Bills Enter Bye Week After Second Straight Loss, Coach Calls for “Ground Zero” Reset

The Buffalo Bills are heading into their bye week with a 4-2 record after a 24-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night, a defeat that drops them behind the New England Patriots in the AFC East and raises questions about their early-season dominance.

Head Coach Sean McDermott expressed the need for a complete overhaul following the game, stating, “We’ll figure out things on offense, defense and special teams… We’ve got to start over and start from ground zero and figure this thing out and work our tails off to do it.” The Bills defense struggled in the first half, allowing a season-high 335 yards, with significant contributions from Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (152 yards) and wide receiver Drake London (147 yards). Injuries also plagued the team, with tight end Dalton Kincaid missing the game and defensive tackle DaQuan Jones and wide receiver Joshua Palmer sustaining injuries during the contest.

Quarterback Josh Allen, despite completing 15 of 26 passes for 180 yards and two touchdowns, threw two interceptions and was sacked four times. Allen acknowledged his responsibility for the sacks, saying, “I’ve got to be better. Protections, IDs, movement in the pocket. I’ve just got to be better.” He also stated his hand was not injured, though McDermott noted the game was “too hard” on the quarterback. The increased pressure on Allen is a growing concern, as he’s already been sacked 12 times this season – nearing his total from the entire 2024 regular season. You can find more information about Josh Allen’s stats on the official NFL website.

The Bills will use the bye week to evaluate their performance and address the issues on both sides of the ball, including a review of running back James Cook’s limited role on third and fourth downs. McDermott said they will “look at that as well over the bye here.” The team will next face the Carolina Panthers in two weeks, and Allen stated the loss “is going to eat at me the next two weeks.”