Commanders vs. Falcons - Week 17
- Date: To be determined (TBD)
- Time: TBD
- Venue: Northwest Stadium
- TV channel: FOX
We should get more clarity about the date and time of this game in the coming days. After the Atlanta Falcons beat the Las Vegas Raiders on Monday Night Football, there's a good chance this contest gets moved to primetime considering the significance attached.
Regardless of when it's played, this represents a must-win game for the Washington Commanders. It's their final home game of the regular season. Getting to double-digit wins might be enough to seal their postseason berth when push comes to shove.
The Falcons won't be doing them any favors. They are still hot on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' heels for NFC South supremacy. Ending their concerning recent slump versus the Raiders was essential — something they managed to accomplished by the weird score of 15-9.
Washington cannot take the Falcons lightly, but they are more than capable of making things extremely difficult for Raheem Morris' squad. The crowd at Northwest Stadium will also be doing everything in their power to inspire the players to a massive effort as the curtain comes down on their home slate.
This is also another return for ex-Washington quarterback Kirk Cousins. The veteran signal-caller is coming under fire for his subpar performances in recent weeks. If the Commanders can generate pressure, mistakes will arrive. With stud cornerback Marshon Lattimore finally involved, it improves the secondary's chances of turning opportunities into turnovers.
Tensions will be high for both teams. If this game also gets the national spotlight treatment, it only raises the stakes. It's all about who can handle the pressure cooker better. That's it.
- Prediction: Commanders win (10-6)
Gettting to 10 wins might be enough to make the playoffs depending on how results go elsewhere. The Los Angeles Rams or Seattle Seahawks could have something to say about that, but the Commanders can remove the Falcons from the equation with success in Week 17.
Nothing else will do.