Week 4: Bills vs. Falcons
at
Sunday, Oct. 1st
1:00pm ET
The Bills are off to a surprising 2-1 start but now head down to Atlanta for their biggest test of the year against the defending NFC Champions in their brand new digs. So far the undefeated Falcons have had no Super Bowl hangover and have picked up right where they left off at halftime of the Super Bowl.

FACTS AND FIGURES

Matchup: Buffalo (2-1) vs. Atlanta (3-0)
Place: Mercedes-Benz Stadium
TV/Radio: Network: CBS; DirecTV: 705; Sirius: 146; SiriusXM: 385
Announcers: Greg Gumbel, Trent Green, and Jamie Erdahl
Spread: Falcons by 8½
Series: Falcons lead 7-4
Streak: Falcons Won 4
Last Meeting: Falcons 34-31 in OT in Toronto (2013)
Falcons Offense Rush (10th); Pass (7th); overall (4th)
Falcons Defense Rush (9th); Pass (21st); overall (15th)
Bills Offense Rush (12th); Pass (29th); overall (26th)
Bills Defense Rush (7th); Pass (9th); overall (6th)


INJURY UPDATE

The Bills will likely still be without Cordy Glenn who isn't practicing with more foot and ankle issues. Shaq Lawson injured his groin in practice on Thursday and could miss the game as well. Marcell Dareus looks like he will be back in the lineup after missing one game with an ankle sprain.

The Falcons will likely be without their best pass rusher as Vic Beasley missed last week's game with a hamstring injury suffered during week 2. They will also be without DE Courtney Upshaw who has knee and ankle injuries. OT Ryan Schraeder and S Ricardo Allen are in concussion protocol.

Check out our Bills Daily Injury Page throughout the week for the latest updates on the injured players.

KEY MATCHUPS

RB LeSean McCoy vs. LB Deion Jones:
McCoy needs to get back on track and it will be Jones as the man in the middle trying to stop him.

RT Jordan Mills vs. LDE Brooks Reed:
The veteran Reed has two sacks on the season and will go up against Mills who has struggled all year.

LB Ramon Humber vs. RB Devonta Freeman:
Humber leads the team in tackles and will have to watch the very talented Freeman because he can be a game breaker.

DB E.J. Gaines vs. WR Julio Jones:
Gaines will likely line up against Jones most of the time. He had a great game last week and will need to be even better to keep Jones in check. He will need safety help as well as double teaming Jones will be important.

KEYS TO THE GAME

1. Pressure Ryan: There only chance at slowing down the potent passing attack is to make Matt Ryan uncomfortable by not letting him sit in the pocket and find his talented receivers.

2. Get Running Game Going: The running game has been stuck in neutral the past two weeks against two of the better run defenses in the league. They should be able to move it a bit more this week and that is imperative. Success in the running game will burn clock and keep the ball out of Ryan's hands.

3. Take Running Game Away: The only chance they have at slowing down the Falcons is to make them one dimensional. That means they need to stop their running game which has two very talented backs in Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman.

BILLS DAILY PREDICTION

The Bills are flying high and the Falcons hung on for a last second victory over the Lions. This is too tall a task for the Bills to win on the road against perhap the best team in the league even if they are banged up:
Falcons 31, Bills 16

Season Prediction Record: (3-0)
Season Record Against The Spread: (2-0-1)

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