The Buffalo Bills suffered a disappointing loss to the New England Patriots last Sunday. Now they must avoid dropping two in a row by coming away with a “W” in Week 6 against the Atlanta Falcons. The same
as last weekend, quarterback Josh Allen and the Bills will play in front of a national audience as the early game for Week 7 of Monday Night Football on ESPN. Will it be more of the same on the field?
Although not a home game in Orchard Park, NY, it may be the next best thing. Why? The Falcons play in a dome, which may play to Allen and the offense’s overall passing strengths. Here are a few reasons to believe that may be true, and also some cautionary notes…
In two back-to-back road games against the Los Angeles Rams (loss) and Detroit Lions (win) in 2024, Allen had 10 total touchdowns and 854 yards of offense with no turnovers. However, on the flip side one of his worst games last season was in a dome against the Houston Texans where he only completed nine passes and just one touchdown pass. Buffalo’s road game against the Indianapolis Colts wasn’t much better, as Allen threw two interceptions and one rushing score, but the Bills did win.
The Bills played a pair of games back-to-back in a dome during the 2022 NFL season. It was an interesting situation, where Buffalo’s home game against the Cleveland Browns was moved to Ford Field in Detroit, MI due to a massive lake-effect snow storm. That game stands as Allen’s only home dome game, which saw him throw for 197 yards and one touchdown in a winning effort.
Then a week later, and for Thanksgiving of 2022, Allen and the Bills were back in Detroit — only this time as the visiting team against the Lions. In that matchup, Allen threw two touchdowns and had that amazing pass to Stefon Diggs late in the fourth quarter that set up the game-winning field goal. That wasn’t the only Thanksgiving game Allen spent in a dome. Thanksgiving day back in 2021 was spent against the New Orleans Saints in Louisiana — a game where Allen was dialed in with four touchdowns through the air in a blowout win.
To date, Allen’s found the most adversity at NRG Stadium in Houston, TX. He’s yet to win a game there (including a playoff loss) going 0-3, which is something you can be certain Allen is keenly aware of all these years later. Allen and the Bills will get another crack at NRG later this season, with another road date against the Texans in 2025.
Obviously, what makes Allen dangerous in a dome is the lack of adverse weather. Absent elements, Allen can use him arm to its fullest extent. Additionally, there’s no precipitation on the field to dampen his scrambling ability.
Expect everything to be full steam ahead in Atlanta as Allen looks to get the Bills back on track in Week 6.
Bills QB Josh Allen’s dome record/stats
(2018 through 2024 NFL regular seasons)
To date, Josh Allen has played 15 regular-season games in a dome. Fourteen of those games were as the road team, while one game in 2022 saw Ford Field in Detroit serve as a home venue for Buffalo. The Bills and Allen are 11-4 in those 15 regular-season dome matchups since 2018.
Josh Allen’s 15-game dome stats total
11-4 record
Passing stats: 314-of-473 for 3,817 yards, 27 passing TDs, 10 INTs
Rushing stats: 109 rushes for 603 yards, 13 TDs
Receiving stats: 1 catch (1 target) for 12 yards, 1 TD
Fumbles: 7 fumbles/1 fumble lost
Times sacked/yards: 24 sacks for -152 yards
Below, we’ve broken down Allen’s per-game stats in dome games since 2018. The data does not include Buffalo’s 2018 Week 7 game at the Colts because Allen was injured and didn’t play; nor is the January 2020 postseason game against the Texans (22-19 loss during 2019 playoffs) included.
(All stats courtesy of Pro Football Reference.)
2018
- Wk 3 @Vikings (W 27-6)
15-of-22 for 196 yards, 1 TD (111.2 rating) | 3 sacks/-32 yards | 10 rushes for 39 yards, 2 TDs | 3 FUM/0 FL - Wk 6 @Texans (L 20-13)
10-of-17 for 84 yards (71.7 rating) | 2 sacks/-16 yards | 4 rushes for 20 yards
2019
- Wk 13 @Cowboys (W 26-15)
19-of-24 for 231 yards, 1 TD (120.7 rating) | 4 sacks/-27 yards | 10 rushes for 43 yards, 1 TD | 1 FUM/0 FL
2020
- Wk 4 @Raiders (W 30-23)
24-of-34 for 288 yards, 2 TDs (115.8 rating) | 1 sack/-14 yards | 3 rushes for -1 yard - Wk 10 @Cardinals (L 32-30)
32-of-49 for 284 yards, 2 TD, 2 INTs (77.3 rating) | 7 rushes for 38 yards | 1 catch (1 target) for 12 yards, 1 TD - Wk 13 @49ers (in AZ due to COVID) (W 34-24)
32-of-40 for 375 yards, 4 TDs (139.1 rating) | 1 sack/7 yards | 6 rushes for 11 yards | 2 FUM/1 FL
2021
- Wk 12 @Saints (W 31-6)
23-of-28 for 260 yards, 4 TDs, 2 INT (115.2 rating) | 2 sacks/-12 yards | 8 rushes for 43 yards
2022
- Wk 1 @Rams (W 31-10)
26-of-31 for 297 yards, 3 TDs, 2 INT (112.0 rating) | 2 sacks/-5 yards | 10 rushes for 56 yards, 1 TD - Wk 11 vs. Browns (at Ford Field) (W 31-23)
18-of-27 for 197 yards, 1 TD (100.4 rating) | 2 sacks/-11 yards | 3 rushes for 7 yards - Wk 12 @Lions (W 28-25)
24-of-42 for 253 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT (80.8 rating) | 3 sacks/-16 yards | 10 rushes for 78 yards, 1 TD | 1 FUM/0 FL
2023
- Wk 16 @Chargers (W 24-22)
15-of-21 for 237 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT (104.7 rating) | 1 sack/-7 yards | 5 rushes for 15 yards, 2 TDs
2024
- Wk 5 @Texans (L 23-20)
9-of-30 for 131 yards, 1 TD (56.4 rating) | 1 sack/-5 yards | 4 rushes for 54 yards - Wk 10 @Colts (W 30-20)
22-of-37 for 280 yards, 2 INTs (60.6 rating) | 2 sacks/0 yards | 8 rushes for 50 yards, 1 TD - Wk 14 Rams (L 44-42)
22-of-37 for 342 yards, 3 TDs (117.2 rating) | 10 rushes for 82 yards, 3 TDs - Wk 15 Detroit (W 48-42)
23-of-34 for 362 yards, 2 TDs (122.4 rating) | 11 rushes for 68 yards, 2 TDs
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Add it all up, and Allen has nearly a full season’s worth of experience and stats playing in a dome. Allen will check off another box in his quest to play an NFL game in every stadium this coming Monday evening, playing his first game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA.
The Bills need to play efficient, complementary football to add a win against an unfamiliar opponent in the Falcons during Week 6. Are they up for the challenge?
