By CHARLES ODUM
Related Press
ATLANTA (AP) — Huge performs from Bijan Robinson and Drake London and mistake-free management from Michael Penix Jr. made the Atlanta Falcons appear to be a playoff contender.
A scarcity of massive offense and extra miscues from Josh Allen offered extra cause to query the Buffalo Payments.
Robinson matched a profession excessive with 170 speeding yards and gave Atlanta an early two-touchdown lead with the NFL’s longest run of the season, and the Falcons denied Allen’s comeback try to beat the Payments 24-14 on Monday night time.
Robinson’s career-long 81-yard landing run within the second quarter put Atlanta (3-2) forward 21-7.
“We’ve been ready for that second,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris stated.
Robinson received his 170 yards on 19 carries. He added six catches for 68 yards for a career-best 238 yards from scrimmage. Morris stated Robinson “is the very best participant in soccer; I’ve stated it a number of instances.”
For Robinson’s large sport to return in opposition to Allen, final season’s MVP, was significant as a result of he paid the identical praise to the Payments quarterback.
“I feel he’s the very best soccer participant within the NFL,” Robinson stated. “Shout out to our protection. They made him uncomfortable the entire day.”
London had 10 catches for 158 yards and a landing. Penix threw for 250 yards, together with a 9-yard TD to London, whereas finishing 20 of 32 passes with out an interception.
Allen threw two landing passes, together with a 16-yarder to Ray Davis to open the second half.
Allen and the Payments (4-2) had been stopped on fourth down close to midfield late within the third quarter. They didn’t make the most of one other alternative when Greg Rousseau blocked Parker Romo’s 37-yard field-goal try early within the fourth.
“Blocking the kick I believed was large for us,” Payments coach Sean McDermott stated. “Clearly, I believed we had some momentum popping out of that. … So total, alternatives, simply not ok and getting the consequence we wish.”
Allen and the Payments once more didn’t capitalize. The Falcons secured the win with a 14-play, 5-minute drive that included Penix’s 23-yard go to Robinson. Romo’s 33-yard subject objective prolonged the result in 10 factors, and the Payments had been left with 1:47 on the clock and no timeouts.
“That they had a superb plan,” Allen stated of the Falcons. “Appears to be like like they got here off the bye week and received to game-plan us fairly a bit. Once more, I’ve received to be higher in seeing the issues they’re making an attempt to do to us and make changes accordingly.”
Atlanta linebacker DeAngelo Malone intercepted Allen’s final throw with 41 seconds remaining. Allen accomplished 15 of 26 passes for 180 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions, giving him 4 interceptions in his final three video games. He had just one choose in his earlier 12 video games, together with the playoffs.
Tyler Allgeier scored the Falcons’ first landing on a 21-yard run.
Allen had the assist of a robust contingent of Buffalo followers who had been so loud that Penix was compelled to make use of a silent rely on an early possession.
From 4-0 to 4-2
The Payments’ loss added extra causes to doubt their 4-0 begin. These wins got here in opposition to groups that are actually a mixed 3-21: Baltimore (1-5), the New York Jets (0-6), Miami (1-5) and New Orleans (1-5).
“We’ll work arduous at it,” McDermott stated. “We’ve received to determine it out. It’s not going to be simple, however we received to determine it out and work our tails off to get it carried out.”
No Ray-Ray McCloud
In a shock, Falcons large receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III, usually a starter, was a wholesome scratch and was on the sideline in avenue garments. The transfer got here regardless of one other starter, Darnell Mooney (hamstring), getting dominated out on Saturday.
Morris known as the transfer “a coaches’ choice” and stated McCloud will “be again out competing subsequent week.”
Two weeks to wash up
The Payments have a bye week. When requested if the timing was good, Allen stated: “It’s going to eat at me for the subsequent two weeks. I imply, numerous stuff to wash up. We’ll put our deal with our subsequent opponent and go from there.”
Accidents
Payments: WR Joshua Palmer (left ankle) was dominated out early within the second half. … LB Terrel Bernard left with a proper ankle damage. … TE Dalton Kincaid was inactive with an indirect damage. The choice was made after he participated in pregame warmups. Kincaid leads the crew with 287 receiving yards and three touchdowns and had a career-best 108 yards in his final sport. DT DaQuan Jones, a starter, was held out after struggling a calf damage in pregame warmups.
Falcons: LT Jake Matthews (ankle) was escorted to the locker room late within the first half and dominated out. … Beginning nickel again Billy Bowman Jr. (knee, hamstring) was inactive.
Up subsequent
Payments: After a bye, Buffalo performs one other NFC South crew when it visits Carolina on Oct. 26.
Falcons: In one other prime-time sport, Atlanta visits San Francisco on Sunday night time.
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