Bills' defense lets late opportunity slip through its hands in loss to Falcons

With a chance to end a drive and maybe tie the game, Buffalo Bills' linebacker Shaq Thompson couldn't hold onto a game-changing interception.

Josh Allen pressured | Dale Zanine-Imagn Images

The Buffalo Bills dodged bullets all night. Almost all night, that is.

To stay in their Monday Night Football game against the Atlanta Falcons, the Bills stopped a fourth down in their Red Zone, blocked a field goal, and prevented a long touchdown just before halftime with a hustle play by Taylor Rapp that forced receiver Drake London out of bounds at the 1-yard line as time expired.

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But down only seven points and desperate for a defensive stop in the fourth quarter, the Bills ran out of answers. And let a golden opportunity slipped through their hands in the 24-14 loss that drops them to 4-2.

Josh Allen | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

A fatigued, injury-depleted Bills' defense couldn't get the Falcons off the field, allowing a 14-play drive that bled a precious five minutes off the clock and ended in a field that pushed the margin to 10. On the drive the Falcons only faced one crucial third down, and Jordan Phillips jumped offside to gift-wrap an easy first down.

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The key play, however, came moments earlier when linebacker Shaq Thompson perfectly read a short crossing route and jumped it. Falcons' quarterback Michael Penix never saw him, and delivered a pass. With nothing but 75 yards of green grass and a tie game in front of him, Thompson let the ball sail between both of his hands.

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Six plays later the Falcons kicked their game-clinching field goal. Ouch.

After an NFL-record streak of not losing the turnover battle, the Bills had two turnovers without getting a takeaway.

Josh Allen incompletion | Brett Davis-Imagn Images

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