Falcons vs. Bills takeaways: Bijan Robinson runs wild as Atlanta swarms Josh Allen for 'MNF' upset

Atlanta is going to leave this one with a victory! Josh Allen makes some magic with his legs to put the Bills all the way into the red zone, then scrambles around some more for a potential touchdown throw, only to have his pass tipped by Zach Harrison ... right into the waiting arms of DeAngelo Malone. That's pick No. 2 for Allen on the night, capping a sloppy performance from Buffalo's typically vaunted attack. And that's two straight prime-time losses for the Bills. Big tip of the cap to Raheem Morris' defense.

Blocked from 37 yards out earlier, John Parker Romo redeems himself with a 33-yard field goal that puts the Falcons up 10 points with 1:43 to go. Credit Atlanta for finally putting points on the board in the second half, even though a few of Michael Penix Jr.'s throws on that drive were arguably forced into traffic. If Atlanta holds on, Raheem Morris can thank Bijan Robinson, whose 170 yards on the ground have helped keep the Falcons afloat since the break, plus a persistent defensive front that's kept Josh Allen on his toes.

The Falcons defense has shown up fairly consistently, putting heat on Josh Allen while the quarterback works with a depleted group of weapons. The offense, on the other hand? Since a hot first half in which a sharp Michael Penix Jr. and explosive Bijan Robinson worked in tandem, Atlanta's done very little with the ball in its hands. Penix's accuracy has dipped in the second half as he holds the ball waiting for someone other than Drake London to break free. And now Buffalo has momentum after blocking a 37-yard John Parker Romo field goal try. The Falcons' lead is officially no longer secure.

Atlanta is doing its best to squeeze the Bills on a night Buffalo is missing several of Josh Allen's playmakers. Three sacks speaks to the pressure applied up front, but it also doesn't do justice to the heat Raheem Morris' unit is applying on key downs. Allen tried to play Superman on fourth down in Atlanta territory just now, only to nearly gift the Falcons another pick with a wayward pitch pass:

James Cook was held to just 7 yards on the ground in the first half, but he came alive on Buffalo's latest scoring drive, taking five carries to propel the Bills into enemy territory, where Josh Allen found Ray Davis open for a critical second-half touchdown:

If, somehow, the Falcons can't hang on to their sizable lead, they'll look back on this strong but ultimately empty effort from London at the close of the first half, when Michael Penix Jr. nearly put Atlanta up 28-7 on the final play of the second quarter:

We're at the break, and Atlanta has the clear edge at home, entering halftime with a 21-7 advantage. Bijan Robinson's 81-yard explosion was the home run of the first half for the Falcons, but it's been an all-around solid performance from Raheem Morris' squad. Michael Penix Jr. is throwing with some extra heat, giving plenty of opportunities to Drake London.

And Morris' defense is taking advantage of Buffalo's banged-up lineup, which is without Dalton Kincaid and Curtis Samuel and also saw Josh Palmer go down. Josh Allen has yet to settle into any kind of rhythm, absorbing a pair of sacks, nearly losing a fumble and rifling a pick to Dee Alford just before half. The only thing that went Buffalo's way: London stepped out of bounds while lunging for a last-gasp would-be touchdown on the final play of the half; that score would've had Atlanta up 21.

How about this for some Falcons firepower? Right after swarming Josh Allen on defense, with a trio of players driving the star quarterback into the turf for a third-down sack, Atlanta finds daylight on a straightforward carry from Bijan Robinson. Where are the linebackers? Nowhere to be found. Robinson found a second gear quickly, and all of a sudden Atlanta's got a decisive lead:

Atlanta is down two veteran wideouts in Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud III, but Drake London came to play, and Michael Penix Jr. is feeding his No. 1 pass catcher. Already up to five catches for 64 yards, London also showcased elite awareness and ball skills at the goal line, outmuscling Taron Johnson for a touchdown. The Falcons offense looks very much in sync to start this one.

Top Falcons corner A.J. Terrell is back in the lineup for Atlanta, but that's not stopping Josh Allen from slinging it. The Bills quarterback launches a deep shot to an open Josh Palmer, then seals Buffalo's first drive with a 19-yard laser to Dawson Knox. No Dalton Kincaid? No problem just yet for the Bills, who marched right down the field against one of the NFL's top-ranked pass defenses.

The Falcons got away with one early: Bijan Robinson loses the ball on Atlanta's first offensive snap of the game, with Shaq Thompson part of the defensive duo knocking it loose, but the fumble is negated by a Bills offsides penalty. Then Robinson's counterpart, Tyler Allgeier, finds open turf to cruise in for a 21-yard touchdown. Buffalo has struggled to clog rushing lanes this year, and without Matt Milano at linebacker, the problem continues. Big opening statement from Atlanta.

The following notable names will not suit up for Atlanta on Monday night:

• WR Darnell Mooney
• WR Ray-Ray McCloud III
• CB Billy Bowman Jr.

Mooney, who's arguably the Falcons' top field-stretcher opposite Drake London, will miss his second game of 2025 due to a hamstring issue. That puts added strain on Atlanta's depth chart with McCloud deemed a healthy scratch. Casey Washington, KhaDarel Hodge and Jamal Agnew are set to see an uptick in action behind London out wide.

Bowman (knee/hamstring) will leave Raheem Morris' defense a bit short on secondary depth, though top cornerback A.J. Terrell is back in the lineup after missing two games with a hamstring issue of his own.

Buffalo's offense may have an MVP candidate in Josh Allen, but it will be without two veteran playmakers tonight:

• TE Dalton Kincaid (oblique)
• WR Curtis Samuel (rib / neck)

Look for top wideouts Keon Coleman and Khalil Shakir to remain on Allen's radar all night.

Buffalo officially elevated veteran defensive lineman Jordan Phillips and safety Jordan Poyer from the practice squad for Monday's matchup with Atlanta. Phillips is on his third stint with the Bills, while Poyer, a former All-Pro, is on his second.

This is a huge question. Atlanta should be well rested after taking Week 5 off. But the Falcons have been a real hit-or-miss operation so far. Michael Penix Jr. was sharp in a Week 1 back-and-forth with Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The defense was suffocating in a Week 2 rout of the Minnesota Vikings. Then everything crashed to Earth in a stunning 30-0 loss to the Carolina Panthers that had some overzealous fans calling for Kirk Cousins to return under center. Finally Penix rebounded with a high-scoring win over the injury-riddled Washington Commanders before the bye. One constant during Atlanta's bumpy ride: Bijan Robinson, who's averaged more than 140 scrimmage yards per game, also serving as the club's top pass catcher.

From our betting preview at CBS Sports and SportsLine:

The Bills' offense is averaging 395.8 total yards per game, with Josh Allen throwing for 243.4 yards per outing with nine touchdowns and just two interceptions. The defense has struggled against the rush and is allowing 145.6 yards on the ground, which could spell trouble going up against Bijan Robinson. Buffalo has been solid at defending the pass, however, and the Falcons could be in trouble if Michael Penix Jr. has an off night.