After suffering one of the league’s biggest early-season upsets, the Buffalo Bills will look to avoid a rare losing streak in primetime Monday night against the host Atlanta Falcons.
Buffalo (4-1) served as the last undefeated team for a few hours last Sunday after the Philadelphia Eagles’ loss to the Denver Broncos, before the Bills were removed from the ranks of the unbeaten following a 23-20 home setback against the New England Patriots.
It’s been over a calendar year since Buffalo’s last losing streak, and the road won’t get easier Monday. The Bills face an Atlanta group that leads the NFL in total defense (244 yards per game) and touts a promising backfield duo in quarterback Michael Penix Jr. and running back Bijan Robinson.
“(Robinson) looks like he’s going to be a real handful,” Buffalo head coach Sean McDermott said. “Very explosive. Really good football player and really hard to stop. He looks like he’s got a real bright future. … (Penix) knows the offense like the back of his hand. He’s extremely detailed in how he runs their offense and certainly has a great running game to accompany the talent and skills that he brings to the table.”
With an 80-35 career record as a starter, Bills star quarterback Josh Allen hasn’t grown accustomed to losing, but the reigning NFL MVP knew what to say to his team after last week’s rarity.
“The message after a loss is continuing to trust our process, not to be focused so much on the results,” Allen said. “Obviously, we didn’t play as well as we would’ve liked to play last week, and that’s going to happen. Fortunately we’ve got another week. We get a chance to play Monday night in a really fun environment in Atlanta with a team that’s coming off a bye but playing really good football. It’s an opportunity for us to take a step in the right direction.”
Monday will mark Allen’s first game in Atlanta in his seven-plus seasons. The Falcons are one of three teams he has faced only once, along with the Carolina Panthers and Chicago Bears.
Fresh off a 14-day break, Atlanta (2-2) will be looking for a signature victory in its first “Monday Night Football” home game in seven years. The Falcons beat the New York Giants 23-20 on Oct. 22, 2018.
The Falcons’ defense has been far from their strong suit for several years, but Atlanta’s identity has been changed through four games under Jeff Ulbrich — the team’s fourth defensive coordinator in as many years.
“On defense we’re playing fast. We’re playing physical,” Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. “We’re a good tackling team. They’re competitive, which I love.”
As the defense tries to help Atlanta post its first set of consecutive wins this season, the unit will be handed its biggest test: trying to slow Buffalo’s Allen, a three-time Pro Bowl selection. Allen has passed for 1,217 yards and nine touchdowns with two interceptions, and rushed 40 times for 212 yards and three TDs in five games.
“He’s turned himself into arguably the best player in the league,” Morris said. “It’s definitely a challenge for us, but it’s something that we embrace, something that we love.”
Atlanta will get a key member of its defense back, as cornerback A.J. Terrell is slated to return for the first time since exiting with a hamstring injury in the Falcons’ Week 2 victory over the Minnesota Vikings. He was limited in practice on Thursday. Injury-hampered wide receiver Darnell Mooney (hamstring) was a non-participant in practice on Thursday.
For Buffalo, linebacker Matt Milano (pectoral) and defensive tackle T.J. Sanders (knee) didn’t practice Wednesday and Thursday.
In a lengthy injury report, offensive tackle Dion Dawkins (thumb), tight end Dalton Kincaid (oblique), defensive end Ed Oliver (ankle), safety Taylor Rapp (nose), wide receiver Curtis Samuel (neck/ribs) and linebacker Dorian Williams (knee) were limited Wednesday and Thursday.
