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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney Stephen Maturen/GettyImages

Falcons' secret weapon could humiliate the Commanders if they're not ready

Originally posted on Riggo's Rag | By James Dudko | Last updated Sep 26, 2025 1:30 PM ET

Most of the Washington Commanders' focus on trying to stop the Atlanta Falcons' passing game in Week 4 will naturally focus on star tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. and big-bodied wide receiver Drake London. Still, they can't forget about another valid target.

He's a veteran who knows how to stretch the field and could embarrass a Commanders secondary torn apart by injuries in recent weeks. It's 27-year-old speedster Darnell Mooney, who offers the Falcons a legitimate big-play threat the Commanders can't ignore.

Finding remedies for Mooney's ability to take the top off of a defense won't be easy. Not when Commanders defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr., defensive backs coach Tommy Donatell, and his assistant William Gay are dealing with depleted resources.

Commanders need safety help to contain Darnell Mooney's downfield threat

They got some help when Commanders general manager Adam Peters signed former first-round pick Darnell Savage Jr. to cover injuries at safety. The newcomer may have arrived at the perfect moment to help Washington's paper-thin secondary keep Mooney at bay.

What the Commanders can't do is fall into the same trap with Mooney, which they fell for against the Las Vegas Raiders in Week 3. When a defense naturally focused on containing All-Pro tight end Brock Bowers and tough and resourceful wideout Jakobi Meyers, it forgot about Tre Tucker's deep speed.

Tucker gave the Commanders a painful reminder by snagging a hat-trick of touchdown catches, including this 61-yarder in the fourth quarter that briefly gave the Raiders some modest hope.

That's Tre for Tre! #LVvsWAS | FOX pic.twitter.com/71B7lW8ecv
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) September 21, 2025

Mooney has the skills to inflict similar damage if the Commanders commit too many resources to keeping Pitts and London under wraps — any plan must involve making concessions for his speed.

They've travelled with a lot of man coverage on the back end so far this season, but the Commanders may need to adjust things this week. Starting with keeping two safeties deep.

This strategy will miss injured Will Harris, but his perfect replacement is better suited for bodying Pitts down close to the line of scrimmage. Instead, the Commanders need Quan Martin and Savage to form a two-deep shell and take away the vertical strikes Mooney loves.

He's averaged an impressive 10.7 yards per reception and 8.3 yards before catch per reception through two games. The former Chicago Bears playmaker's potential to go downfield is obvious, especially now that he's fully healthy for the first time this season. However, Mooney needs to see the last third of the field taken away from him this week.

Mooney must also be subjected to handsy coverage early out of his break. Preventing a clean release in a straight line will be key to disrupting this direct burner, but the Commanders may need to alter their coverage assignments to make it happen.

Trey Amos has been the Commanders' best cover corner during the early portion of this campaign. Even so, there's still merit to moving the second-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft off the Falcons' main threats.

Having Amos lock down Mooney, a job he ought to be able to do by himself in the underneath areas, would open up other matchup advantages for Whitt. Advantages like being able to double London or Pitts in the short and intermediate zones.

This can still be done with five-and six-defensive back packages. The approach would leave the Commanders with the ability to keep a pair of safeties back to eliminate all-or-nothing throws, chunk plays, and costly pass interference penalties.

The Commanders can't risk giving any extra edge to a struggling team they should beat. Getting creative about clamping down on some underrated receiving threats, like Mooney, will leave Washington's front to concentrate on stuffing a dynamic running game powered by budding star Bijan Robinson.

This article first appeared on Riggo's Rag and was syndicated with permission.

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