Atlanta, Georgia (WGR550) - The Buffalo Bills dropped their second straight contest when they lost 24-14 at the Atlanta Falcons Monday night. Here are my Arrows Up and Down from the game, starting down again, after the loss:
ARROW DOWN
OC Joe Brady/another costly jet sweep call
Needing a touchdown to tie the game and facing a 3rd down and 1 at their own 48 yard line, offensive coordinator Joe Brady called a jet sweep to Elijah Moore, eerily similar to the one he called last week to Dawson Knox. And just like last week, the Bills fumbled the exchange. This time, Moore picked it up, but lost four yards. The Bills punted.
Where is Ty Johnson?
The Bills featured running back Ty Johnson quite a bit last year as a receiver. This season he has two total catches. He had just one on Monday night. He has been a terrific outlet for Allen when needed, but for some reason wasn’t utilized much again.
DC Bobby Babich/1st half defense
The Bills defense was abysmal in the first half. Basically every aspect of it. They couldn’t generate a pass rush. They allowed 13 first downs, 5 of 8 (62.5%) third down conversions, and gave up a whopping 335 total yards, including a Bijan Robinson 81-yard touchdown run. They allowed 21 points in the first half, which it turned out was too much to overcome.
Drake London’s night
The Bills had zero answers for Falcons receiver Drake London. Atlanta went to him early and often. London was targeted 16 times! He finished with 10 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown.
Joshua Palmer’s injury
Palmer was headed towards what might have been a big night. The Bills clearly had a game plan to use him down the field. He caught the first offensive play of the game for 45 yards, then had another 15-yard grab later, but was injured on the play. The rest of the receivers couldn’t do much to help, totaling just 71 yards as a group for the game.
Run defense
The Billa allowed a staggering 210 yards on the ground. 170 of those belonged to Bijan Robinson.
Offense coming up empty when it was needed most
After thew Bills cut the score to 21-14 following the first drive of the second half, the defense kept making stops. They gave the offense the ball back three times. But needing a touchdown to tie the game, those drives ended on a fourth down stop after eight plays, and then two three-and-outs.
Pass protection
Bills quarterback Josh Allen was under duress far too often in this game. The Falcons, who blitz more than any team in the league, sacked him four times and were credited with six QB hurries.
WR Keon Coleman
Coleman had a couple different balls go his way where he needed to play bigger and make a grab, but came up empty. He was targeted six times, but had just three catches for only 11 yards.
Safeties Taylor Rapp and Cole Bishop
Both Bills safeties had a rough game in coverage and missing tackles.
Missed tackles
Once again tackling was an issue by the Bills, especially in the first half, which led to several big Falcons plays.
Third down offense
The Bills were just 2-for-9 (22.2%) on third down.
Penalties
Penalties, again, were e huge story of the game for the Bills. They were called for 8 penalties totaling 64 yards, but two of them wiped out huge plays by the defense. Both were simply for lining up offsides, which is a basic fundamental. The first negated a fumble recovery on the very first play of the game. The second wiped out a tackle for loss which then led to the Robinson long TD run.
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ARROW UP
2nd half defense
As bad as the first half defensive performance was, the Bills were excellent on that side of the ball after halftime, allowing just 108 yards and only three points.
DT Deone Walker
Rookie defensive tackle Deone Walker was credited with four tackles for loss and a pass breakup.
S Taylor Rapp’s TD saving tackle
With just six seconds remaining in the first half, and the Falcons wanting to score before halftime, they had a 2nd and 1 at the Bills 40 yard line. London caught the ball then raced down the sideline for what was called a touchdown, but Rapp actually knocked him out of bounds before he crossed the goal line, and there was no time left on the clock. Atlanta got no points out of it.
RB James Cook
Cook ran the ball 17 times for 87 yards, averaging 5.1 yards per carry.
P Mitch Wishnowski
Wishnowski punted six times. Four of them were down inside the Falcons 20 yard line.
Red zone defense
The Falcons were inside the Bills 20 yard line three times, but scored just one touchdown.
Greg Rousseau’s blocked field goal
Looking to go up by ten points early in the fourth quarter, the Falcons lined up for a 37-yard field goal, but Bills defensive end Greg Rousseau was able to block it and keep it a once-score game.
