ATLANTA – James Cook looked to the Buffalo Bills’ sideline and saw the signal.
Cook, one of the best running backs in the NFL, got taken off the field on third-and-1 at their 48-yard line with the Falcons leading by a touchdown and 11:08 remaining in the fourth quarter.
The Bills didn’t put a different running back on the field, either. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady called a play with two tight ends, two receivers and fullback Reggie Gilliam. Quarterback Josh Allen acted like he was going to attempt a tush push to convert the first down, but he quickly motioned receiver Elijah Moore from the left side of the formation and tried to hand off the ball on an end-around.
Moore fumbled the exchange, though the official scorer gave it to Allen. Moore managed to pick up the ball, but the Falcons tackled him for a 1-yard loss. It was one of several head-scratching plays by the offense in Buffalo’s 24-14 loss Monday night at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
“Listen, if it works, it’s a great call,” Allen said. “If it doesn’t, it’s not. If we run the ball there just downhill (and) it doesn’t work, it’s not a good call, right? Something that doesn’t work is not going to be a good call. So we roll with it.”
Similar plays have worked this season. Moore gained 11 yards on a second-and-1 end around against Miami. The timing was odd, though.
For the second consecutive week, Brady called an end-around that resulted in a fumble. Tight end Dawson Knox lost the ball the previous week in a loss to the Patriots. It caused McDermott to lament that the play-calls were too cute at times, and he explained he wanted to see his offense get back to the physical, downhill running that led to success in four weeks to start the season.
Here are Jay Skurski’s grades for the Buffalo Bills in their 24-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Bills’ defense got another stop following Moore’s fumble, but it was another missed opportunity for the offense. After scoring on the first drive of the second half, Buffalo punted twice and turned over the ball on downs. Allen threw his second interception of the game with 51 seconds remaining.
When questioned about the end around to Moore, McDermott replied: “We can be better.”
Cook looked frustrated on the sideline when he was shown on the television broadcast. He touched the ball just seven times in the first half. On Buffalo’s lone scoring drive in the second half, he had runs of 8, 7, 3, 12 and 7 yards. Cook finished with 17 carries for 87 yards. He didn’t catch a pass, even though the offense was missing tight end Dalton Kincaid, who was inactive, and wide receiver Joshua Palmer, who was injured during the game.
In last week’s loss to New England, Cook touched the ball nine times in the first half, and he finished with 15 carries for 49 yards. To his credit, Cook did not express frustration following the game Monday night. For the Bills’ offense to reach its potential, though, Cook needs to be more involved, and McDermott acknowledged he’ll look at the running back’s usage during the bye week.
“It’s a good point,” said McDermott.
Single coverage
No team blitzed at a higher rate entering Monday night than the Falcons, and they sent a fifth rusher on the first play of the Bills’ first drive.
The Bills are 4-2 entering their bye week, and their next game is on the road at the Carolina Panthers. The Falcons (3-2) showed why they’re considered an up-and-coming contender in the NFC.
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They must have expected a run, but Allen faked the handoff. The offensive line gave the reigning MVP time to scan the field. Atlanta was in Cover 4 with single coverage on one of his outside receivers, Palmer, and Allen heaved the ball in his direction.
Falcons cornerback Mike Hughes was out of position as Palmer snatched the ball out of the air for a 46-yard gain – Allen’s 50th completion of 40-plus yards since 2020. Russell Wilson is the only quarterback with more during that span.
Frozen
Falcons safety Jessie Bates thought Allen was going to throw to the left side of the field.
Allen looked that direction long enough to convince Bates he was going to settle for a short completion on third-and-13 from the Falcons’ 19-yard line in the first quarter.
The subtle decision caused Bates to freeze and move forward a few feet, creating enough space in the end zone for Knox to get open. Allen rifled a throw past Bates for the game-tying touchdown to cap a six-play, 73-yard drive.
What we learned, what’s trending now and what’s coming next after the Buffalo Bills lost 24-14 to the Atlanta Falcons.
“As soon as I crossed that hash, I was like, ‘Oh, I’m open,’ ” Knox said. “And the next thing I know, the ball is in the air. Just a hell of a play by him.”
Long run
Everyone on the Bills’ defense was careful not to disclose who or which position group was at fault, but everyone looked bad on Bijan Robinson’s 81-yard touchdown run.
The Falcons’ offensive line pulled to the right, creating a hole through which Robinson could run. Bills linebacker Terrel Bernard blitzed, but he immediately got blocked by the left guard. Safety Taylor Rapp overshot his gap. Defensive tackle Deone Walker couldn’t handle a double-team. Ed Oliver ran over from the back side of the play, but he was too late.
Backup cornerback Ja’Marcus Ingram was blocked by receiver Casey Washington. Cole Bishop, the last line of defense, took a bad angle and missed the tackle.
“We’ve obviously got to do our jobs,” Rousseau said. “It starts with me. I’m not going to point my finger at anybody. We’ve all got to do our job and be better. We have to be more disciplined and sound in the run game. They were gashing us a lot and it kind of made the game easy for them.”
Missed assignment
On the Falcons’ 55th offensive play, Buffalo’s pass rush got within inches of a sack that could have changed the outcome.
Joey Bosa overpowered Falcons backup left tackle Michael Jerrell with an inside move, but quarterback Michael Penix Jr. got rid of the ball as Bosa was trying to finish the sack.
It should have been enough to force an incomplete pass. No one covered Robinson, though. One of the best running backs in the NFL ran wheel route up the right sideline and no one was near him. He caught the ball for a 23-yard gain that helped the Falcons eventually move into field-goal range, and John Parker Romo made the 33-yard kick to put the game away.
“I’ve got to go look at the film and make sure,” said Bills cornerback Tre’Davious White, who was the closest defender. “We’re going to look at the film to see where we can get better and try not to let that happen again.”
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Lance Lysowski
News Sports Reporter
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