The Falcoholic
This is a big one. Like last year when the Falcons faced the Eagles and Chiefs, or 2023 when they drew the buzzsaw Lions, Atlanta’s facing one of the very best teams in the NFL. This happens to be a team they see once every four years, and since the turn of the decade, the Buffalo Bills have the second-best record in the NFL, barely behind the Chiefs.
That means that many of us have had this circled as a loss since the summer, regardless of how optimistic you might have been about the Falcons heading in 2025. It also means Atlanta will have to be terrific to snatch a victory in Week 6, and while a loss would be neither surprising nor world-ending, a win would momentous.
Here’s what you should know about the matchup ahead.
The Falcons being off for a week and the favorable field position opposing offenses are starting with has helped them rank #1 in yardage, but it’s nonetheless hugely impressive. It also matches their DVOA ranking.
These are two quality pass defenses facing off against two big-armed quarterbacks. Atlanta has a clear advantage on the ground, but I also worry that we haven’t seen the Falcons run defense tested the way Josh Allen and James Cook have been straining defenses all year long.
A lot since the last time the Falcons saw them, all the way back in 2021, but also substantially since last season.
The nucleus is still here. Josh Allen is still the quarterback. The front office and coaching staff are still led by Brandon Beane and Sean McDermott, respectively. But otherwise the offense is just left tackle Dion Dawkins, fullback Reggie Gilliam, and a bunch of new faces; the defense is defensive lineman Ed Oliver, linebacker Matt Milano, and nickel back Taron Johnson, and a bunch of new faces. This is a very different team than the 2021 version the Falcons squared off against in the snow. They’re just still very good.
If you’re looking for moves this offseason, the Bills were active to try to get over the hump. Some of those signings are suspended or sitting on IR—Larry Ogunjobi and Michael Hoecht among them on the defensive line—but Joey Bosa and Joshua Palmer have been useful additions for defense and offense, respectively. Otherwise, their investments were heavily on the draft side, where first round pick Maxwell Hairston is on injured reserve, and everyone else is a low-level contributor at the moment. The class does have talent for the future, though, and tight end Jackson Hawes is both fun and super useful as a high-level blocking option right out of the gate, one the Falcons will have to contend with Monday night.
I know the Bills are coming off a bewildering loss to the Patriots, who exposed some of their weaknesses and played some crazy good football en route to doing so, but they’re...
