Atlanta was down its Nos. 2 and 3 receivers in Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud III in Week 6.
Terrin Waack
FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London escaped two Buffalo Bills defenders as he caught a pass, leaving them both face down on the ground near the 30-yard line, and ran the remaining distance to the right corner of the end zone.
The closest referee signaled for a touchdown, which would the Falcons a three-score lead entering halftime at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Monday. London celebrated, jumping into right guard Chris Lindstrom's arms and being lifted above his teammates.
The excitement quickly quelled as officials reviewed the play.
"I'm sick," London said. "I thought I got in."
What was originally called a 40-yard touchdown was ultimately ruled a 39-yard reception. London stepped out of bounds at the 1-yard line, pushed by a completely different Bills defender who chased him down. The Falcons went into the locker room with its existing two-score lead.
"Now, I know I was thinking of ball security and not reaching it out," London said. "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."
The Falcons did, 24-14, improving their record to 3-2.
London caught 10 of his 16 targets for 158 yards and a touchdown.
It's funny London was so concerned about ball security on the end-of-half play because his sole touchdown in the first quarter showed the opposite. London caught this pass clearly at the 1-yard line, with one Bills defender already on him and another on his way. Instead of pulling the ball close to his body, he gripped it tight in his left hand and outstretched that arm toward the goal line. It broke the plane for a 9-yard touchdown.
"He's an absolute dog," Falcons head coach Raheem Morris said. "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."
Through five games, London is easily the Falcons' top receiver. He has 427 receiving yards, followed by running back Bijan Robinson (338 receiving yards) and tight end Kyle Pitts Sr. (223 receiving yards). The next closest wide receiver on the list is Darnell Mooney, who has only 79 yards.
Injuries have hindered Mooney's season so far. He missed Week 1 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers due to a lingering shoulder injury sustained in training camp. He then injured his hamstring in the Falcons' Week 4 win against the Washington Commanders. The bye wasn't enough to fully recover, and Mooney wasruled out of Mondays Week 6 gameon the final injury report.
Then, the Falcons were also unexpectedly down their third receiver, Ray-Ray McLoud III, against the Bills. He was a healthy scratch. Morris said it was a coaching decision.
So, that left London as Penix's main destination through the air. Robinson carried the ground attack, totaling 19 carries for 170 yards rushing and a touchdown.
It was the first game in franchise history where the Falcons had a player with at least 150 receiving yards and another with at least 150 rushing yards.
"That's the football we want to play," Penix said. "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."
The halftime caveat was added because the 335 of the Falcons' 443 total net yards were accumulated through the the first two quarters. That's 76% of Atlanta's production. Both London and Robinson were well above 100 yards apiece at the halfway point.
London actually managed 64 of his receiving yards in the first quarter. It was career-high amount in any quarter for the 2022 first-round draft pick.
The 24-year-old came out hot.
"He sets the tone," Morris said. "He is everything that you want in a wide out and everything you want in a player. I love him."
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