Bijan Robinson delivered a stellar performance, inspiring the Atlanta Falcons to a 24-14 victory over the Super Bowl-contending Buffalo Bills, who are now reeling from their second straight loss, dropping their record to 4-2. Meanwhile, Caleb Williams led the Chicago Bears past Jayden Daniels’ Washington Commanders, culminating in a thrilling late-game scenario featuring a game-winning field goal from Jake Moody.
Robinson matched his career high by rushing for an impressive 170 yards, showcasing his explosive skills and helping Atlanta take an early two-touchdown lead. His remarkable 81-yard touchdown run in the second quarter not only marked the NFL’s longest run of the season but also propelled the Falcons (3-2) to a commanding 21-7 lead. Adding to his outstanding night, Robinson caught six passes for 68 yards, culminating in a career-best total of 238 yards from scrimmage.
Falcons’ head coach Raheem Morris praised Robinson’s performance, declaring him “the best player in football,” a sentiment he reiterated multiple times throughout the season. The Falcons were not just reliant on Robinson; wide receiver Drake London also had a standout performance, recording 10 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown. Quarterback Michael Penix shone as well, throwing for 250 yards and completing 20 of 32 passes, including a nine-yard touchdown strike to London, all while remarkably avoiding any interceptions.
On the other side, Bills quarterback Josh Allen, despite throwing two touchdown passes—one a 16-yarder to Ray Davis at the start of the second half—was unable to orchestrate a successful comeback. Late in the third quarter, the Bills’ drive was halted on a crucial fourth-down attempt near midfield. The Bills squandered another scoring chance when defensive end Greg Rousseau blocked Parker Romo’s 37-yard field goal attempt early in the fourth quarter.
As time wound down, Allen and the Bills found themselves unable to capitalize. The Falcons solidified their victory with a meticulous 14-play drive that consumed five minutes, featuring a critical 23-yard connection from Penix to Robinson. Romo’s successful 33-yard field goal extended Atlanta’s lead to 10 points, leaving the Bills with just 1:47 on the clock and no timeouts to work with.
In a dramatic conclusion to the game, Atlanta linebacker DeAngelo Malone intercepted Allen’s final throw with just 41 seconds left, sealing the win for the Falcons. Allen finished the night completing 15 of 26 passes for 180 yards, with two touchdowns but also two interceptions, bringing his total to four interceptions over his last three games—an alarming trend considering he had only one interception in his previous 12 games, including playoffs. The Falcons scored their first touchdown thanks to running back Tyler Allgeier, who found the end zone on a 21-yard run, setting the tone for a memorable night in Atlanta.
Chicago Bears 25-24 Washington Commanders
It wasn’t quite the same drama as the Hail Mary that decided these teams’ game a year ago, but Caleb Williams and the Bears did get the better of Jayden Daniels and the Commanders on a final-play score Monday night, with Chicago defeating Washington 25-24 thanks to a 38-yard field goal by new kicker Jake Moody.
With D’Andre Swift rushing for 108 yards on 14 carries, alongside his impactful performance in the receiving game where he grabbed a pair of receptions for 67 yards — including a spectacular 55-yard catch-and-run for a touchdown — the Bears (3-2), coming off their bye week, extended their winning streak to three games under the guidance of first-year coach Ben Johnson. Swift’s ability to break tackles and find space was critical, showcasing his versatility and importance to the Bears’ offense.
Williams finished the game completing 17 of 29 passes for a total of 252 yards through the air, impressively connecting with Swift for a touchdown pass that was made possible partly due to a missed tackle along the sideline by Washington’s safety Quan Martin. Additionally, Williams demonstrated his dual-threat capability by rushing for a score himself, which helped cement his role as a leader on the field. In contrast, Daniels ended up completing 19 passes on 36 attempts for 211 yards while tossing three touchdown passes, proving once again that he is a formidable opponent.
The Commanders, who had excelled at protecting the ball in their previous games, suffered from three crucial turnovers in this match, which matched their total from the first five games of the season. This uncharacteristic drop in performance included Jayden Daniels’ first interception of the season, rookie running back Jacory “Bill” Croskey-Merritt’s second fumble in two weeks, and, most significantly, a botched handoff between Daniels and Croskey-Merritt. This turnover occurred while Washington was attempting to run out the clock with a 24-22 lead, ultimately changing the momentum of the game.
That critical fumble allowed Chicago to regain possession with just over three minutes left on the clock. Williams took full advantage of this opportunity, leading a nine-play, 36-yard closing drive that culminated in Moody’s fourth field goal of a rainy night. His teammates then surrounded him, lifting him off the ground in an exuberant mass celebration on the field, showcasing the camaraderie and team spirit that has developed throughout the season.
The match was particularly noteworthy as it pitted Williams and Daniels against each other—both former Heisman Trophy winners who entered the NFL together as the top two overall selections in the 2024 draft. With this game, they now stand at 1-1 in their professional encounters.
Moody, who was brought in from the practice squad due to Cairo Santos being sidelined with an injured quadriceps, had a strong outing. He successfully made field goals from 47 and 48 yards in the first quarter and another from 41 yards in the third. However, his game wasn’t without its challenges, as he experienced a setback with a blocked 48-yard attempt on the opening play of the fourth quarter. Moody’s journey has been tumultuous; he was cut by the San Francisco 49ers, who drafted him in the third round in 2023 after he struggled with two missed attempts in Week One. This game marked a significant opportunity for him to prove his worth in the league.
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