Game story
In Week 17 of the 2024 NFL season on 2024-12-29, the Washington Commanders took care of business against the Atlanta Falcons, pulling away with a 30–24 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
The highest-scoring period was Q4 with 17 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.
J. Daniels (Washington Commanders) paced the passing game, with +10.51 total EPA, and -0.3% completion percentage over expected.
On the individual side, J. Daniels (Washington Commanders) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +10.51 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.
The momentum swing (-27.2% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Atlanta Falcons changed the game: (:02) 37-R.Patterson 56 yard field goal is No Good, Short, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
Line score
Final score and points by quarter.
| Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | OT | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta Falcons | 7 | 10 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 24 |
| Washington Commanders | 7 | 0 | 7 | 10 | 12 | 30 |
Stars of the game
Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.
- 1 J. Daniels · Washington Commanders · Passing · +10.51 total EPA · 51 snaps · +0.21 EPA/play
- 2 Z. Ertz · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +9.05 total EPA · 7 snaps · +1.29 EPA/play
- 3 O. Zaccheaus · Washington Commanders · Receiving · +7.31 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.81 EPA/play
- 4 K. Pitts · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +5.67 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.13 EPA/play
- 5 D. London · Atlanta Falcons · Receiving · +5.04 total EPA · 13 snaps · +0.39 EPA/play
- 6 J. Daniels · Washington Commanders · Rushing · +2.95 total EPA · 10 snaps · +0.30 EPA/play
- 7 B. Robinson · Atlanta Falcons · Rushing · +2.66 total EPA · 17 snaps · +0.16 EPA/play
- 8 M. Penix · Atlanta Falcons · Passing · +2.18 total EPA · 42 snaps · +0.05 EPA/play
Player of the game
FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.
J. Daniels — WAS · Passing
J. Daniels posted the highest total EPA (+10.51) in the game, making the biggest overall impact on Washington Commanders's efficiency. Across 51 counted snaps, they averaged +0.21 EPA per play.
The signature play (-5.12 EPA) came from Washington Commanders: (10:45) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-J.Daniels pass short middle intended for 80-J.Crowder INTERCEPTED by 55-K.Elliss at ATL 16. 55-K.Elliss pushed ob at ATL 28 for 12 yards (80-J.Crowder; 63-T.Biadasz).
Who scored touchdowns and field goals
Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.
Touchdowns
- Washington Commanders — O. Zaccheaus (J. Daniels pass)
- Atlanta Falcons — B. Robinson
- Atlanta Falcons — B. Robinson
- Washington Commanders — Z. Ertz (J. Daniels pass)
- Washington Commanders — C. Rodriguez
- Atlanta Falcons — K. Pitts (M. Penix pass)
- Washington Commanders — Z. Ertz (J. Daniels pass)
Field goals
- Atlanta Falcons — R. Patterson
- Washington Commanders — Z. Gonzalez
How it unfolded, quarter by quarter
A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.
The opening quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the ATL 7 (Q1 54:37) — (9:37) (Shotgun) 5-J.Daniels pass short left to 14-O.Zaccheaus for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN [3-J.Bates].; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q1 54:33) — 47-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-10-T.Way.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the WAS 1 (Q1 50:12) — (5:12) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 7-B.Robinson. 7-B.Robinson left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q1 50:10) — 37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..
The second quarter: Atlanta Falcons won the period 10–0. Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the WAS 1 (Q2 34:27) — (4:27) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-B.Robinson right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q2 34:24) — 37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.; Atlanta Falcons connected on a field goal from the WAS 21 (Q2 30:06) — (:06) 37-R.Patterson 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..
The third quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 7–0. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the ATL 10 (Q3 22:19) — (7:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-J.Daniels pass short left to 86-Z.Ertz for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q3 22:13) — 47-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-10-T.Way..
The fourth quarter: Washington Commanders won the period 10–7. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the ATL 2 (Q4 13:08) — (13:08) (No Huddle) 36-C.Rodriguez left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders added 1 points from the ATL 15 (Q4 13:03) — 47-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-10-T.Way.; Washington Commanders connected on a field goal from the ATL 12 (Q4 4:35) — (4:35) 47-Z.Gonzalez 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-10-T.Way.; Atlanta Falcons found the end zone from the WAS 13 (Q4 1:23) — (1:23) (Shotgun) 9-M.Penix pass short middle to 8-K.Pitts for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Atlanta Falcons added 1 points from the WAS 15 (Q4 1:19) — 37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion..
Overtime: Washington Commanders won the period 12–0. Washington Commanders found the end zone from the ATL 2 (OT 2:45) — (2:45) (Shotgun) 5-J.Daniels pass short middle to 86-Z.Ertz for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Washington Commanders found the end zone (OT 2:42) — END GAME.
Turning points
Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.
- Atlanta Falcons (Q4 0:02) — (:02) 37-R.Patterson 56 yard field goal is No Good, Short, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion.
- Atlanta Falcons (Q4 2:34) — (2:34) (Shotgun) 9-M.Penix pass deep left to 5-D.London pushed ob at WAS 19 for 31 yards (20-Q.Martin).
- Washington Commanders (OT 7:34) — (7:34) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-J.Daniels scrambles right end ran ob at ATL 34 for 16 yards (31-J.Simmons).
- Atlanta Falcons (Q4 1:23) — (1:23) (Shotgun) 9-M.Penix pass short middle to 8-K.Pitts for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Atlanta Falcons (Q4 0:07) — (:07) (Shotgun) 9-M.Penix pass incomplete deep right to 1-D.Mooney [92-D.Armstrong]. PENALTY on WAS-24-M.Davis, Defensive Pass Interference, 13 yards, enforced at ATL 49 - No Play.
Impact plays
Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.
- Washington Commanders (Q2 40:45) — (10:45) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-J.Daniels pass short middle intended for 80-J.Crowder INTERCEPTED by 55-K.Elliss at ATL 16. 55-K.Elliss pushed ob at ATL 28 for 12 yards (80-J.Crowder; 63-T.Biadasz).
- Atlanta Falcons (Q1 57:54) — (12:54) (Shotgun) 9-M.Penix pass deep left intended for 19-C.Blair INTERCEPTED by 20-Q.Martin at WAS 33. 20-Q.Martin to ATL 38 for 29 yards (34-R.McCloud; 9-M.Penix).
- Atlanta Falcons (Q4 1:23) — (1:23) (Shotgun) 9-M.Penix pass short middle to 8-K.Pitts for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
- Atlanta Falcons (Q4 2:34) — (2:34) (Shotgun) 9-M.Penix pass deep left to 5-D.London pushed ob at WAS 19 for 31 yards (20-Q.Martin).
Quarterback report card
J.Daniels led all passers in efficiency for Washington Commanders, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.
- J.Daniels (Washington Commanders) · 51 dropbacks · 47.1% completion · -0.3% CPOE · +0.21 EPA/play · +10.51 total EPA
- M.Penix (Atlanta Falcons) · 42 dropbacks · 45.2% completion · -4.8% CPOE · +0.05 EPA/play · +2.18 total EPA
Team stats comparison
Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.
| Stat | Atlanta Falcons | Washington Commanders |
|---|---|---|
| Offensive EPA/play | +0.100 | +0.131 |
| Offensive success rate | 56.2% | 51.0% |
| Pass EPA/play | +0.052 | +0.206 |
| Rush EPA/play | +0.223 | +0.084 |
| Defensive EPA/play | -0.131 | -0.100 |
| Defensive success rate | 49.0% | 43.8% |
By the numbers
Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Atlanta Falcons +0.10, Washington Commanders +0.13) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.
- Atlanta Falcons: 9 drives, +8.00 total EPA, 4 scoring drives
- Washington Commanders: 10 drives, +13.12 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
Key takeaways
What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.
- Washington Commanders leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
- One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
- J. Daniels (Washington Commanders) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
- M. Penix (ATL) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
Every scoring play
Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.
- Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q1 54:37 · ATL 7 · Score 0-6
(9:37) (Shotgun) 5-J.Daniels pass short left to 14-O.Zaccheaus for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN [3-J.Bates]. - Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q1 54:33 · ATL 15 · Score 0-7
47-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-10-T.Way. - Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q1 50:12 · WAS 1 · Score 6-7
(5:12) (Shotgun) Direct snap to 7-B.Robinson. 7-B.Robinson left tackle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. - Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q1 50:10 · WAS 15 · Score 7-7
37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. - Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q2 34:27 · WAS 1 · Score 13-7
(4:27) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 7-B.Robinson right end for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN. - Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q2 34:24 · WAS 15 · Score 14-7
37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. - Atlanta Falcons FG (+3) — Q2 30:06 · WAS 21 · Score 17-7
(:06) 37-R.Patterson 39 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. - Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q3 22:19 · ATL 10 · Score 17-13
(7:19) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-J.Daniels pass short left to 86-Z.Ertz for 10 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q3 22:13 · ATL 15 · Score 17-14
47-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-10-T.Way. - Washington Commanders TD (+6) — Q4 13:08 · ATL 2 · Score 17-20
(13:08) (No Huddle) 36-C.Rodriguez left end for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Washington Commanders XP (+1) — Q4 13:03 · ATL 15 · Score 17-21
47-Z.Gonzalez extra point is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-10-T.Way. - Washington Commanders FG (+3) — Q4 4:35 · ATL 12 · Score 17-24
(4:35) 47-Z.Gonzalez 31 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-69-T.Ott, Holder-10-T.Way. - Atlanta Falcons TD (+6) — Q4 1:23 · WAS 13 · Score 23-24
(1:23) (Shotgun) 9-M.Penix pass short middle to 8-K.Pitts for 13 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Atlanta Falcons XP (+1) — Q4 1:19 · WAS 15 · Score 24-24
37-R.Patterson extra point is GOOD, Center-49-L.McCullough, Holder-13-B.Pinion. - Washington Commanders TD (+6) — OT 2:45 · ATL 2 · Score 24-30
(2:45) (Shotgun) 5-J.Daniels pass short middle to 86-Z.Ertz for 2 yards, TOUCHDOWN. - Washington Commanders TD (+6) — OT 2:42 · Score 24-30
END GAME
Frequently asked questions
Who won Atlanta Falcons vs Washington Commanders?
The Washington Commanders beat the Atlanta Falcons 30-24 in Week 17, 2024 on 2024-12-29.
What was the final score of Atlanta Falcons vs Washington Commanders?
The final score was Atlanta Falcons 24, Washington Commanders 30 (ATL 24-30 WAS) in Week 17, 2024 on 2024-12-29.
What was the score by quarter in Atlanta Falcons vs Washington Commanders?
Q1: Atlanta Falcons 7, Washington Commanders 7; Q2: Atlanta Falcons 10, Washington Commanders 0; Q3: Atlanta Falcons 0, Washington Commanders 7; Q4: Atlanta Falcons 7, Washington Commanders 10; Q5: Atlanta Falcons 0, Washington Commanders 12; Final: Atlanta Falcons 24, Washington Commanders 30.
Who scored touchdowns and field goals in Atlanta Falcons vs Washington Commanders?
Washington Commanders touchdown — O. Zaccheaus (J. Daniels pass) (Q1 54:37) Atlanta Falcons touchdown — B. Robinson (Q1 50:12) Atlanta Falcons touchdown — B. Robinson (Q2 34:27) Washington Commanders touchdown — Z. Ertz (J. Daniels pass) (Q3 22:19) Washington Commanders touchdown — C. Rodriguez (Q4 13:08) Atlanta Falcons touchdown — K. Pitts (M. Penix pass) (Q4 1:23) Washington Commanders touchdown — Z. Ertz (J. Daniels pass) (OT 2:45) Atlanta Falcons field goal — R. Patterson (Q2 30:06, 3 pts) Washington Commanders field goal — Z. Gonzalez (Q4 4:35, 3 pts) Extra points followed each touchdown unless noted in the play-by-play.
How did the quarterbacks play in Atlanta Falcons vs Washington Commanders?
J. Daniels (Washington Commanders), 47.1% completion, -0.3% CPOE, +0.21 EPA per dropback, +10.51 total passing EPA. M. Penix (Atlanta Falcons), 45.2% completion, -4.8% CPOE, +0.05 EPA per dropback, +2.18 total passing EPA.
Who was the most impactful player in Atlanta Falcons vs Washington Commanders?
J. Daniels (Washington Commanders) led the game in total EPA with +10.51 on passing plays. across 51 snaps. The top single-play swing was (-5.12 EPA): (10:45) (No Huddle, Shotgun) 5-J.Daniels pass short middle intended for 80-J.Crowder INTERCEPTED by 55-K.Elliss at ATL 16. 55-K.Elliss pushed ob at ATL 28 for 12 yards (80-J.Crowde. The biggest win-probability swing was -27.2%.
Was Atlanta Falcons vs Washington Commanders a close game?
Yes — the margin was 6 points. Washington Commanders won 30-24 in a game that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.
Season records after this game
Atlanta Falcons
Entered 8-7 Now 8-8 L
Washington Commanders
Entered 10-5 Now 11-5 W
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