The Atlanta Falcons needed this win, knew they needed it, and spent a couple of weeks preparing to go get it. The effect that preparation—and what sure looked like genuine improvement from this Falcons team—were enough for a huge win against Washington on the road even for a team that made some very large mistakes. It was, in many ways, the most encouraging win of the entire season, and a capital W win in a season that had been lacking them.
Atlanta simply dominated, despite some anemic stretches along the way. It’s scary to think what they might have done had they not had that pick on a loosely run Calvin Ridley route, those drops from a handful of receivers, and those missed opportunities on defense, including a potentially huge sack of Alex Smith that turned into a Washington gain and subsequent touchdown.