Falcons edge Commanders 34-27 as Penix shines and Washington hurt

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons beat the Washington Commanders 34-27 on Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, handing Washington its first home-road split of the season and exposing more depth concerns for a team already battling injuries. The Falcons piled up 435 total yards while quarterback Michael Penix Jr. completed 20 of 26 passes for 313 yards and two touchdowns, and running back Bijan Robinson finished with 181 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown.

Washington entered the game without franchise quarterback Jayden Daniels and top receiver Terry McLaurin. Marcus Mariota started in Daniels’s place, completing 16 of 27 passes for 156 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Mariota connected with Deebo Samuel on a fourth-and-3 late in the third quarter to bring Washington within one possession; the Commanders converted the two-point attempt to make it 31-24. Atlanta then responded with a 14-play, 69-yard drive that consumed more than six minutes and ended with a field goal, sealing the Falcons’ margin with roughly two minutes remaining.

Atlanta, coming off a 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 3, made several game-day changes to its offensive approach, including moving...