Former Clemson Star ‘Solid Gold’ in Smothering Performance
By: Robert MacRae December 31, 2024

The Atlanta Falcons saw their playoff hopes take a hit on Sunday night when they fell to the Washington Commanders, 30-24, in overtime.

However, despite the loss, Falcons cornerback and former Clemson star A.J. Terrell shined brightly with a big-time performance during the primetime showdown at Northwest Stadium in Landover, Md.

Terrell was tasked with lining up against the Commanders’ top wide receiver, Terry McLaurin, and Terrell got the best of McLaurin in the marquee matchup of two premier talents. Terrell locked up McLaurin all night long and showed why he is one of the NFL’s highest-paid cornerbacks.

McLaurin managed just one reception for 5 yards on seven targets in Sunday’s contest. Per Next Gen Stats, Terrell covered McLaurin on 32 of his 34 routes (94.1%) and pressed McLaurin on 43.8% of his routes, with an average target separation of just 1.2 yards.

Terrell missed a tackle on a Commanders touchdown run near the goal line, but it was an otherwise stellar showing from Terrell, whose performance certainly impressed NBC “Sunday Night Football” analyst Cris Collinsworth.

“A.J. Terrell has had one missed tackle down on the goal line for the touchdown. But other than that, he is solid gold out here tonight,” Collinsworth said during NBC’s broadcast of the game.

“Nobody in the NFL, other than Ja’Marr Chase, had a better year than Terry McLaurin has this season, and [Terrell has] been doing a job on him.”

McLaurin entered Sunday’s game with 73 catches for 1,029 yards and 12 touchdowns, but was completely shut down by Terrell and his smothering coverage.

Terrell’s performance didn’t come as a surprise, considering he has established himself as a top-tier cover corner and indispensable member of Atlanta’s secondary since being selected by the Falcons in the first round (16th overall) of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The 6-foot-1, 194-pounder has started all 16 games for Atlanta this season, posting six pass breakups and two interceptions. He’s been especially stingy in coverage since Week 13, allowing only six total receptions for 51 yards.

A 2021 All-Pro, Terrell has recorded six interceptions, as well as nearly 50 pass breakups, in his five-year NFL career so far. Before the 2024 season, he and the Falcons agreed on a massive four-year, $81 million contract extension, which will keep the now 26-year-old under contract with Atlanta through the 2028 season.

Terrell and Atlanta will conclude the 2024 regular season at home against the Carolina Panthers this Sunday. With the loss to the Commanders, the Falcons (8-8) lost control of the NFC South race. In order to win the division, they now have to beat Carolina, and hope the Tampa Bay Buccaneers lose to the New Orleans Saints in the regular season’s final week.

–Photo courtesy Geoff Burke-Imagn Images