Falcons ride Robinson's 170 rushing
yards, including 81-yard TD, to 24-14 win over Allen and Bills
[October 14, 2025]
By CHARLES ODUM
ATLANTA (AP) — Big plays from Bijan Robinson and Drake London and
mistake-free leadership from Michael Penix Jr. made the Atlanta
Falcons look like a playoff contender.
A lack of big offense and more miscues from Josh Allen provided more
reason to question the Buffalo Bills.
Robinson matched a career high with 170 rushing 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 attempt to beat
the Bills 24-14 on Monday night.
Robinson's career-long 81-yard touchdown run in the second quarter
put Atlanta (3-2) ahead 21-7.
“We've been waiting for that moment,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris
said.
Robinson got his 170 yards on 19 carries. He added six catches for
68 yards for a career-best 238 yards from scrimmage. Morris said
Robinson “is the best player in football; I've said it multiple
times.”
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.”
London had 10 catches for 158 yards and a touchdown. Penix threw for
250 yards, including a 9-yard TD to London, while completing 20 of
32 passes without an interception.
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. They failed to take advantage of another
opportunity when Greg Rousseau blocked Parker Romo's 37-yard
field-goal attempt early in the fourth.
“Blocking the kick I thought was big for us,” Bills coach Sean
McDermott said. “Obviously, I thought we had some momentum coming
out of that. ... So overall, opportunities, just not good enough and
getting the result we want.”
Allen and the Bills again failed to capitalize. The Falcons secured
the win with a 14-play, 5-minute drive that included Penix'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.
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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) runs after a catch
during the first half of an NFL football game against the Buffalo
Bills, Monday, Oct. 13, 2025, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)
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.
From 4-0 to 4-2
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).
“We’ll work hard at it,” McDermott said. “We’ve got to figure it
out. It’s not going to be easy, but we got to figure out it out and
work our tails off to get it done.”
No Ray-Ray McCloud
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.”
Two weeks to clean up
The Bills have a bye week. When asked if the timing was good, Allen
said: “It’s going to eat at me for the next two weeks. I mean, a lot
of stuff to clean up. We’ll put our focus on our next opponent and
go from there.”
Injuries
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.
Up next
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.
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