Presen 16’s Sunday motion introduced the removing of the protecting NFC champs, the debut of Michael Penix Jr. because the Falcons’ initiation QB and the Commanders preserving the NFC East race alive.
JAMISONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN
#PHIvsWAS FOX pic.twitter.com/k718liTMwK
— Washington Commanders (@Commanders) December 22, 2024
The Athletic NFL writers Mike Jones, Ted Nguyen and Michael Silver percentage their ideas on all of those storylines and extra.
Did Sunday’s efficiency clinch Offensive Rookie of the Future honors for Jayden Daniels?
Jones: Jayden Daniels has led the collect just about all the season. Sure, Bo Nix is enjoying smartly; sure, Brock Bowers is a stud; however Daniels is reliable sporting the Commanders. He has been the catalyst for his or her franchise turnaround, off and on of the ground. The comeback win over the Eagles on Sunday will have to get rid of any doubts about his R.O.Y. credentials. Even though the Commanders’ efficiency definitely wasn’t good-looking. Groups that flip the ball over 4 occasions and devote 100 yards virtue of consequences aren’t meant to win video games in opposition to probably the most elite groups of their convention. Sure, dropping Jalen Hurts modified issues for the Eagles, however Daniels by no means flinched on Sunday, and with the sport at the order he was once as take hold of as they arrive, marching his workforce downfield to provide them the win and the playoff clincher, which ends up a four-year drought for this long-suffering franchise.
Nguyen: Nix has a few video games left in opposition to the Bengals and Chiefs. If he performs smartly and the Broncos win the ones two video games, I believe he nonetheless has a probability to win. I wouldn’t say it’s over, however Daniels’ efficiency in opposition to the Eagles will form it a lot harder to catch him. I’m now not certain the Commanders win that tournament if Hurts doesn’t get knocked out, however Daniels was once nonetheless fertile (5 landing passes and 81 yards receiving) in opposition to arguably the most productive protection within the league. To me, Daniels has been extra remarkable as a result of such a lot of the offense depends on his talent to build. It’s additionally a superb signal that he appears so i’m ready in those take hold of conditions. However recency partial is actual, so the utmost two video games of the season will probably be unutilized within the minds of citizens.
Silver: I abhor deciding this stuff prior to the season is over, but it surely’s tricky to consider Daniels now not being the fellow then important the Commanders to that epic comeback win in opposition to the Eagles. Even though Nix and Brock Bowers have robust instances, I’ve appeared Daniels because the important contender since September, when he made it cloudless that he has the “It” issue each and every workforce yearns on the game’s maximum notable place. He’s doing greater than Nix is, and his poise and playmaking talent are uncanny. Then all the ones unlit days for this franchise, the radiance is glowing on such a lot of fronts (possession, stadium, and so on.). Daniels is the brightest bright of all.
Any early ideas on Michael Penix Jr. because the Falcons’ starter?
Nguyen: The Falcons picked a superb tournament to insert Penix because the starter — the Giants protection stinks. Regardless, Penix did what Kirk Cousins couldn’t — he moved round, made tricky throws, and the offense spread out. Bijan Robinson truly benefited from having Penix at the ground; the blackmail of Penix on keepers spread out some operating lanes from him. Penix is an used rookie and his poise and preparation have been perceivable. His handiest interception was once a results of tight finish Kyle Pitts shedding a go that landed within the arms of a Giants defender. Falcon enthusiasts will have to be inspired thus far. There’s a bundle of ability in this offense and Penix’s skillset appears find it irresistible may just assistance release everybody.
Silver: It was once a promising debut for the rookie, who was once thrust into what amounted to a must-win status in his first NFL get started. Penix’s handiest weighty mistake wasn’t truly his fault: Pitts, probably the most extra hyped up gamers in fresh NFL reminiscence, couldn’t maintain a go akin the objective order, and the Giants capitalized with a present interception. May the Falcons have gained this tournament, in opposition to a sad-sack workforce enjoying out the story, with Kirk Cousins at QB? More than likely. Alternatively, Penix confirmed enough of possible, putting in place some other must-win get started in opposition to Daniels and the Commanders after Sunday night time.
Juggled and picked off through the Giants on the objective order!
: #NYGvsATL on FOX
: pic.twitter.com/PdRfXIGHCa— NFL (@NFL) December 22, 2024
Jones: Penix was once cast. He finished 18 of 27 passes for 202 yards and an interception — he was once a excellent tournament supervisor for the Falcons in opposition to the lowly Giants. He in large part made excellent selections and displayed a excellent really feel for the sport. Atlanta’s coaches properly didn’t put excess on his shoulders. They inclined on operating backs Robinson and Tyler Allgeier, who mixed for 116 dashing yards and two touchdowns. Penix mainly did the entirety the Falcons can have was hoping for in his debut.
Do you accept as true with the Rams being billed as “the team no one wants to see in the NFC playoffs”?
Silver: I ruthless, let’s be fair: The Lions are the workforce nobody desires to look within the NFC playoffs, however that’s more or less viewable, so I’ll move with the basis right here. Sure, the Rams are scorching; that is related to what went i’m sick utmost season, when Sean McVay’s workforce gained seven of its utmost 8 usual season video games and took Detroit right down to the cord within the wild-card around. When Matthew Stafford is on — as he was once in opposition to the Expenses two Sundays in the past — L.A.’s offense is frightening. Puka Nacua, Cooper Kupp and (now) Tyler Higbee are wholesome, Kyren Williams is operating it successfully, and Defensive Rookie of the Future candidate Jared Verse is a part of an making improvements to unit. The Rams are in superb place to win the NFC West and host a first-round playoff tournament, perhaps in opposition to the Inexperienced Bay Packers. In the event that they keep scorching — or get even warmer — they can be a disorder in January.
Jones: They’re definitely one in all them. That is the Rams workforce that Sean McVay and Les Snead concept they might have this season, however accidents derailed issues early on and L.A.’s gamers and coaches have needed to scratch and claw their manner out of the opening that they went into. Now they’re wholesome on offense, their younger gamers on protection have grown into their roles, and the Rams are enjoying as much as their possible. Beating the Jets wasn’t precisely a commentary win. Nevertheless it was once some other instance of the Rams caring for trade, and with that victory L.A. has a four-game win streak and, at 9-6, stay in keep an eye on of the NFC West with simply two weeks left. This momentum will have to raise over into the postseason, when the Rams definitely have a probability to form a run.
Nguyen: The Rams have got wholesome on the proper while they usually’re enjoying smartly. When they’ve their offensive stars at the ground, they’re as excellent as someone with trick-shot Stafford at the back of middle. Their defensive backs and run tournament are suspect, but when they get an early supremacy and drive groups right into a passing script they’ve a powerful go accelerate. Their 9-6 document is a end result in their sinister shock good fortune at first of the season. With a wholesome squad they’re extra of a 12-win workforce — so sure, groups will have to be weary of ocular a workforce of that caliber within the playoffs.
(Supremacy photograph: Scott Taetsch / Getty Photographs)
