous outfit with playmakers on both sides of the football. However, first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. remains an unknown quantity despite a solid debut from the quarterback last time out against the lowly New York Giants.
Washington will be brimming with confidence after finally getting one over on the Eagles. However, the pressure is on to get the job done and reach the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
With this in mind, here are five Commanders players on the hot seat entering Week 17 at Northwest Stadium. We'll start with running back Brian Robinson Jr.
Commanders players on the hot seat entering Week 17 vs. Falcons
Brian Robinson Jr. - Commanders RB
It's been a decent campaign overall for Brian Robinson Jr. The running back shouldered a heavy burden and looked capable of being a long-term piece of the puzzle. Even so, he needs to bounce back positively after an indifferent performance versus the Eagles.
Robinson coughed up two fumbles during the opening exchanges. Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury took him out of the firing line after that, which was bitterly disappointing and piled more pressure on rookie quarterback Jayden Daniels to gain yards on the ground.
This was a wake-up call for Robinson, who needs to do a better job of protecting the football. The former third-round selection out of Alabama has the talent and determination to return to his form earlier in the campaign, but he'll have his work cut out against a decent Falcons run defense giving up 112.0 rushing yards per game this season.