Falcons vs. Commanders score, live updates: Washington in control late

Live24 updates

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 4:56 AM GMT+1

  Commanders settle for a field goal

  The Commanders had a touchdown come off the board after a holding call, and despite a 2nd and Goal on the 1-yard-line, they’ll take a 7-point lead at 24-17. The second half has still been a dominant blowout by the Commanders who’ve had the ball for 39 plays over 20:20 for 191 yards against the Falcons who’ve run nine second half plays and gained 14 yards.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 4:47 AM GMT+1

  Jayden Daniels writes his name in NFL history with the most rushing yards by a rookie QB in NFL history

  Daniels passed former Washington quarterback — and fellow Heisman Trophy winner — Robert Griffin III, who’s old record was 815 yards.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 4:43 AM GMT+1

  Falcons forced to punt after a first down

  Dante Fowler is wrecking the game on defense. He’s been in Michael Penix Jr.’s face for a bunch of the night, and his pressure forced a huge incompletion. Now, with just over 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter — and Washington coming off back-to-back long drives — the Falcons’ defense needs a big stop to stay in the game.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 4:35 AM GMT+1

  Chris Rodriguez finishes the drive for the Commanders

  After 14 plays, 70 yards over 7:03 of game clock, the Commanders take a 21-17 lead. Atlanta needs anything — a first down, a big play — something to get going. Itsthe beginning of the fourth quarter and Washington has run 29 plays to Atlanta’s three in the second half.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 4:32 AM GMT+1

  End 3rd quarter: Falcons 17, Commanders 14

  Washington ran 25 plays and gained 145 yards in the quarter, while the Falcons ran just three plays and for a total of -1 yard. The two methodical Washington drives have worn down the Atlanta defense and the Commanders are in the red zone, knocking on the door again, with a chance to take a lead to open the 4th quarter.

  

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 4:25 AM GMT+1

  Commanders bag another 4th down conversion

  Jayden Daniels finds Jeremy McNichols, who turned in a tremendous effort to pick up this first down. Washington is now 3-for-3 on 4th down attempts tonight.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 4:22 AM GMT+1

  Jayden Daniels turns in a spectacular run

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 4:17 AM GMT+1

  Commanders get another stop and can take a lead

  Dante Fowler’s 3rd down strip sack ended things on Atlanta’s first drive of the 3rd quarter with a 3-and-out. At halftime, Washington coach Dan Quinn told NBC Sports’ Melissa Stark that he wanted to see better tackling, something the Commanders’ defense came out and did on that first series. Now we’ll see if the Washington offense can back up that TD drive with more scoring.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 4:09 AM GMT+1

  Zach Ertz from Jayden Daniels for the touchdown

  A monster of an opening drive by the Commanders. 15 plays and 69 yards over 7:47, and this touchdown pass coming on a 3rd and 8, to cut the lead to 3 on a drive that took more than half of the third quarter.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 4:07 AM GMT+1

  Commanders pick up huge 4th down with Jayden Daniels’ legs

  Commanders go with a naked bootleg to get Daniels on the edge for the 4th and 1 conversion to get the ball to the 12.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 4:02 AM GMT+1

  Penalties are starting to mount for the Commanders

  Washington has been flagged eight times for 70 yards, but its been able to weather that on this drive. First an illegal contact penalty on the Falcons erased a third down sack, and then Jayden Daniels found Zach Ertz for THIS big one after a holding penalty to get Washington back on schedule.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 3:48 AM GMT+1

  Halftime: Falcons 17, Commanders 7

  Atlanta ended the first half with a field goal to take a 17-7 lead into the break. Bijan Robinson has been the star of the show, with 82 rushing yards and a pair of rushing touchdowns in the game, and the Falcons are averaging nearly six yards per rush. Both teams have turned the ball over, but the Falcons’ defense has been a touch better than the Commanders’, keeping Brian Robinson Jr. bottled up, with his 23 yards on six carries. The Commanders start with the ball to open the second half.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 3:21 AM GMT+1

  That’s two for Bijan Robinson

  The flags cost Washington again, and fantasy managers with Bijan Robinson are loving where they are on championship weekend with his two first half scores. Atlanta leads 14-7 after the made PAT.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 3:17 AM GMT+1

  Dante Fowler flagged for roughing the passer continues Falcons drive

  Penalties have been a story for the Commanders’ defense. There were two big ones on the Falcons’ scoring drive and now Atlanta is back in the redzone after another flag.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 3:10 AM GMT+1

  Kaden Elliss peels back for the pick

  The edge defender is a top sack artist for the Falcons, but he flashed some clean hands on this interception of Jayden Daniels in the second quarter. The Falcons now have a chance to take a lead once again after stopping the Commanders in the red zone.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 3:05 AM GMT+1

  This is a HIGH-STAKES matchup in Washington

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 3:01 AM GMT+1

  End 1st quarter: Falcons 7, Commanders 7

  It’s been a back and forth game early, with the Commanders capitalizing on an early Falcons turnover and the Falcons responding with a score of their own. Jayden Daniels did have a scary play where he was bent back awkwardly on a tackle, but he’s remained in the game without issue.

  

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 2:55 AM GMT+1

  Falcons get a stop

  After a big sack, the Falcons force a punt with just under three minutes to go, and take over with a chance to take a lead.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 2:46 AM GMT+1

  Falcons get a TD on Bijan Robinson direct snap

  A 10-play drive that was kept alive by two penalties — one on a field goal that gave the Falcons a first down and another on a 3rd down pass interference in the end zone — set up Robinson’s 11th TD of the season to get the game knotted at 7-7.

• Mon, December 30, 2024 at 2:34 AM GMT+1

  Jayden Daniels hits Olamide Zaccheaus to open the scoring

  It was a 4th down inside the 10 yard line and Dan Quinn elected to roll the dice. It came up with seven, as Washington was able to turn the opening drive turnover into points. Washington leads 7-0 as it looks to wrap up a playoff berth with a win on Sunday Night Football.