In a bounce-back performance following the disastrous loss to the Chicago Bears, the Washington Commanders defense forced three interceptions and held the Atlanta Falcons to just 16 points in a win. But they did allow over 400 yards, so how would Jon Allen evaluate the unit's performance in Week 6?
"I think the sign of a great defense is even when bad things happen, being able to rise to the occasion. And even though we didn't hold them in yardage-wise as much as we would want, when they did get down inside the red zone, besides, I think, the first drive, we made it very challenging for them," Allen said during his weekly appearance on Monday with 106.7 The Fan's The Sports Junkies, which is presented exclusively by our partners at MainStreet Bank — Cheer Local. Bank Local. Put Our Team in Your Office.
"And really what it came down to was getting turnovers in the second half," he told the Junkies. "So I think it was a good performance, I won't say great. Obviously, when you give up 400 yards that's not a great performance. But we did what we had to do to get the win. So, overall, I'd give it like a B it was a good performance."
Allen said when he first came to the league he had the "Alabama mindset," that after wins he wouldn't be happy unless they dominated. "But the NFL is not like college," he said. "So I've really learned to really cherish and appreciate every single win in the NFL, because it's tough, it really is. Every single game is gonna be a challenge. And it was a good win yesterday."
On their first possession, Atlanta put together an 11-play, 75-yard touchdown drive to take the lead and Allen said that those first scripted plays are the most difficult and challenging for a defense to face. That after they get into the flow of the game, things become easier.
"So as a defense, we gotta be better in the first 15 [scripted plays]," Allen told The Junkies. "But after we got settled in, after that, I think the DBs played phenomenal. They didn't really give up a lot of plays over the top, they challenged all throws, three interceptions, I mean, that's the game right there."
But, this is only one building block for the Commanders defense, the Pro Bowl defenseive lineman said.
"I think the definition of excellency is being consistent," Allen said. "Anybody in the NFL can have one great game. Anybody in the NFL can have two great games, I don't care who you are, the worst player in the NFL has the ability and the talent level to go out there and play great for one game. But the great ones do it consistently and that's what I'm chasing. That's what I want to do and want this defense to do.
"Not have one good game and then a bad game and then a good game. But weeks and months and multiple months of solid, fundamentally sound, aggressive, physical defense. We're trying to stack another block this week."
The Junkies and Allen also spoke about the "Do Your Job" sign and "having fun" and playing fast and free as a unit against Atlanta and discussed Casey Toohill's two-sack performance and Benjamin St-Juste's first career NFL interception. Listen to the full conversation on the audio player above!
