Bills vs. Falcons Week 6: Two must-know storylines for 'Monday Night Football' showdown

Monday night of Week 6 kicks off with an interconference matchup between teams hoping to reassert their identities.

The Bills earned their first loss of the season last week against the Patriots, uncharacteristically turning the ball over three times and struggling to get the offense going after scoring 30 points or more in four straight games to begin the campaign.

Their host, the Falcons, have had a bye week to prepare after getting back to .500 with a win over the Commanders at the end of September, but they've been an incredibly hot-and-cold bunch from week to week. A victory versus a juggernaut such as Buffalo would go a long way in establishing some consistency for the long season ahead after an early bye.

Josh Allen and Co. will do their best to stop such a statement from taking place and get themselves back on track at Atlanta's expense.

Two must-know storylines

1) Cook vs. Bijan

Bills-Falcons features a premier showcase at the running back position. James Cook became the seventh-highest-paid running back in August. Since then, he's outplayed even that valuation. Through the first five weeks of the season, Cook is second in rushing yards (450), tied for second in rushing touchdowns (five) and is averaging 107.8 scrimmage yards per game. He's reached those heights despite being limited to 49 rushing yards during Buffalo's recent upset loss to New England, which means he'll be eager to make amends. The Bills would be wise to lean on him, given Atlanta is tops in the NFL against the pass but only 16th limiting rushing yards. On the other side, Bijan Robinson continues to perform like the generational talent he came advertised as in the 2023 draft. He's leading the NFL with 146 scrimmage yards per game, and he also leads Atlanta with 270 receiving yards. He's racked up those yards essentially as an extension of the running game, too, proving himself a YAC monster with an average depth of target of 1.1 yards and 250 of his 270 receiving yards coming after the catch. Similar to Atlanta, Buffalo can be impossible to pass against (second in passing yards allowed), but the Bills have a far wider chasm between that aspect and their run defense than the Falcons do. The Bills rank 28th in rushing yards allowed, and Robinson might be playing the best of any back they've faced so far. Both offenses could take to the ground and see who comes out on top.

2) Falcons defense faces biggest test yet

Atlanta currently ranks first in yards allowed, a category the franchise has finished in the top 10 in just once this century. As mentioned above, that's been powered by the defense's proclivity to shut down passing lanes. However, the Falcons' performance so far has to come with a bit of a disclaimer. They did give Buccaneers quarterback Baker Mayfield fits in Week 1, limiting him to 159 yards through the air, but their other three games have come against the Vikings' J.J. McCarthy in his second career start, the Panthers' Bryce Young and the Commanders' Marcus Mariota, who was missing Terry McLaurin. Next up, though, is the reigning Most Valuable Player. No one will be able to slap an asterisk on the Falcons and their defensive efforts if they're able to shut down Josh Allen. Allen will be highly motivated to bounce back after dropping his first game of the season, a loss in which he had multiple giveaways for the first time since Week 10, 2024. He's 24-8 (.750) following a defeat and currently has 1,217 passing yards, 212 rushing yards and 12 total touchdowns this season while fueling Buffalo to an average of 30.6 points per game. If there's a way to get past you, he's going to find it. The Falcons must make sure they limit him from doing so as much as possible.

Bills' Week 6 injury report

Falcons' Week 6 injury report