Bijan Robinson matched his career high with 170 rushing yards and ignited Atlanta’s offense with the NFL’s longest run of the season, helping the Falcons stave off Josh Allen’s late surge to defeat the Buffalo Bills 24-14 on Monday night.
Robinson’s 81-yard touchdown dash in the second quarter – a career-long – gave Atlanta (3-2) a commanding 21-7 lead.
“We’ve been waiting for that moment,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said of the explosive run.
Robinson finished with 170 yards on 19 carries and added six receptions for 68 yards, totaling a career-best 238 yards from scrimmage. “He is the best player in football; I’ve said it multiple times,” Morris added.
For Robinson's big game to come against Allen, last season's MVP, was meaningful because he paid the same compliment to the Bills quarterback.
"I think he's the best football player in the NFL,” Robinson said. "Shout out to our defense. They made him uncomfortable the whole day.”
Allen threw two touchdown passes, including a 16-yarder to Ray Davis to open the second half.
Allen and the Bills (4-2) were stopped on fourth down near midfield late in the third quarter but were provided another opportunity when Greg Rousseau blocker Parker Romo's 37-yard field-goal attempt early in the fourth.
Allen and the Bills again failed to capitalize. The Falcons secured the win with a 14-play, 5-minute drive that included Michael Penix Jr.'s 23-yard pass to Robinson. Romo's 33-yard field goal extended the lead to 10 points, and the Bills were left with 1:47 on the clock and no timeouts.
"They had a good plan,” Allen said of the Falcons. "Looks like they came off the bye week and got to game-plan us quite a bit. Again, I’ve got to be better in seeing the things they’re trying to do to us and make adjustments accordingly.”
Atlanta linebacker DeAngelo Malone intercepted Allen's last throw with 41 seconds remaining. Allen completed 15 of 26 passes for 180 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, giving him four interceptions in his last three games. He had only one pick in his previous 12 games, including the playoffs.
The Falcons (3-2) leaned on Penix, Robinson and Drake London, who had 10 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown.
Penix threw for 250 yards, including a 9-yard TD to London. Tyler Allgeier scored the Falcons' first touchdown on a 21-yard run.
Allen had the support of a strong contingent of Buffalo fans who were so loud that Penix was forced to use a silent count on an early possession.
The Bills' loss added more reasons to doubt their 4-0 start. Those wins came against teams that are now a combined 3-21: Baltimore (1-5), the New York Jets (0-6), Miami (1-5) and New Orleans (1-5).
In a surprise, Falcons wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III, normally a starter, was a healthy scratch and was on the sideline in street clothes. The move came despite another starter, Darnell Mooney (hamstring), getting ruled out on Saturday.
Morris called the move "a coaches' decision” and said McCloud will "be back out competing next week.”
Bills: WR Joshua Palmer (left ankle) was ruled out early in the second half. ... LB Terrel Bernard left with a right ankle injury. ... TE Dalton Kincaid was inactive with an oblique injury. The decision was made after he participated in pregame warmups. Kincaid leads the team 287 receiving yards and three touchdowns and had a career-best 108 yards in his last game. DT DaQuan Jones, a starter, was held out after suffering a calf injury in pregame warmups.
Falcons: LT Jake Matthews (ankle) was escorted to the locker room late in the first half and ruled out. ... Starting nickel back Billy Bowman Jr. (knee, hamstring) was inactive.
Bills: After a bye, Buffalo plays another NFC South team when it visits Carolina on Oct. 26.
Falcons: In another prime-time game, Atlanta visits San Francisco on Sunday night.
