Atlanta, Ga. (WGR Sports Radio 550) - The Buffalo Bills will look to bounce back from their first loss of the season last week with a victory over the Atlanta Falcons on "Monday Night Football".
For them to do that, here are my three keys to the game, plus notes and stats:
1.) Slow down Bijan Robinson
Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is fourth in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 584, including two 100-yard receiving games. He’s averaging 4.9 yards per-carry on the season.
The Bills have given up 145 yards a game on the ground, fifth-most in the league. Robinson has had, at least, 18 touches in every game so far this season.
No doubt the Falcons will want to feed him as much as possible against the Bills, who will have to slow him down as both a runner and receiver.
2.) Confuse the young quarterback
When Robinson isn’t getting a handoff, second-year quarterback Michael Penix Jr. may be dropping back to throw it.
Penix has been a bit boom-or-bust so far throughout his short career. Through four starts this season, he has two games of, at least, 298 yards passing, to go along with three total touchdown passes and one interception. In the other two contests, he threw for 135 yards and 172 yards, respectively, with a pair of picks and no touchdowns.
Penix only has seven total starts so far. He’s still young and very inexperienced. It’s up to the Bills and their defensive staff to confuse him and force him into mistakes.
3.) Watch out for (and take advantage of) the blitz
The Falcons blitz at the highest rate of any team in the league, bringing extra pressure on over 43% of opponent drop-backs. It’s a big reason they are allowing a league-low 135 yards per-game through the air, and are top-eight in both interception rate and sacks per-pass attempt.
They will come after Bills quarterback Josh Allen, especially in obvious passing situations. But that’s also led to allowing 4.64 yards per-run when teams can catch them flying upfield.
The Bills have to be very aware of the Falcons pressure, keeping Allen clean in the pocket long enough to make plays, but also need to have a few wrinkles in the run game to take advantage of running lanes created by Atlanta’s aggressiveness.
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