The NFL decided to flex the Falcons vs. Commanders game to Sunday Night Football, and it couldn’t have worked better for the league.
Jayden Daniels is coming off yet another comeback victory for the Commanders, one in which he threw five touchdown passes to help topple the red-hot Philadelphia Eagles in the final seconds of the game. He’s a shoo-in to win the Offensive Rookie of the Year award, but he’ll be up against one of the best storylines of the final few weeks of the season.
Michael Penix Jr. made his debut against the Giants this past Sunday, and he passed with flying colors. The Falcons offense looked like a much more explosive unit, thanks to Penix’s physical attributes allowing offensive coordinator Zac Robinson to be more aggressive with his play-calling. However, what Penix flashed with his anticipation and decision-making was even more impressive. He looks the part of an NFL signal caller, and with the Bucs losing, he has the opportunity to quickly become a beloved figure in Atlanta.
By flexing the game to Sunday Night, history is set to be made. It will mark the first time in NFL history two rookie quarterbacks taken in the first round will face off in primetime.Â
The Falcons’ road to the playoffs is simple: win out, and they will host the first-ever playoff game in Mercedes Benz Stadium history. There’s a chance they could find their way in while still losing on Sunday night against the Commanders, but it’s unlikely with the Bucs facing the Panthers and Saints to round out their season. It’s virtually a must-win game featuring two Heisman Trophy candidates from a year ago in front of a national audience.
The devil works hard, but nobody does it quite like the NFL scheduled-makers.
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Photo: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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