Instant analysis: What went right, what went wrong in Bills' loss to the Falcons in Week 6

The Buffalo Bills lost to the Atlanta Falcons, 24-14, on "Monday Night Football" in Week 6.

The Bills (4-2) slow first half put them behind early. For the second consecutive game, the offense struggled to find the end zone consistently.

Buffalo was overwhelmed by the Falcons' (3-2) star players. Bijan Robinson was tremendous, rushing 19 times for a career-best 170 yards. Robinson added six catches for 68 yards. Drake London sliced through the Bills secondary, reeling in 10 receptions for 158 yards.

It was a disappointing showing the Bills as they head into their bye week.

Here is the Bills Wire's instant analysis of the Bills' 24-14 loss to the Falcons:

What went right?

Not a whole heck of a lot.

The Bills had impressive opening drives to each half.

In the first half, Josh Allen connected with Joshua Palmer for a 45-yard pass. The series concluded with Allen threading the needle on a 19-yard touchdown pass to Dawson Knox.

Buffalo opened the second half with a nine-play, 73-yard drive culminating with a Ray Davis 16-yard touchdown reception. Offensive coordinator Joe Brady emphasized the run and quick passing game with his playcalling. James Cook ran for 37 on the series.

Buffalo's special teams showed up during the fourth quarter, as Greg Rousseau blocked a field goal attempt that would have given the Falcons the lead by 10 points.

Buffalo's defense took on. a bend-but-don't-break philosophy in the second half. The Bills kept the Falcons off the board until after the two-minute warning in the fourth quarter.

What went wrong?

This was a maddening performance from top to bottom for the Bills.

It started on the first play of the game. Buffalo forced a fumble, but it was negated by an offside penalty by Greg Rousseau. Atlanta would go on to score a touchdown on this series.

Buffalo's defense had massive issues stopping anything that the Falcons did. Entering halftime, Bijan Robinson rushed for 138 yards while Drake London gained 147 yards through the air. Michael Penix outperformed Josh Allen in the passing attack, throwing for 171 yards to Allen's 98. The Falcons gained 335 total yards in the first half alone.

Buffalo's offense complemented its defense with ineptitude in the first half, punting on four consecutive drives. The Bills final first-half series ended with a horrendous interception by Allen. The only saving grace was Drake London's toe stepping out of bounds at the two-yard line. Otherwise, the Bills would have been down three touchdowns at the break.

It was another game where the Bills defense struggled with tackling. Robinson is an exceptional player, but there were too many instances where he easily ran through arm tackles. Robinson totaled 238 all-purpose yards.

The Bills problem with penalties is becoming a theme for the team. Once again, Buffalo was undisciplined throughout the game. They lost the aforementioned opening play turnover. In addition, Buffalo's secondary was guilty of multiple penalties. When the defense absolutely had to stop the Falcons, Buffalo allowed drives to continue with multiple violations.

Buffalo tried to keep a drive alive with a fourth-down attempt. The Bills were unsuccessful, giving the Falcons the ball in prime territory for Atlanta's offense.

The Bills had a chance to tie the game, regaining possession after Rousseau's field goal block. Instead, Elijah Moore fumbled the exchange for Allen, ending with another punt. This adds to the concerns regarding Buffalo's playcalling.

Buffalo could not extend drives. The offense only converted two of nine third downs throughout the game.

Buffalo's injury woes continued, as Joshua Palmer, Connor McGovern, Terrel Bernard, and Christian Benford missed time throughout the game with various ailments.

What's the bottom line?

Multiple concerning patterns are developing in Buffalo's season.

First, the team's health is becoming a problem. The Bills are missing far too many starters to remain a top-tier team. The reserves are battling, but they are largely overwhelmed in big-game situations.

Second, Buffalo's offensive woes are deeply problematic. Buffalo started the game with a big play, and then a whole lot of nothing. James Cook provided a little spark, but there is a lack of consistent offensive attack for Buffalo.

Third, the lack of discipline is worrisome. Buffalo ended the game with nine penalties. Once again, several of the penalties cost the Bills dearly, giving the Falcons life and extending drives.

Fourth, the playcalling will receive some scrutiny based on tonight's performance. Buffalo's offense could only find points on the first drive of each half. Buffalo was unable to make in-game alterations to find success in this game.

Buffalo falls to 4-2 overall. They are now in second place in the AFC East, tied with New England but behind due to the tie-breaking scenario. This situation was unimaginable only a month ago. Now, there's going to be a bit of noise regarding whether this Buffalo team is for real or not.

What's next?

Buffalo has their bye week to recover from this latest string of substandard performances. Following their week off, the Bills will travel to Carolina to square off against the resurgent Panthers. Carolina (3-3) has won three of its last four games.

This article originally appeared on Bills Wire: Instant analysis: What went right, wrong in Bills' loss to Falcons