The Buffalo Bills made it three wins in a row on Sunday, as they dispatched the Atlanta Falcons by a final score of 29-15 at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park.
Paired with a Baltimore Ravens 20-19 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, the Bills' win helped punch Buffalo's ticket to 2021 postseason. It will be the fourth time in five years the Bills will play past the regular season.
The game got off to an inauspicious start for the Bills.
After the Falcons' opening drive stalled out near midfield, Atlanta's punt was fielded by Bills returner Marquez Stevenson. Seconds after catching the punt, Stevenson was hit hard and fumbled the football. The Bills recovered, but the ball was downed in their end zone, resulting in a safety for Atlanta.
The Falcons received the football back on the free kick, but the Bills defense ended up forcing a three-and-out.
Upon going on offense for the first time, Josh Allen and the Buffalo offense orchestrated a 15-play, 69-yard drive capped off by an Allen rushing score. It was the 30th rushing touchdown of Allen's career.
Later in the quarter, Allen doubled down for rushing score No. 31, as he found the end zone again from four yards out. The Bills cashed in for seven more points after the defense forced a strip sack courtesy of Greg Rousseau (sack, forced fumble) and Harrison Phillips (fumble recovery).
After the Falcons kicked a field goal to trim their deficit to 14-5, they capitalized with 10 more unanswered points thanks to a pair of Allen turnovers.
On consecutive passing attempts, the Bills quarterback tossed interceptions. Atlanta found the end zone following the first of the two turnovers as running back Mike Davis closed the gap to 14-12.
The second pick for Allen came inside the two-minute warning. Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell jumped a broken route and managed to come up with the interception. Moments later, as time dwindled on Atlanta's final drive of the half, kicker Younghoe Koo gave the Falcons a one-point lead, 15-14, from 24 yards out.
The Bills received the second-half kickoff, but quickly gave possession away again. Allen's third interception of the afternoon gave the Falcons a golden opportunity to extend their run of 13-straight unanswered points.
However Buffalo's defense put a stop to that before it could fester, as the Falcons elected to give the ball back to the Bills after getting to their 32-yard line.
Buffalo's following drive helped the Bills finally score some points after a lengthy drought. An 11-play, 80-yard, run-heavy drive was finished off by running back Devin Singletary's six-yard rushing touchdown.
With the score sitting at 20-15, the Bills opted to go for two points to extend their lead to seven. Buffalo was successful in their efforts when Allen connected with wide receiver Cole Beasley.
Much like Allen, Singletary double-dipped with another date to the end zone in the fourth quarter. Buffalo's fourth rushing touchdown came from four yards out, as Buffalo continued to create space between them and the Falcons at 29-15.
That ended up capping off the scoring in Orchard Park, as the Bills moved to 10-6 on the 2021 season.
At one point, it looked like the Falcons made it a one-score game in the fourth quarter. However, a Matt Ryan rushing touchdown was overturned after review when officials deemed his knee down before the goal line. Ryan was then flagged for taunting, backing the Falcons out of prime scoring position.
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GAME SUMMARY:
First Quarter:
- 2-0 ATLANTA: Falcons safety (11:14) - After a Marquez Stevenson fumble on a punt return, the Bills recovered the football in the end zone, resulting in a safety for the Falcons.
- 7-2 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (3:15) - Josh Allen scampers in for a one-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 15 plays, 69 yards, 6:10
- 14-2 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (0:35) - Josh Allen runs the football in for a four-yard touchdown. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 6 plays, 18 yards, 1:52
Second Quarter:
- 14-5 BUFFALO: Falcons field goal (10:08) - Younghoe Koo's 28-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 10 plays, 65 yards, 5:27
- 14-12 BUFFALO: Falcons touchdown (1:48) - Mike Davis runs in a one-yard touchdown. (Younghoe Koo's extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 5 plays, 80 yards, 1:32
- 15-14 ATLANTA: Falcons field goal (0:00) - Younghoe Koo's 24-yard field goal attempt is good.
Drive info: 7 plays, 50 yards, 1:06
Third Quarter:
- 22-15 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (5:56) - Devin Singletary punches in a six-yard touchdown run. (Buffalo's two-point conversion attempt is successful)
Drive info: 11 plays, 80 yards, 6:36
Fourth Quarter:
- 29-15 BUFFALO: Bills touchdown (10:46) - Devin Singletary finds the end zone with a four-yard touchdown run. (Tyler Bass' extra point attempt is good)
Drive info: 12 plays, 65 yards, 7:18
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SKYWORKS EQUIPMENT RENTAL STATS OF THE GAME:
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What's Next:
The Bills wrap up their first 17-game regular season at home next Sunday against the New York Jets. Kickoff at Highmark Stadium in Orchard Park is set for 1 p.m. EST on the official voice of the Bills - WGR Sports Radio 550.
