A week ago, the Atlanta Falcons were embarrassed on their own field, shut out 30-0 by the division rival Carolina Panthers in what head coach Raheem Morris called one of the ugliest efforts he had ever been part of.
On Sunday, the Falcons responded the only way they could: by fighting back.
Atlanta downed the Washington Commanders 34-27, a much-needed victory that pushed the team to 2-2 heading into its bye week. For Morris, the win was more than just a step back toward respectability. It was personal.
“[Wins] always big, but when you’re talking about coming off the nasty, disgusting taste that we left out there for ourselves … that was our apology to our fans today,” Morris said after the game.