Falcons - 34, Commanders - 27.
Q. How did you feel the offense performed today? And how was the operation of the offense?
RAHEEM MORRIS: Obviously we go out there and try to win every single week. And this week it seemed to move a little bit better with Zac on the field. The communication seemed brisk. It seemed more comfortable with what we are and what we wanted to do. I was really pleased with how that worked out today.
Q. Just the play of Bijan carrying the rock -- you're shaking your head -- I know you're not in disbelief, but when he gets going like that what does it do to open things up?
RAHEEM MORRIS: Just find more ways to get him the football. He's an unbelievable football player. I keep saying it. But he keeps going out and proving it.
I'm glad he's on our team. I'm glad we did a great job drafting him here and being part of that young man's life what he's able to do for us. I couldn't be more proud of the young man.
Q. Talk about Kyle Pitts' impact -- five catches, 70 yards and a touchdown?
RAHEEM MORRIS: He's been doing a great job all season. And it's nice to see his work from the offseason, his work from the training camp and his work since he's been here come to life. He's made incredible books for us today, some big time third down touches. He's out there giving us everything he's got, and I'm proud of him as well.
Q. I don't know if you gave out game balls today. If you did who got game balls?
RAHEEM MORRIS: We've given a couple today. Tomorrow I'll give those things out like breath mints. But today we gave out to Josh Woods. Tough week on the young man personally. And to see him bounce back and play for his football team, I was extremely excited for that.
And we gave it to Michael Penix for all the scrutiny he went through last week, being able to put his head down, go to work and find the open seams.
Q. About Penix, I think a career high 313 yards after last week's performance. What's it say about him and his ability to bounce back?
RAHEEM MORRIS: I was really encouraged that he would be able to do that. This young man is one of those guys who is the definition of grit, the definition of resilience. We've talked about his calm demeanor since he's been here. And just another opportunity for him to go out there and show it.
He had that game last week. We acknowledged it. We gave you guys what happens, what went wrong. And we came out and fixed it. And I was proud of him.
Q. Obviously a run for first down -- Bijan ran for a run backward. He was running backward --
RAHEEM MORRIS: I've got to see the tape on that one. Did I miss something? I missed it. He got the first down. That will show up on tape.
Q. I know you were confident Mike would bounce back today. Was there a moment today, pregame, in game, that you saw something that confirmed what you believed?
RAHEEM MORRIS: Monday, when he came to work. I believed in him that day. I believed in him Wednesday when we got to practice. I believed in him Thursday. I believed in him Friday. I believed in him Saturday night and I believed in him Sunday when he walked into the stadium.
This kid is unshakeable. He's going to be with us for a while. He's going to lead us for a while. And I couldn't be more proud of him.
Q. Does a day like this help the belief in him among his teammates and everybody in the whole organization?
RAHEEM MORRIS: I don't think he lost any of the teammates. And he definitely didn't lose anybody that's part of our brass, so to speak. When we talk about our ownership and talk about our front office and we talk about our coaches and our players. They love Mike. He's going to win a lot of games for us.
Q. Just another one on Michael. As far as the down-field passing attack, what did you see from them and the wide receivers as well?
RAHEEM MORRIS: We were able to exploit some things down the field today. We were able to get open and throw the ball (lost audio) --
Being able to let some of those things go and the timing of the play. Those things aren't open a lot in the NFL. Sometimes you have to let it go and let Drake make some plays. And he went out and made them today. So did Mike and the other guys as well. It was fun to watch those guys go.
Q. Might be too early to tell, but was there one specific example of the communication between Zac and either the offensive linemen or other guys that you saw that was beneficial for him (indiscernible) down?
RAHEEM MORRIS: I think it starts from the beginning. The energy he brings from the sidelines, from the corrections on the sideline, being able to evaluate those things quickly, we've got great guys n the box that can see thinks very well, see it fast.
He sees it live as well as anybody I've been around, and that's kind of his strength.
Him being on the field is beneficial to all of us, being able to have direct communication with myself, T.J., the quarterbacks all those guys, being able to feel the flow of the game from the defense and where we're going, being able to feel the flow of the game from what's happening from the return standpoint and special teams, all those things come into play and came into play for us today.
Q. You talked about Mike a lot from an intangibles perspective. What do you like about him tangibly, and where do you think he's progressed mechanically at this point in the season?
RAHEEM MORRIS: I'd be remiss if I sit up here and talk about mechanics for Michael. But I think, Michael, when I watched him play in college, he had all the things that I loved about him, all the unique tool sets, being able to get the ball out of his hand and be able to find the open receiver and being able to throw the ball down the field and be able to go through the process, go through all those things. And I've been absolutely enamored by him since I had a chance to draft him.
Q. How nice was it to see Drake have the game that he did today?
RAHEEM MORRIS: It's always great to see Drake play well. When Drake goes out and he plays with that type of physicality and plays with that type of energy, our team is just different across the board.
So being able to see those things and Drake being able to get out there and get some receptions and have some success is absolutely awesome, and to stop you guys from writing about receivers not having touchdowns is beautiful.
Q. What did Michael Penix show you on Monday that made you so confident in him?
RAHEEM MORRIS: When he walked into the meeting room. The passing -- when he talked to his group, when he came in, he talked to his unit, his ability to put his head down and work. There was no moping, no finger pointing. He took it upon himself and he came out and fixed it.
Q. Do you have an update on Darnell Mooney?
RAHEEM MORRIS: I don't. I know he went out of the game. We obviously have a bye week, so I'll be able to get you guys some stuff soon.
Q. Every game is a big game in the NFL, but this one felt kind of big, just coming in after the performance last week, coming into this one with the bye week next week, what was the mentality of this locker room and what was the reaction after?
RAHEEM MORRIS: They're always big, but when you talk about coming off the nasty, disgusting taste we left out there for ourselves, that was our apology to our fans today to be able to go out and get us a win so we go out and enjoy the bye week and everybody can be happy.
Q. Scary moment with Brooks, a lot of fans reaching out. Is he okay?
RAHEEM MORRIS: I just seen him walking around the locker room with his son. Those are always good signs. I got a chance to hug his son. His son hugged me back. Brooks was in there. He was in good spirits. We'll see where he is from a health standpoint.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports