The Washington Commanders [6-5] host the Atlanta Falcons [5-6] Sunday in an NFC showdown. Each team enters Week 12 as playoff hopefuls, with the Commanders a half-game out of the NFC’s final playoff spot and the Falcons a half-game behind the Buccaneers in the NFC South.
Washington has won five of its last six games; four of those five wins came with Taylor Heinicke at quarterback. Starting quarterback Carson Wentz was injured in a Week 6 win over the Chicago Bears, paving the way for Heinicke to start. Now, the Commanders are 4-1 with him as the starter, and head coach Ron Rivera announced he’d remain the starter moving forward, even with Wentz back.
A big reason for Washington’s success is the defense. Washington’s defense has dominated for weeks, particularly the defensive line, while several young players in the secondary are having breakout seasons.
That recent success has led the Commanders to head into Week 12 as the favorites. According to Tipico Sportsbook, Washington is a four-point favorite for Sunday’s game.
It’s the first time this season that the Commanders have been favored in back-to-back games.
Here’s a look at the opening lines for Sunday’s NFC showdown from FedEx Field:
Spread
- Falcons +4 (-112)
- Commanders -4 (-108)
Moneyline
- Falcons +170
- Commanders -200
Over/Under: 40.5
- Over -109
- Under -111
