ORCHARD PARK, N.Y. – Now, the Falcons have a taste of what it’s like to play a meaningful late-season game.
They’ll have correct some things before they learn how to win one of these matchups.
With their faint playoffs hopes on the line, the Falcons waged a fierce battle against the Bills before succumbing 29-15 before a boisterous crowd on Sunday at Highmark Stadium.
The Falcons’ defense picked three interceptions, but gave up more than 200 yards rushing and four rushing touchdowns. The offense, which lost prized rookie tight end Kyle Pitts halfway through the game with a hamstring injury, sputtered throughout the day behind some shaky pass blocking.
The Bills improved to 10-6 on the season, while the Falcons dropped to 7-9 and were eliminated from the playoffs. The defeat also guaranteed the franchise’s fourth straight losing season.
There was an opportunity to take control of the game, but the undermanned Falcons was not up to the challenge.
A bizarre call with about 6:07 left took a Falcons’ touchdown off the board that would have made it a one-score game. Ryan’s knee was ruled down and his taunting penalty moved the ball back to the 16-yard line.
Ryan tossed incompletions on third and fourth down as they ended up turning the ball over on downs.
After the third interception in the third quarter, the offense had the ball with a one-point lead and couldn’t move the ball. After the three-and-out, the Bills promptly went on a touchdown drive and two-point conversion to take a 22-15 lead with 5:56 left in the third quarter.
Buffalo’s Devin Singletary rushed 23 times for 110 yards and two touchdowns. Quarterback Josh Allen rushed 12 times for 84 and two touchdowns. Overall, the Bills rushed 44 times for 233 yards.
Ryan, playing under duress, completed 13 of 23 passes for 197 yards and no touchdowns. He finished with a passer rating of 84.9
Here are the five things we learned from the game:
1. Turnover chain: The Falcons don’t have a turnover chain, but maybe they should have one made.
Just a week after linebacker Foye Oluokon saved the game in the final minute with an interception, safety Duron Harmon and cornerback A.J. Terrell came up with interceptions to help the Falcons build at 15-14 halftime lead.
Oluokun tipped the pass that Harmon intercepted which led to a 1-yard touchdown run by running back Mike Davis.
The Falcons turned Terrell’s interception into a 24-yard field goal.
The Bills had the ball to start the second half, but Oluokon intercepted Allen for the third time. The Falcons couldn’t move the ball and were forced to punt.
Running back Cordarrelle Patterson was dropped of a loss of 3 yards, Ryan was sacked for a loss of 4 yards and the third down pass was incomplete for a quick three-and-out. Morstead came on to punt into the swirling wind instead of attempting a 50-yard-plus field goal.
2. Pitts sets new mark: Pitts broke loose for a 61-yard gain in the second quarter to give him the most yards receiving in his rookie season in franchise history.
Pitts has two catches for 69 yards against the Bills. On the season, he has 66 catches for 1,018 yards in 16 games played.
Jones, who played in 13 games as a rookie, had the old mark with 959 yards which was set in 2011. He also had eight touchdowns and 95 catches as a rookie.
3. Short handed: With nine players on the reserve/COVID-19 list, the Falcons promoted five players from the practice squad in cornerback Luther Kirk, cornerback Lafayette Pitts, tight end Parker Hesse, wide receiver Austin Trammell and defensive lineman Nick Thurman.
Also, tackle swing tackle Rick Leonard, who was signed from the Vikings’ practice squad last week, was active. He was signed to replace Jason Spriggs, who went on the reserve/COVID-19 list last week.
The biggest pre-game loss for the Falcons was right cornerback Fabian Moreau, who had started all 15 games.
The Falcons used rookie Darren Hall outside in the base defense and Kendall Sheffield sent outside and Hall went inside in their nickel defense.
The Falcons normally don’t let their cornerbacks travel with receivers, but they let Terrell travel with Stefon Diggs, the Bills Pro Bowl and All-Pro receiver.
Sheffield had not played a defensive snap all season. He played just 48 special teams snaps this season.
4. Sack-a-thon: The Falcons continued to struggle in pass protection as they gave up five sacks and eight quarterback hits.
It was the eight straight game that Ryan has not passed for more than 300 yards.
5. Rushing attack: The Falcons rushed 22 times for 96 yards.
Cordarrelle Patterson, Davis and Qadree Ollison split the carries up.
Ollison suffered a quad injury and did not return to the game.
The Falcons entered the game as the 31st ranked rushing team in the NFL going against the Bills’ No. 1 rank defense it total yards and pass yards.
The Falcons knew they had to run the ball successfully in order to sustain drives, but were not able to do so.
