ATLANTA - The Washington Commanders knew they could not afford another loss, which would have run their losing streak to four and intensified the heat on the coaching staff. That's not a scenario any of them wanted.
It's also one they now don't face. Instead, they can now try to answer a better question: Was this the start of a turnaround?
They got here with one big play after another.
"It's exciting when you know you can win when you don't play your best game," Washington quarterback Sam Howell said.
Their mantra all week was, "Do Your Job", according to coach Ron Rivera's message -- and a sign plastered on the locker room door.
"We weren't as good as we needed to be. We did our job," Rivera said.
That job entailed making plays when they needed them most. They led to two touchdowns, prevented points and sealed a win. Now 3-3, the Commanders have upcoming games vs. the New York Giants and New England Patriots in the next three weeks -- giving them a chance to build momentum.
The situation: Atlanta led, 7-3, after scoring a touchdown on its opening drive.
The play: A 61-yard punt return by Jamison Crowder
Washington needed depth at receiver and a veteran punt returner so it signed Crowder to the practice squad shortly before the season began. He was soon elevated to the active roster and, in the first five games, averaged 10.6 yards per return. He was close to breaking a long one.
Then he did - at the right time. Crowder fielded Bradley Pinion 's punt at his own 28-yard line, started upfield, cut to the right and back up and nearly won the footrace before being tackled at the Falcons' 11-yard line. It was Washington's longest punt return since Crowder ran one back 85 yards vs. Baltimore in 2016.
"I'm just trying to secure the ball," Crowder said. "Once I catch it, I get my eyes back down and see what lanes I could hit. I looked and there's a lane open to the right and I was able to hit it and get back to the left and after that it was just running. I definitely wanted to score and definitely thought about that the whole game. I definitely should have scored."
However, three plays later Washington scored on a Howell to Antonio Gibson 2-yard pass for a 10-7 lead it never relinquished.
It was the first time Washington started a drive inside the opposition's 20.
"It was huge. It gives you a little bit of a spark," Rivera said.
The situation: Washington led 17-10 but on the first drive of the second half Atlanta had driven to its own 45. The Falcons faced third-and-7.
The play: Corner Kendall Fuller intercepted Desmond Ridder.
Washington's secondary struggled at times, allowing Ridder to throw for 307 yards. Entering the game, Washington had allowed 16 pass plays for 25 yards or more. The Commanders had intercepted just two passes entering the game and none in the past two.
However, this was the first of three picks that allowed the Commanders to win.
Fuller, playing zone, read Ridder's eyes and as receiver Van Jefferson broke to the outside at the first down marker Fuller dashed inside for the pick.
"Just being able to have good vision on the quarterback and trying to make a play to help our team," Fuller said. "It created good field position; definitely a big momentum for our team."
Two plays later, Brian Robinson scored on a 24-yard screen pass for a 24-10 lead.
The situation: Atlanta trailed, 24-16, and faced third-and-goal at the 7-yard line.
The play: Corner Benjamin St-Juste intercepted Ridder in the end zone.
St-Juste had allowed a touchdown while covering tight end Kyle Pitts on Atlanta's opening drive. He was in coverage on passes to receiver Drake London for gains of 32, 20 and 17. He also was flagged for a pass interference penalty on a failed two-point attempt.
But St-Juste didn't let those plays deter him.
"It's not a game of being perfect," he said, "it's who can stay as disciplined as possible."
And that's what he did later. Based on the alignment -- with London in a stack formation -- St-Juste said based on the scouting report he knew London would likely run a slant or a stop route or something to the corner. He also knew Washington was blitzing and that Ridder would have to throw quickly.
"I was waiting on the outside. He lobbed it up, and I made him pay for it," St-Juste said.
The situation: Washington led, 24-16, but Atlanta was on the Commanders' 34 with 31 seconds remaining.
The play: Linebacker Jamin Davis intercepted Ridder.
Atlanta split running back Bijan Robinson wide to the left, leaving him one-on-one with Davis. Robinson had already caught five passes for 43 yards and nearly made a one-handed grab on a wheel route in which he had beaten Davis.
"They kept trying to isolate me with [Robinson]," Davis said. "He's a dangerous guy, real shifty. Just try to anticipate what I knew was coming. With a short down and distance, it was probably going to be a double move coming inside. Instincts took over."
Rivera liked how Davis handled the play. After Robinson came off the line, Davis was able to stay inside and make his first career pick in his third season.
"Those are the type of things that he is capable of because of his athleticism," Rivera said.
St-Juste also said Sunday showed what their defense can do. However, for the Commanders to build on this win it must play better, Rivera said. He was frustrated at times in his postgame news conference, saying they still had to work on the details.
But the big plays enabled them to win.
"They got three picks today, that's major," Gibson said of the defense. "If we can do that, we can win every game. That's the difference. Shout out to the defense making big-time plays. We just need to hope that happens again."