The Washington Commanders are closing in on the playoffs. Another major effort is needed for head coach Dan Quinn’s team to reach this important milestone in his first year on the job.
Last weekend’s dramatic come-from-behind victory over the Philadelphia Eagles put fate in Washington’s hands. All they need is one more win to seal a spot in the Finals, and the coaches will aim to accomplish that in Week 17 against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football.
The Falcons can secure a spot in the NFC South and a postseason berth by defeating the Commanders in prime time. They are a dangerous team with playmakers on both sides of the football. But first-round pick Michael Penix Jr. remains an unknown, despite a solid debut at quarterback last time out against the lowly New York Giants.
Washington will be brimming with confidence after finally getting one over on the Eagles. But the pressure is on to get the job done and make the playoffs for the first time since 2020.
With that in mind, here are five Commanders players on the hot seat heading into Week 17 at Northwest Stadium. Let’s start with running back Brian Robinson Jr.
Commanders players in the hot seat for Week 17 vs. Falcons
Brian Robinson Jr. – Commanders RB
Brian Robinson Jr. had a decent season overall. The running back carries a huge burden and looked like he could be a long-term piece of the puzzle. Still, he needs to bounce back positively after his lackluster performance against the Eagles.
Robinson caused two fumbles in the early exchanges. Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury then moved him off the shooting line, which turned out to be a huge disappointment, putting even more pressure on rookie quarterback Jaden Daniels to gain yards on the ground. It took.
This was a wake-up call for Robinson that he has to do a better job of protecting the football. The former third-round pick out of Alabama has the talent and determination to get back on track early in the season, but he has seen less work this season in front of the Falcons’ decent run defense, allowing just 112.0 yards per game. He’s going to allow rushing yards.
