Stats and Snaps – 2025 Week 4, Commanders @ Atlanta Falcons

In Week 4, the injury-riddled Commanders squad suffered a 27-34 road loss to the Atlanta Falcons, in a game that many fans thought they should win.  The main headline was that the defense gave up 128 rushing yards, 313 passing yards and 34 points to a Falcons team which had not scored more than 22 points through three games.  That created a hole that Kliff Kingsbury’s offense could not climb out of without its two biggest playmakers.

Despite the lackluster performance on defense, the Commanders managed to keep the score to within 7 points. A few Commanders had strong performances, which might have been overlooked. And some of the young players flashed potential. While that wasn’t enough to beat the Falcons there is still plenty to build on as injured starters start returning to the lineup.

Let’s have a look at who got playing time, who stood out and who took a step back in the disappointing loss to the Falcons. 

OFFENSE

Marcus Mariota earned a total QBR of 72.4 for his performance on Sunday, which made him the 12^th ranked QB in Week 4. It was by far the highest rated performance by a Commanders’ QB this season.  Unfortunately, his opponent Michael Penix ranked 3^rd in the league with a 90.5 QBR.

Mariota completed 16/27 passes (59.3%) at an ADOT of 12.0 yds for 156 yds, 9 first downs, 2 TDs and 1 INT. Mariotta was pressured on 10/31 dropbacks (32.3%), including 6 hits and 2 sacks for 9 yards, resulting a Pressure to Sack Rate of 20%.    

He had 2 rushing attempts for 20 yards, with a long of 22, to claim third place on the team in rushing yards. 

He committed an intentional grounding penalty from the Atlanta 29 yd line in the second quarter. It was his second intentional grounding penalty in two weeks, but only the fifth in his 11 year career. 

A week after dominating the Raiders with a 60/40 run-pass balance, Kliff Kingsbury opted to return to the pass first approach which was less successful the previous week against the Packers. Against the Falcons, the Commanders ran the ball on 45% of offensive plays. 

The most curious part of the decision to lean on the pass was that they had good success running the ball.  The Commanders averaged 6.7 Y/A on the ground. The running backs did slightly better than the team average at 6.8 yds per carry, despite not getting much help from the run blocking.

Chris Rodriguez was the Commanders’ rushing leader with 59 yds on 7 attempts (8.4 Y/A) thanks largely to a 48 yd run for his lone first down (Success Rate 28.6%).  He forced 2 missed tackles. Rodriguez averaged -0.14 Yards Before Contact/Attempt, indicating that he was getting hit behind the line of scrimmage much of the time. This has been a consistent theme in the running game this season. He was not targeted as a receiver.

Jacory Croskey-Merritt continued to impress, averaging 6.7 Y/A on 7 attempts for 47 yds and 4 first downs (85.7% Success Rate) with 1 forced missed tackle.  Croskey-Merritt enjoyed better run blocking than Rodriguez, and averaged 2.29 YBC/Att, one of the highest figures for Washington’s RBs this season. He also caught 2/2 passes for 10 yds.   

Jeremy McNichols was used more as a slot receiver than a RB, continuing the trend since Week 2. He had 2 rushing attempts for 3 yds (Success Rate 0%) and caught 1/2 passing targets for 0 yds.

The Commanders only listed 1 WR as a starter for the second week in a row, and that might be appropriate.  Marcus Mariota distributed targets to 8 players, including all 5 WRs.

Deebo Samuel led the Commanders in receiving yards (72), TDs (1, tie with Luke McCaffrey), first downs (4), targets (6), receptions (6), reception rate (100%, tie with Bill and Tay Martin), and contested catches (3/3).  He was the Commanders’ second most productive receiver on a per-route basis at a very respectable 2.48 Yards/Route Run.  Surprisingly, his 66.7% Receiving Success Rate was only third best on the team (tie with Luke McCaffrey and Tay Martin). 

Deebo also contributed 9 yards and 1 first down on 3 rushing attempts, and achieved the second highest Run Blocking Grade on the team (77.2) per PFF.

Luke McCaffrey was second on the team with 2 receptions for 21 receiving yards and 1 TD on 3 targets, at an ADOT of 20.7 yds.  It was his second week in a row with a receiving TD. 

Luke also collected his first NFL penalty for Offensive Pass Interference (10 yds) in the third quarter. 

Jaylin Lane caught 2/3 targets for 18 yds with 1 contested catch.  He had another reception negated by a penalty on Ben Sinnott.  Not to be outdone by Luke, Jaylin also committed an offensive pass interference infraction, which was offset by a penalty on the Falcons. 

Tay Martin was Washington’s most productive receiver on a per route basis at 4.67 Y/RR.  He caught his lone target for a 14 yd reception, which is not bad considering that he only ran 4 routes. 

Chris Moore got the second most playing time at WR, but had a forgettable outing as a receiver, with 0 receptions on 2 targets. He did better as a runner, with 1 carry for 9 yards.

The Commanders’ utilization of tight ends in Atlanta was more conventional than we’ve seen in previously this season, with the exception of OT Trent Scott remaining in the rotation as an extra blocker.

The use of TEs as fullbacks, which was effective against the Raiders, was all but abandoned. In their two victories this season, the Commanders used a fullback on 14 and 22 offensive snaps.  In their two losses, they used fullbacks on 2 and 3 offensive snaps. I doubt that’s a coincidence. 

Zach Ertz caught 2/4 targets for 21 receiving yards and 1 first down. He was the only TE targeted as a receiver. Ertz was penalized 5 yards for a false start in the 3rd quarter.

Ben Sinnott was mainly used as a blocker, running routes on just 7/27 offensive snaps.  PFF gave him the fourth highest run blocking grade on the team (63.7). His run blocking has graded much higher than previously over the last two games. Sinnott was flagged for a 10 yd holding penalty in the 3^rd quarter.

Colson Yankoff played half of his snaps lined up at fullback two weeks ago against the Raiders. In Atlanta, he was used primarily as an inline TE with an even split between run blocking and route running, and just one snap at FB.  He had the third highest run blocking grade on the team (66.0) in a limited sample of just 5 blocking plays. Yankoff has yet to be penalized as a pro.

For the second week straight, Trent Scott was listed as a starter at OT, but was used in a rotational capacity as an extra blocker at the inline position.  He played 6 snaps lined up on Josh Connerly’s right shoulder and 3 snaps to the left of Laremy Tunsil.  His run blocking earned a middling 56.7 grade from PFF.

For the first time this season, all five starting linemen took 100% of offensive snaps at their designated positions. The OL was very good in pass protection, like last week.  Run blocking remains a work in progress.

LT Laremy Tunsil allowed just 1 QB hurry in 37 pass blocking snaps, for an excellent 2.7% Pressure Rate.  He was also the highest graded Commander at run blocking, with a strong 79.8 run block grade.

Tunsil kept alive his streak of at least one penalty per game, with an illegal man downfield infraction in the second quarter, which was declined.

LG Chris Paul allowed 1 sack, but it was the only pressure he allowed. His 2.7% Pressure Rate was good for an iOL.  His run blocking graded below average at 45.7.

C Tyler Biadasz had been allowing concerning rates of pressure through the first 3 weeks of the season.  Against the Falcons, he pitched a shutout.  He was the only lineman who did not allow a pressure.  PFF gave his run blocking a very average 50.9 grade. 

RG Andrew Wylie allowed 2 hurries, equating to a 5.4% Pressure Rate.  That is getting toward the high end of the acceptable range for an OT.  His 43.2 run block grade was the lowest on the team. 

Rookie RT Josh Connerly Jr. had a rough outing in pass pro against Micah Parsons and the Packers two weeks ago, allowing 2 sacks and pressure on 16.1% of dropbacks.  He bounced back last week, allowing 0 pressures against Maxx Crosby and the Raiders. Against the Falcons, he allowed 1 QB hit and 1 hurry, for an acceptable 5.4% Pressure Rate.  He earned a 55.8 PFF run block grade.

DEFENSE

While the offense and secondary committed plenty of penalties, the defensive front six avoided the refs’ attention.  

Dorance Armstrong split time roughly equally on both sides of the line, with slightly more snaps on the right side.  This has been a change from last season, when he played mainly on the left edge.

Armstrong had his lowest pass rush production of the season, with just 1 QB hit and 1 hurry (11.8% Pressure Rate). Even so, he tied with Frankie Luvu for most pressures on the team and generated the highest rate of pressure on the DL.      

In addition to that, he made 3 tackles and 1 assist, with 1 TFL and 2 total defensive stops, with no missed tackles. Two of his stops were against the run.  He tied with Javontae Jean-Baptiste for third highest Run Stop Rate on defense, at a very good 10.0%. 

Fans have overreacted to Dorance dropping into coverage twice in 39 defensive snaps.  This is fairly normal for DEs.  He was targeted once and surrendered a 9 yd reception to Drake London.  

Jacob Martin played a little more on the left edge than the right.  Like all the edge defenders not named Dorance, he failed to generate a single pressure. He made 2 tackles and 1 assist with 1 missed tackle.

Martin dropped into coverage once and Michael Penix found him, hitting Drake London for a 9 yard reception, exactly the same thing that happened to Armstrong.

Javontae Jean-Baptiste made 2 tackles for stops before leaving the game with pec injury that is likely to keep him sidelined until late in the season.

Jalyn Holmes made 1 tackle and 2 assists. Von Miller’s sole contribution on defense was 2 missed tackles. 

Daron Payne’s run of pressuring the QB came to an end in Atlanta, with 0 pressures on 19 pass rush snaps, his lowest number of attempts this season. 

Payne made 2 tackles, 1 assist with 1 TFL (stop) with 2 missed tackles. His 27.8% missed tackle rate this season is more than double his career average of 12.5%.

Daron also forced a fumble by Bijan Robinson, which unfortunately was recovered by Michael Penix.

Javon Kinlaw generated 1 QB hurry on just 12 pass rush attempts (8.3% Pressure Rate).  He made 3 tackles, all for defensive stops, with 1 TFL and 1 missed tackle. 

Eddie Goldman has quietly been having a good year as the rotational nose tackle. He generated 1 QB hurry in 11 pass rush snaps (9.1% Pressure Rate), on top of 1 TFL and 1 assist, with 1 missed tackle.

Johnny Newton made 1 tackle for a stop with 1 assist and no missed tackles.  He failed to pressure the QB in 10 pass rush reps.

So far this season, Bobby Wagner has been playing well in the pass rush and run support, while Frankie Luvu has been struggling to recapture last season’s AP2 form.  This week the roles were somewhat reversed.  

Against the Falcons, Luvu led the Commanders in defensive stops (7), tackles (7, tie with Jeremy Reaves), sacks (1), and QB pressures (2, tie with Dorance Armstrong). He was also not targeted in 23 coverage snaps. 

The only blemish on his record was 1 missed tackle according to Pro Football Reference and 2 according to PFF.

Bobby Wagner led the team in combined tackles (6 tkl, 3 asst per PFF; 4 solo, 6 asst per PFR), with 1 TFL, 2 stops and 0 missed tackles.  He also generated 1 QB hurry on 4 blitzes.

Wagner’s weakness was in coverage.  He was targeted 3 times, allowing 3 receptions for 74 yds per PFF (Kyle Pitts 1 rec, 12 yds; Bijan Robinson 1 rec, 69 yds; Ray-Ray McLoud 1 rec, -7 yds). Pro Football reference scored him even worse at 4/4 for 94 yds. 

According to Pro Football Reference(PFR), Marshon Lattimore was targeted 8 times, conceding 5 receptions (62.5%) for 72 yards and 1 TD in 29 coverage snaps.  At 2.5 Y/Cov Snap, his rate of yardage allowed in coverage was more than twice what you would like to see from a starting CB. PFF counted 4 receptions on 7 targets (57.1%) for 63 yds, to put him at 2.2 Y/Cov Snap, which is a little better, but still not good.

Lattimore made 4 tackles and 2 assists, with 1 TFL and 2 defensive stops. Both stops were against the run, resulting in a 5.6% run stop rate. He was flagged for holding in the second quarter, but the penalty was declined.

Mike Sainristil had a better day in coverage according to PFR, who credited him with 3 rec/4 tgt (75%) for 33 yds. Using those figures, his 1.3 Y/Cov Snap rate of yardage allowed was a little toward the high end of the acceptable range for a starting CB.  However, PFF saw it a bit worse at 5rec/7 tgt for 56 yds (2.1 Y/Cov Snap).  He also recorded his first INT of the season and 1 PBU.

Sainristil made 4 tackles and 2 assists with 1 stop on a pass play.

Rookie LCB Trey Amos might have fallen behind Mike Sainristil in coverage efficiency, depending on which stats service you believe. If so, it was the first game this season when he wasn’t the Commanders’ best lockdown corner.  PFF counted 3 tgt and 2 rec for 40 yds, which put him at 1.4 Y/Cov Snap, just a little high for a starting boundary CB.   PFR saw 4 tgt and 3 rec for 46 yds (1.6 Y/Cov Snap).

Noah Igbinoghene had an uneventful afternoon.

Quan Martin made 3 tackles and 2 assists with no stops. He blitzed once and registered 1 QB hurry. According to PFF, he missed 2 tackles, but PFR did not agree.

Both stat services agree that he gave up 2 receptions on 2 coverage targets for 41 yds, and a 118.7 Passer Rating in coverage.  Opposing QBs have been above 103 Passer Rating when targeting Quan’s receivers all season.  He was flagged for pass interference late in the fourth quarter, but the penalty was declined.

Jeremy Reaves made 4 tackles and 4 assists with 2 missed tackles according to PFR (PFF 7 tkl, 1 assist, 1 miss, 1 stop). Both services counted 1 tgt and 1 rec for 14 yds in coverage. 

Darnell Savage was only on the field for 9 defensive snaps, but managed to get targeted once in coverage, allowing a 7 yd reception.  Welcome back to the DMV Darnell.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker Matt Gay overcame his early season yips and connected on 4/4 field goals with a long of 52 yds, and was 1/1 on extra points.

Tress Way punted twice for 93 total yds, with 1 return attempted for 0 yds.  His gross and net averages were 46.5 yards per attempt. So far this season, he has punted 14 times, with 9 returned for a total of 35 yds (3.9 yds/ret).  That is the third lowest average return in the NFL (min 6 punts), thanks to Tressler’s skillful punting and Larry Izzo’s excellent coverage unit.

Tyler Ott continued to impress on long snaps.  Just take my word for it, because there are no official long snapping stats.

Luke McCaffrey has quietly become one of the league’s better kick returners. In Atlanta, he returned 6 kicks for 199 yds, with a long of 58, and a 33.2 yd average.  He currently leads the NFL at 31.7 yards per return (min 5 returns), with no muffed catches or fair catches.  In second place is teammate Deebo Samuel at 31.6 YPA. Deebo didn’t get any action on returns in Atlanta.

After 2 great games, rookie punt returner Jaylin Lane came crashing down to Earth with 2 muffed catches on 2 return attempts for 0 yards, but thankfully avoided turnovers.  That dropped him to 6^th in the league at 14.8 yards per return (min 6 return attempts). 

The Commanders coverage units continued their impressive run on Sunday, holding the Falcons to 21.3 YPA on 7 kickoff returns and 0 yards on just 1 punt return.

Colson Yankoff led the coverage units with 2 tackles but also missed 1.  Nick Bellore and Luke McCaffrey tied with 1 tackle and 1 assist apiece.  Quan Martin and Mike Sainristil each made 1 tackle. Reserve LB Ale Kaho missed 1 tackle and suffered a concussion.

Ben Sinnott was flagged for a 10 yard holding penalty.