The Buffalo Bills are preparing to face the Atlanta Falcons in a Monday Night Football matchup, following a loss in Week 5. The team has shown resilience after defeats, holding a 22-6 record since 2019 in games following a loss. Quarterback Josh Allen is 24-8 as a starter after such games.
Left tackle Dion Dawkins spoke about the importance of learning from losses and using them as motivation. “I think that is a great thing that we do as a team. We learn from an L, we craft the L, and then we turn the L into a W,” Dawkins said. “And we still have to go out there and do it, but the process throughout the week [is] work, work, work [then] enjoy the brotherhood.”
Dawkins also highlighted how disconnecting after setbacks helps players regroup and move forward. Cornerback Taron Johnson added: “We’re just focused on the next game, not focused on what’s happened in the past… trust in the process. Every week is a new week. Just because we win last week or lose last week, that’s no bearing on what happens this week.”
Defensive end A.J. Epenesa emphasized teamwork: “I think it all just boils down to throwing the first punch and doing our job,” he said. “I think that whenever the 11 guys on the field are doing their job at a high pace, it’s hard to stop. And I’m confident against anybody, that whenever we’re really firing and doing our 1/11th when it needs to be done.”
The Bills have performed well against NFC teams recently with a 20-5 record since 2020. A win against Atlanta would give them their first 5-1 start since 2022.
Dawkins commented further: “We don’t have to win them all, which we would love to … going undefeated is a beautiful thing… You have to know how to win. You have to know how to lose. You have to know how to play after a loss.”
Injury reports were released ahead of Friday’s press conferences featuring Sean McDermott, Josh Allen, Joshua Palmer, Keon Coleman, and Shaq Thompson.
Statistically, Buffalo leads NFL teams with an .813 winning percentage (13-3) against NFC opponents since 2022—tied with Baltimore—and averages 32 points per game in those matchups. This will be their eleventh Monday Night Football appearance since 2020—the most among NFL teams—with an average of nearly 28 points per game on Mondays during this period.
Buffalo has gained at least 350 yards in each of its five games this season—a feat matched only twice before in franchise history (1989 and early part of 1992). Tight ends for Buffalo lead all NFL teams with 395 receiving yards so far; Dalton Kincaid is one of three tight ends leading his team in receiving yards.
Running back James Cook III leads all NFL players with twelve touchdowns on the road since last season—a franchise record over any nine-game road span—and ranks sixth league-wide with 539 scrimmage yards this year.
If Buffalo wins Monday night:
– They will achieve their first 5-1 start since 2022.
– It will mark three consecutive Monday Night Football victories for the first time since between 1992–93.
– Head coach Sean McDermott would improve his record against Atlanta to three wins without defeat.
Several individual milestones are within reach:
Quarterback Josh Allen needs one touchdown for third-most scrimmage TDs in team history and could surpass Cam Newton for most games with both passing and rushing touchdowns.
Tight end Dalton Kincaid could become Buffalo’s first-ever tight end with consecutive hundred-yard receiving games.
Running back James Cook can join select company by reaching at least five hundred rushing yards and six rushing touchdowns through six weeks or move up on Buffalo’s all-time rushing touchdown list.
Off-field developments include progress at Highmark Stadium where sod was laid down for the new field and goal posts were installed.
