WGR

‘Once again the Bills were flagged for far too many penalties, totaling 7 for 60 yards.’

‘Cook, who has taken his game to a higher level this season, was unstoppable. The offensive line opened up holes, the wide receivers and tight ends helped out with their blocking on toss plays but Cook was the difference maker. He either exploded through the holes or used cutback moves to get to those openings. Other times he used his speed to beat Carolina defenders to the edge.’

‘The Bills have had trouble stopping the tun this season. They’re allowing the most yards per play on the ground (5.75) and over 156 yards per game, third-most in the NFL. Carolina has an excellent run game, averaging over 140 yards per contest, which is third-best in the NFL, and an 8th most 4.72 yards per run. Panthers running back Rico Dowdle has the third-most rushing yards (551) and third-best average per carry (5.62) in the entire NFL. The Bills absolutely have to slow down the Panthers rushing attack and force them into long-yardage situations and to throw the ball.’

‘Carolina Panthers quarterback Bryce Young did not participate in practice Thursday for a second-straight day due to an ankle injury, making it increasingly likely he will not play against the Buffalo Bills this Sunday.’

‘The six-game review of the offense looks like this: Josh Allen is still one of the top quarterbacks in the league, but after throwing just six interceptions last season, Allen has been picked off four times in the first six games. Allen has also been sacked 12 times, which is just two off his total from last season.’

‘Young’s play had improved slightly during the win streak, but the Panthers’ passing game was still very limited. It remains to be seen if Dalton can change that.’

‘Rookie first round draft pick Maxwell Hairston, who has been out since July after spraining his knee and being placed on Injured Reserve, had his 21-day practice window opened this week. That means Hairston will remain on I.R., but be able to practice with the club, who now has three weeks to put the cornerback on the 53-man active roster.’

‘McDermott said other injured players, including tight end Dalton Kincaid (oblique), linebacker Terrel Bernard (ankle), wide receiver Curtis Samuel (neck/ribs), and linebacker Matt Milano (pectoral) are all day-to-day with their injuries.’

‘As the Falcons’ offense were firing on all cylinders the first half, the Bills offense were unable to put up points of their own in the second quarter as the teams headed to the locker room at half as the Falcons held their 21-7 lead.’

‘”I did think that they battled down to the end right there, which I appreciate,” McDermott said.’

‘”I got to be better at seeing the things that they’re trying to do to us,” said Allen. “I need to make adjustments accordingly”.’

‘Needing a touchdown to tie the game and facing a 3rd down and 1 at their own 48 yard line, offensive coordinator Joe Brady called a jet sweep to Elijah Moore, eerily similar to the one he called last week to Dawson Knox. And just like last week, the Bills fumbled the exchange. This time, Moore picked it up, but lost four yards. The Bills punted.’

‘The offense had its worst game of the season. The defense had a historically bad first half. It all added up to a second-consecutive loss, which knocked the Bills out of first place in the AFC East and sent them into the bye week wondering what in the world is going on.’

‘Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is fourth in the NFL in total yards from scrimmage with 584, including two 100-yard receiving games. He’s averaging 4.9 yards per carry on the season. The Bills have given up 145 yards a game on the ground, fifth-most in the league. Robinson has had at least 18 touches in every game so far this season. No doubt the Falcons will want to feed him as much as possible against the Bills, who will have to slow him down as both a runner and receiver.’

‘Will it be the one from the Falcons’ first three games of the season, which produced just 42 points and was shutout by the Carolina Panthers? Or will it be the offense that totaled 435 yards and put 34 points up on the board during a win over the Washington Commanders?’