Two Bills Drive

'It's hard to predict what will happen from here. It would be just like the Bills to go lose at Cincinnati next weekend. But one thing beyond dispute is this Buffalo team is much better than expected, a playoff contender under a first-year head coach who has his team playing at a high level.'

'In each game, the Bills created their own opportunities and caught some officiating breaks. Forces have not been conspiring to undermine the Bills.'

'Robert Jones got into some fiery back-and-forths, mocking people's appearances and last names, using terms such as "sissy" and "mama's boy" and offering face-to-face meetings in Buffalo.'

'Bills tight end Charles Clay was the offense's MVP, catching five passes for 112 yards. Jordan Matthews scored his first Bills touchdown on a scrambly 9-yard Tyrod Taylor toss in the second quarter.'

'If their 3-1 record fails to convince critics that they can win on any given Sunday, the Bills' 23-17 victory over the Falcons on the road certainly should do the trick. The Bills answered yet again with their most impressive road win since … since this whole dreadful playoff drought began.'

'LeSean McCoy finished with 76 yards, his highest total since gaining 110 yards in the season-opener against the New York Jets, on 20 carries. McCoy certainly was more effective than he was in gaining a combined 30 yards in the last two games, but the Bills have plenty of room for improvement on the ground. Still, it matters that they stuck with running the ball and on a day when their defense was coming up big, it significantly contributed to the outcome.'

'"It’s something that we believe in," Clay said. "We’re not protesting the flag, military, it’s about social justice and systemic oppression. That’s basically what it’s about, trying to change the ways of the world. Be a positive change. I know a lot of people look at it negatively, but if they really sit down and understand what’s going on, I think that they would believe."'

'“Big shoutout to the Detroit and Buffalo defenses,” said Tony Dungy, the former Indianapolis Colts coach who now serves as an analyst for NBC’s “Football Night in America,” on Twitter. “They keyed huge road wins for their teams today.” (Detroit defeated Minnesota, 14-7, on Sunday.)'

'Player of the game: Safety Micah Hyde. His two interceptions were one of the highlights of another solid defensive effort."

'Zay Jones absolutely has to make the catch on a ball he dropped in the second quarter. A perfect throw from Tyrod Taylor would have put the Bills in Atlanta territory after Buffalo went ahead 7-3, on its previous drive. Instead, Buffalo punted the ball away and the Falcons drove for a touchdown on the ensuing possession. The Bills traded up for Jones to make plays like that.'

'Hughes was too quick around the other edge for left tackle Jake Matthews and hit Ryan's forearm. There was no whistle, and White scooped it up and sprinted, unchased, to the end zone. Hughes gave Matthews problems with speed-rushing much of the game.'

'Running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman were good. They combined for 222 yards on 33 touches. Last week they put up 227 on 33 touches against Detroit. But the foundation of the Atlanta offense is built on Freeman's outside zone rushing. He averaged 5 yards a carry against Detroit. He managed just 3.2 a carry on 18 attempts against the Bills. He never got around the corner. Coleman caught a 39-yard pass with Lorenzo Alexander in coverage. But the Falcons' dynamic duo caught only six passes on the Bills, and that play was the only one for more than 14 yards.'

'Bills defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was selective but had great timing in blitzing Atlanta's Matt Ryan Sunday.'

'The Bills loved the matchup and went to Clay early and often. The Bills had 182 passing yards and Clay accounted for more than 60 percent.'

'Sean McDermott has his team believing. The Bills are a close-knit bunch, and the coach gets a lot of credit for that. McDermott did lose a challenge in the first half, but at that point with three timeouts, it was probably worth taking a chance since nobody really knows what a catch is. The decision to take a delay of game on fourth-and-goal from the 1-yard line could have been heavily criticized had the Falcons won. As it is, it was a strange play. It worked out, though.'