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Game Recap

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Bills 14, Falcons 24 | Final score, game recap + highlights

Location: Mercedes-Benz Stadium

Final score: Bills 14 Falcons 24

Records: Bills (4-2), Falcons (3-2)

Next opponent: Bills at Panthers Sunday, Oct. 26 at 1 p.m. EST

Buffalo's offense quickly moved itself down the field in a last-ditch effort to come back with less than two minutes remaining in Monday's game and no timeouts left to use.

On a trick play, wide receiver Keon Coleman caught quarterback Josh Allen's initial pass then flipped it over to running back Ty Johnson. Johnson picked up the first down and stepped out of bounds to stop the clock. After wide receiver Tyrell Shavers caught a 10-yard pass from Allen, the Bills scrambled to the line of scrimmage as Shavers was brought down in bounds.

Allen proceeded to scramble on the next play, picking up 24 yards and stopping the clock with less than a minute left. He connected with Shavers again for nine yards as Atlanta's defensive pressure barreled in towards him.

Buffalo's night finished with Allen unable to get the ball out quick enough to Coleman. Atlanta linebacker DeAngelo Malone intercepted the throw with nearly 40 seconds left and secured the Falcons' third win of the season.

Check out the best photos from the Bills at Falcons throwback matchup on Oct. 13 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. This gallery is presented by Gabe's Collision.

Game Summary

Monday was a physical battle between Buffalo and Atlanta.

Both teams sustained several in-game injuries, but the Bills were hit hard. Tight end Dalton Kincaid was ruled out before kickoff, and they slowly lost their starting, key players one at a time.

Defensive captain and linebacker Terrel Bernard was the last player in the first half to go down with an injury. While Buffalo attempted to get the Falcons off the field as soon as possible with under two minutes remaining of the half, Bernard grabbed his lower leg and ankle after helping stop Atlanta on third-and-10. Midway through the third quarter, Bernard was ruled questionable for the remainder of the game.

Wide receiver Joshua Palmer, who headed into the injury tent early in the second quarter after completing a 15-yard reception, was ruled out in the second half. He initially came out of the tent trying to warm up but did not return to the field.

As for Atlanta, its key players remained healthy. Quarterback Michael Penix Jr., running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London dominated the offense and consistently pushed the Falcons down the field to secure an early lead.

Center Connor McGovern, cornerback Christian Benford and safety Cole Bishop were also injured on Monday. Bishop was ruled questionable in the second half while McGovern and Benford both returned.

Buffalo created as many chances as possible to cut the deficit and come back from a 21-7 first half.

On the first drive of the third quarter, Allen looked determined to push his offense down the field. Running back James Cook III, who was relatively quiet in the first half, came out with two multi-yard rushes for a total of 15 yards. After targeting wide receivers Khalil Shakir and Shavers, Cook got back in, driving forward for a 12-yard gain. While Cook weaved his way through gaps, Shavers and tight end Jackson Hawes put up key blocks to give Cook as much room as possible.

After Cook picked up another seven yards, running back Ray Davis stepped in and made his small sample size of snaps count. Allen connected with Davis for a 16-yard touchdown pass. After the catch, the running back stayed up and in bounds along the right sidelines. He dove forward and extended over the pylon. This brought Buffalo within one score of the Falcons.

The Falcons came out hot in the first half offensively.

At first, the Bills defense had a dynamic approach to throw Penix Jr. and his offense off. The defense changed its look from pre-snap to post-snap so that the quarterback was forced to make a quick decision on the spot.

Once comfortable, though, Penix Jr., Robinson and London found their rhythm early in the game. Robinson and London combined for 285 yards in the first half alone. Both logged a touchdown following wide receiver Tyler Allgeier's opening score of the game in which he muscled forward to cross over the plane and into the end zone on Atlanta's first drive.

On Robinson's touchdown in the second quarter, he broke free of Bishop who tried to bring the running back down by his ankles. However, Robinson escaped and stayed in bounds all the way in for an 81-yard rushing touchdown. This put the Falcons up by seven points.

London tried to extend this lead to 14, but as the clock hit zero in the first half and he was ruled out of bounds at the one-yard-line, Atlanta remained two scores ahead of the Bills.

Following Davis' touchdown, defense and special teams created various chances for the offense to go in and tie the score.

Defensive tackle Ed Oliver sacked Penix Jr. for a 13-yard loss on Atlanta's first drive of the second half, which eventually caused the Falcons to punt. However, defensive tackle David Onyemata sacked Allen for a loss of eight yards. This halted any momentum gained by Coleman and Cook. Trying to minimize the effects of the sack, the Bills only managed to pick up 16 yards. Going for it on fourth-and-two near midfield, Allen threw an underhand pass with Falcon's defensive pressure coming in hot. The pass was ruled incomplete and Atlanta took over at its own 46-yard-line.

When the Falcons had their first opportunity to make it a two-score game with a 37-yard field goal attempt, defensive end Greg Rousseau blocked the kick and gave Buffalo life once again as defensive back Jordan Hancock recovered the ball.

That chance was soon ended too. On third down, Allen attempted to hand the ball off to running back Elijah Moore, but Moore fumbled the ball and did not recover it quick enough to pick up the three yards needed to convert. Buffalo was forced to punt that chance away.

After the Bills used their third timeout of the night under the two-minute warning, Falcons kicker John Parker Romo successfully put three more points on the board on a 33-yard field goal attempt. This extended Atlanta's lead back to two scores at 10 points.

Game Highlights

Key Stats and Facts

  • Bills are 15-6 in primetime games since 2022
  • Bills are 20-6 against NFC opponents since 2020
  • Josh Allen is 5-6 in Monday Night Football games
  • Sean McDermott is now 2-1 against the Falcons
  • Josh Allen is 24-9 following a loss in his career

Scoring Plays

First Quarter

BUF 0, ATL 7 – T.Allgeier left end for 21 yards, TOUCHDOWN. J.Romo extra point is GOOD

BUF 7, ATL 7 – J.Allen pass deep middle to D.Knox for 19 yards, TOUCHDOWN. M.Prater extra point is GOOD

Second Quarter

BUF 7, ATL 14 – M.Penix pass short left to D.London for 9 yards, TOUCHDOWN. J.Romo extra point is GOOD

BUF 7, ATL 21 – B.Robinson right end for 81 yards, TOUCHDOWN. J.Romo extra point is GOOD

Third Quarter

BUF 14, ATL 21 – J.Allen pass short right to R.Davis for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN. M.Prater extra point is GOOD

Fourth Quarter

BUF 14, ATL 24 – J.Romo 33 yard field goal is GOOD

FINAL

Milestone Watch

  • Dawson Knox's touchdown ties Bills for most touchdowns by a tight end in the NFL with the 49ers and Eagles.
  • Dawson Knox needs one more receiving touchdown to tie for 10th place in Bills history for most receiving touchdown.
  • Sean McDermott needs 3 wins to reach 100 combined regular season and postseason wins.
  • Josh Allen needs 3 wins to become the 5th starting quarterback with 90 wins in his first eight seasons joining Patrick Mahomes (106), Tom Brady (100), Russell Wilson (95) and Ben Roethlisberger (90)

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