A rare interconference meeting between the Buffalo Bills and Atlanta Falcons takes place as part of a Week 6 Monday Night Football doubleheader. Both teams existed since before the 1970 NFL/AFL merger, but this will be just the 14th game all-time between the clubs. The Bills look to rebound from their first loss of the season and haven’t dropped consecutive games in more than a year. Kickoff is set for 7:15 p.m. ET on October 13 from Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with television coverage on ESPN.
Bills at Falcons Preview
Buffalo’s electric offense was slowed in last week’s loss to New England. It doesn’t happen often, especially with MVP Josh Allen behind center. The Bills won their first four games scoring at least 30 points in every one. Allen had seven TD passes and just one interception in that span. Allen was picked by the Pats and also lost a fumble accounting for two of the team’s three turnovers. The Bills had just one giveaway entering the game.
The offense carries the team with Allen completing more than 70 percent of his passes for 1,217 yards and nine TDs. He also rushed for 212 yards and three scores. The NFL’s second-best ground game is led by James Cook III, whose 450 yards and five TDs are second in the NFL. The group could have a tough time against the NFL’s top ranked total defense.
- The Bills are 5-2 SU and ATS in their last 7 road games.
- Allen is responsible for three of the Bill’s four turnovers in the last two games.
- Buffalo was penalized 11 times in each of their last two games.
- The Bills have scored 59 points in the fourth quarter of their games, the third-most in the NFL.
The Falcons entered their bye on a positive note beating Washington 34-27 in Week 4. That came after an embarrassing 30-0 loss at Carolina where Michael Penix Jr. was benched in the fourth quarter. Penix reacted to the benching by throwing for a career-high 313 yards and 2 TDs against the Commanders helping Atlanta cash the OVER on the NFL odds for the first time this season.
The No. 1 ranked total defense in the NFL resides in Atlanta. The Falcons held Minnesota to 198 total yards in Week 2 and haven’t allowed more than 300 yards in any game. They can be scored on, though, allowing 21.5 points per game to rank 15th in the NFL. The Falcons have given up at least 23 points in three of four games.
- The Falcons are 4-3 SU and 5-2 ATS in their last seven games after a bye.
- With 314 rushing yards and 270 receiving yards, Bijan Robinson leads the NFL in average scrimmage yards.
- The defense allows just 4.7 yards/play, third-best in the NFL.
- The Falcons are 26th in the NFL inside the red zone with a 46.15 TD percentage.
Bills at Falcons Predictions
Atlanta’s defense has been outstanding this season and with an extra week to rest and prep they should be a problem for Allen and the Bills. Look for Buffalo to try and run the football to avoid the No. 1 pass defense and the Falcons will try and exploit a leaky Bills run defense. A lot of carries can chew up the clock leaving the UNDER on 49.5 looking good.
Bills at Falcons Betting Tips
- Buffalo is -4 on the NFL betting line and -225 on the moneyline.
- The Falcons are 1-5 SU and ATS in their last six games as a home underdog.
- Atlanta has a moneyline price of +198.
- The total of 49.5 is the highest in Atlanta’s last 13 games.
- The Bills are 14-3 in their last 17 games as a favorite.
- The UNDER is 9-4 in Atlanta’s last 13 games.
Bills at Falcons Head to Head and Key Stats
- Buffalo won the most recent meeting, 29-15, at home during the 2021 season, their second straight in the series.
- Allen tossed 3 interceptions and had only 120 yards passing, but he had 81 of Buffalo’s 233 rushing yards and scored twice.
- The teams cashed the UNDER in three of the previous four meetings.
- The Falcons are 4-1 SU and 3-1-1 in their last five home games against Buffalo.
