Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London delivered a standout performance in the team’s 24-14 win over the Buffalo Bills at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday. London caught 10 of 16 targets for 158 yards and a touchdown, helping the Falcons improve their record to 3-2.
During the game, London broke away from two Bills defenders and appeared to score a 40-yard touchdown before halftime. However, after review, officials determined he stepped out of bounds at the 1-yard line, resulting in a 39-yard reception instead. London expressed his disappointment, saying, “I’m sick. I thought I got in.” He added, “Now, I know I was thinking of ball security and not reaching it out. But it was end of half, I got to know that no matter what happens, then it’s just going to go to half. So, kind of beating myself up for that. But we won the game.”
London’s only touchdown came in the first quarter, when he caught a pass at the 1-yard line and extended his arm across the goal line for a 9-yard score despite pressure from Bills defenders.
Falcons head coach Raheem Morris praised London, stating, “He’s an absolute dog. When he gets the ball in his hand, he’s ferocious, he’s vicious, he’s tough. He brings a certain amount of toughness to our team.” Morris further added, “He sets the tone. He is everything that you want in a wide out and everything you want in a player. I love him.”
Through five games, London leads the Falcons with 427 receiving yards. Running back Bijan Robinson follows with 338 receiving yards, and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. has 223 receiving yards. Wide receiver Darnell Mooney has been limited by injuries this season, missing the Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers with a shoulder injury and being ruled out for Monday’s game after a hamstring issue in Week 4 against the Washington Commanders. The team was also without Ray-Ray McLoud III, who was listed as a healthy scratch for the Bills game based on a coaching decision by Morris.
With Mooney and McLoud unavailable, London became quarterback Michael Penix Jr.’s main target in the passing game, while Robinson led the ground attack with 19 carries for 170 yards and a touchdown.
This game marked the first time in franchise history that the Falcons had one player record at least 150 receiving yards and another achieve at least 150 rushing yards in the same contest.
Penix commented on the team’s performance: “That’s the football we want to play. That’s how we’ve got to come out all the time, even after half. … For us to go out there and win that football game with the second half that I feel like we had that was a big lull, I feel like it’s going to be a scary sight whenever we figure it out and all play together and play a full game and not just one good half.”
Most of Atlanta’s offensive production came in the first half, with 335 of their 443 total net yards accumulated before halftime. London accounted for 64 receiving yards in the first quarter alone, marking a career-high for any quarter by the 24-year-old receiver.
