Falcons vs Bills Week 17 2021: Final Score 29

Final2021 Week 17

Highmark Stadium (Old), Orchard Park, NYSun, Jan 2, 2022, 1:00 PM ET

Atlanta Falcons vs Buffalo Bills, Week 17 2021

Atlanta Falcons

Away

Buffalo Bills

HomeWon

Scoring by quarter
Team	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Falcons	2	13	0	0	15
Bills	14	0	8	7	29

ATL 15BUF 29 Final

Passing leader
Matt Ryan
ATL · QB
6.6PPR pts
13/23, 197 YDS
Top fantasy scorer
Devin Singletary
BUF · RB
23.0PPR pts
23 ATT, 110 YDS, 2 TD
Falcons leader
Mike Davis
ATL · RB
12.7PPR pts
8 ATT, 42 YDS, 1 TD, 1 REC, 15 REC YDS
Defensive playmaker
A.J. Terrell Jr.
ATL
1 INT, 1 SACK, 7 TKL

Bills 29, Falcons 15: Buffalo rallies from 1 down at halftime

Buffalo erased a 15–14 halftime deficit, outscoring Atlanta 15–0 after the break to win 29–15. The Bills finished with a 351–265 edge in total offense.

The Falcons went 1-for-7 on third down and committed one turnover, while the Bills kept the ball for 36:07.

Key advantages

+86 total yards BUF 351 · ATL 265
+44% third-down rate BUF 58% · ATL 14%
+12:14 time of possession BUF 36:07 · ATL 23:53

Game Highlights

Official NFL highlights · Opens from YouTube

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Why the Bills Won

Buffalo won the third-down and time of possession battles.

Team stats comparison, Falcons vs Bills
Falcons	Stat	Bills
265	Total yards	351

14%	Third-down conversion	58%

23:53	Time of possession	36:07

Other team stats
5.3	Yards per play	4.9

50	Plays	71

1	Turnovers	3

Scoring Summary

The Bills scored four touchdowns; the Falcons scored one touchdown, two field goals, and one safety.

Scoring plays, Falcons vs Bills
Time	Team	Play	ATL	BUF
1st quarter
11:04	ATL	Safety Takes leadJake Kumerow tackled in the end zone	2	0
3:15	BUF	Josh Allen 1-yard TD run Takes leadTyler Bass XP	2	7
0:35	BUF	Josh Allen 4-yard TD run Extends leadTyler Bass XP	2	14
2nd quarter
10:08	ATL	Younghoe Koo 28-yard FG	5	14
1:48	ATL	Mike Davis 1-yard TD runYounghoe Koo XP	12	14
0:00	ATL	Younghoe Koo 24-yard FG Takes lead	15	14
3rd quarter
5:56	BUF	Devin Singletary 6-yard TD run Takes leadJosh Allen → Cole Beasley, 2-pt conversion	15	22
4th quarter
10:46	BUF	Devin Singletary 4-yard TD run Extends leadTyler Bass XP	15	29

Fantasy Points: Falcons vs Bills, Week 17 2021

Fantasy leaders

Josh AllenBUFQB23.9 PTSQB4
Devin SingletaryBUFRB23.0 PTSRB5
Mike DavisATLRB12.7 PTSRB27
Stefon DiggsBUFWR10.2 PTSWR43

Player Stats

Quarterbacks

Quarterback statistics
Player	FPTS	FIN	CMP/ATT	Pass YDS	TD	INT	Rush ATT	Rush YDS	Rush TD	Rate	Start/Sit
Matt RyanATLQB	5.6	QB28	13/23	197	0	0	2	7	0	84.9
Josh AllenBUFQB	23.9	QB4	11/26	120	0	3	15	81	2	17.0	Start/Sit →

WRs, RBs, & TEs

Receiver, running back and tight end statistics
Player	FPTS	FIN	POS	Rush ATT	Rush YDS	Rush TD	TGT	REC	Rec YDS	Rec TD	Start/Sit
Devin SingletaryBUFRB	23.0	RB5	RB	23	110	2	1	0	0	0	Start/Sit →
Mike DavisATLRB	12.7	RB27	RB	8	42	1	2	1	15	0
Stefon DiggsBUFWR	10.2	WR43	WR	—	—	—	9	5	52	0	Start/Sit →
Kyle PittsATLTE	8.9	TE15	TE	—	—	—	4	2	69	0
Russell GageATLWR	8.0	WR54	WR	—	—	—	5	3	50	0
Cordarrelle PattersonATLRB	7.2	RB37	RB	9	28	0	2	2	24	0
Gabe DavisBUFWR	7.0	WR57	WR	—	—	—	3	3	40	0
Cole BeasleyBUFWR	6.2	WR62	WR	—	—	—	6	2	22	0
Parker HesseATLTE	6.1	TE26	TE	—	—	—	3	3	31	0
Zack MossBUFRB	3.9	RB53	RB	5	39	0	—	—	—	—
Olamide ZaccheausATLWR	2.8	WR94	WR	—	—	—	3	2	8	0	Start/Sit →
Qadree OllisonATLRB	1.9	RB68	RB	3	19	0	—	—	—	—
Isaiah McKenzieBUFWR	1.9	WR100	WR	1	3	0	2	1	6	0
Dawson KnoxBUFTE	0.0	—	TE	—	—	—	2	0	0	0	Start/Sit →
Frank DarbyATLWR	0.0	—	WR	—	—	—	1	0	0	0

Fantasy Usage

Atlanta Falcons

Snap Share

Olamide ZaccheausWR51 snaps96%
Russell GageWR42 snaps79%
Parker HesseTE37 snaps70%
Cordarrelle PattersonRB27 snaps51%
Mike DavisRB27 snaps51%

Target Share20 targets

Russell Gage25%, 5 targets
Kyle Pitts20%, 4 targets
Olamide Zaccheaus15%, 3 targets
Parker Hesse15%, 3 targets
Cordarrelle Patterson10%, 2 targets
Other15%, 3 targets

Carry Share22 carries

Cordarrelle Patterson41%, 9 carries
Mike Davis36%, 8 carries
Qadree Ollison14%, 3 carries
Matt Ryan9%, 2 carries

Buffalo Bills

Snap Share

Dawson KnoxTE67 snaps88%
Gabe DavisWR66 snaps87%
Devin SingletaryRB61 snaps80%
Stefon DiggsWR60 snaps79%
Cole BeasleyWR37 snaps49%

Target Share23 targets

Stefon Diggs39%, 9 targets
Cole Beasley26%, 6 targets
Gabe Davis13%, 3 targets
Isaiah McKenzie9%, 2 targets
Dawson Knox9%, 2 targets
Other4%, 1 targets

Carry Share44 carries

Devin Singletary52%, 23 carries
Josh Allen34%, 15 carries
Zack Moss11%, 5 carries
Isaiah McKenzie2%, 1 carries

View full usage tableHide full usage table

Offensive snaps and share for the skill positions
Player	SNAPS	SNAP %	TGT	TGT %	CAR
Olamide ZaccheausATLWR	51	96%	3	15%	0
Dawson KnoxBUFTE	67	88%	2	9%	0
Gabe DavisBUFWR	66	87%	3	13%	0
Devin SingletaryBUFRB	61	80%	1	4%	23
Russell GageATLWR	42	79%	5	25%	0
Stefon DiggsBUFWR	60	79%	9	39%	0
Parker HesseATLTE	37	70%	3	15%	0
Cordarrelle PattersonATLRB	27	51%	2	10%	9
Mike DavisATLRB	27	51%	2	10%	8
Kyle PittsATLTE	27	51%	4	20%	0
Christian BlakeATLWR	26	49%	0	0%	0
Cole BeasleyBUFWR	37	49%	6	26%	0
Isaiah McKenzieBUFWR	24	32%	2	9%	1
Zack MossBUFRB	16	21%	0	0%	5
Reggie GilliamBUFRB	15	20%	0	0%	0
Lee SmithATLTE	10	19%	0	0%	0
Jake KumerowBUFWR	13	17%	0	0%	0
Qadree OllisonATLRB	5	9%	0	0%	3
Marquez StevensonBUFWR	3	4%	0	0%	0
Frank DarbyATLWR	1	2%	1	5%	0

Fantasy Points vs Expected

PPRHalf PPRStandard

Expected points (xFP) are what a player's pass attempts, carries and targets are worth at the league's average rates; the difference is what the player made of them.

Biggest overperformer+6.6Devin Singletary23.0 PTS vs 16.4 xFP
Biggest underperformer−5.0Stefon Diggs10.2 PTS vs 15.2 xFP
Highest expected volume21.1 xFPJosh Allen23.9 PTS scored

Usage and expected fantasy points
Player	PTS	xFP	vs xFP	Snap%	Usage	Rte%	Pass att	Car	Car%	Tgt	Tgt%
Josh AllenBUF · QB	23.9	21.1	+2.8	100%	26 att	—	26	15	34%	0	0%
Devin SingletaryBUF · RB	23.0	16.4	+6.6	80%	52% car	—	0	23	52%	1	4%
Stefon DiggsBUF · WR	10.2	15.2	−5.0	79%	38% tgt	—	0	0	0%	9	38%
Matt RyanATL · QB	6.6	11.4	−4.8	100%	23 att	—	23	2	9%	0	0%
Cole BeasleyBUF · WR	6.2	10.1	−3.9	49%	25% tgt	—	0	0	0%	6	25%
Cordarrelle PattersonATL · RB	7.2	9.1	−1.9	51%	41% car	—	0	9	41%	2	10%
Mike DavisATL · RB	12.7	8.5	+4.2	51%	36% car	—	0	8	36%	2	10%
Russell Gage Jr.ATL · WR	8.0	8.4	−0.4	79%	25% tgt	—	0	0	0%	5	25%
Kyle Pitts Sr.ATL · TE	8.9	6.7	+2.2	51%	20% tgt	—	0	0	0%	4	20%
Gabe DavisBUF · WR	7.0	5.1	+1.9	87%	13% tgt	—	0	0	0%	3	13%
Olamide ZaccheausATL · WR	2.8	5.1	−2.3	96%	15% tgt	—	0	0	0%	3	15%
Parker HesseATL · TE	6.1	5.1	+1.0	70%	15% tgt	—	0	0	0%	3	15%
Isaiah McKenzieBUF · WR	1.9	4.0	−2.1	32%	8% tgt	—	0	1	2%	2	8%
Dawson KnoxBUF · TE	0.0	3.4	−3.4	88%	8% tgt	—	0	0	0%	2	8%
Zack MossBUF · RB	3.9	3.2	+0.7	21%	11% car	—	0	5	11%	0	0%
Qadree OllisonATL · RB	1.9	1.9	0.0	9%	14% car	—	0	3	14%	0	0%
Dion DawkinsBUF · —	0.0	1.7	−1.7	—	4% tgt	—	0	0	0%	1	4%
Frank DarbyATL · WR	0.0	1.7	−1.7	2%	5% tgt	—	0	0	0%	1	5%

Team totals: Falcons 20 targets and 22 carries; Bills 24 targets and 44 carries. Shares are from the box score. Snap counts are from the weekly player logs (Sleeper), and include plays wiped out by penalties. Route counts, air yards and red-zone touches appear when the tracking feed is connected. League-average rates from the 2021 season: 1.68 PPR points per target (67% catch rate), 0.64 per carry and 0.44 per pass attempt. They don't adjust for field position or target depth.

Fantasy Verdicts

Matt Ryan

ATL · QB · 6.6 pts on 11.4 expected

13 of 23 passing for 197 yards; 2 carries for 7 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 11.4 expected.

Fewest points since Week 11.

Josh Allen

BUF · QB · 23.9 pts on 21.1 expected

11 of 26 passing for 120 yards, 3 interceptions; 15 carries for 81 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 21.1 expected.

Start/Sit: Josh Allen →

Cordarrelle Patterson

ATL · RB · 7.2 pts on 9.1 expected

2 targets (10% of the team's), 2 catches for 24 yards; 9 carries (41% of the team's) for 28 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 9.1 expected.

Mike Davis

ATL · RB · 12.7 pts on 8.5 expected

2 targets (10% of the team's), 1 catch for 15 yards; 8 carries (36% of the team's) for 42 yards and 1 touchdown.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 8.5 expected.

Devin Singletary Ran hot

BUF · RB · 23.0 pts on 16.4 expected

1 target (4% of the team's), 0 catches for 0 yards; 23 carries (52% of the team's) for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns.

Verdict: The opportunities were worth 16.4 points; the touchdowns supplied the rest, and they are the part least likely to repeat.

Season high in carries (23). Best fantasy game of the season.

Start/Sit: Devin Singletary →

Stefon Diggs Volume, no payoff

BUF · WR · 10.2 pts on 15.2 expected

9 targets (38% of the team's), 5 catches for 52 yards.

Verdict: The role was there, worth 15.2 points at league-average rates; the production wasn't.

Fewest points since Week 13. A touchdown in 5 of the last 8 games.

Start/Sit: Stefon Diggs →

Olamide Zaccheaus

ATL · WR · 2.8 pts on 5.1 expected

3 targets (15% of the team's), 2 catches for 8 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 5.1 expected.

Start/Sit: Olamide Zaccheaus →

Parker Hesse

ATL · TE · 6.1 pts on 5.1 expected

3 targets (15% of the team's), 3 catches for 31 yards.

Verdict: The points matched the role, 5.1 expected.

Best fantasy game of the season.

Stock Up, Stock Down

Atlanta Falcons

Stock up: Cordarrelle Patterson led the backfield with 51% of the snaps after trailing Mike Davis before this game.
Stock up: Olamide Zaccheaus played 96% of the snaps, up from a 54% season average.
Stock up: Parker Hesse played 70% of the snaps, up from a 18% season average.

Buffalo Bills

Stock up: Devin Singletary played 80% of the snaps, up from a 56% season average.
Stock up: Gabe Davis played 87% of the snaps, up from a 44% season average.
Stock down: Zack Moss played 21% of the snaps, down from a 46% season average.

Fantasy Matchups

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, 2021 through Week 18.

Fantasy points allowed per game by position, Falcons defense and Bills defense
Points allowed to	Falcons D	Bills D
QBs	18.8	12.2
RBs	24.6	20.4
WRs	36.6	23.8
TEs	12.4	7.6

Regular season, summed from each game's box score and scored with this page's rules.

How the Game Swung

Buffalo opened at 85% win probability and passed 98% in the fourth quarter on the way to the win.

Bills win probability

Key Swings

+13Allen 1-yd TD run78% → 91%Q1 3:15
+6Allen 4-yd TD run91% → 97%Q1 0:35
−12Davis 1-yd TD run95% → 83%Q2 1:48
−9Koo 24-yd FG83% → 74%Q2 0:00
+25Singletary 6-yd TD run69% → 93%Q3 5:56

Swing in Bills win probability, in points

Play Calling and Possessions

Play calling, Falcons vs Bills
Atlanta Falcons	Measure	Buffalo Bills
50	Plays	71
56%	Pass rate	38%
6.0	Yds / dropback	4.4
4.4	Yds / carry	5.3
1/7	Third downs	7/12

Efficiency edge Buffalo ran 21 more plays and gained 0.9 more yards per carry.

Top targets
ATL Gage 25% · Pitts 20% · Zaccheaus 15%
BUF Diggs 38% · Beasley 25% · Davis 13%

Possession Results

How each possession ended, Falcons vs Bills
Result	ATL	BUF
Touchdowns	1	4
Field goals	2	0
Punts	4	0
Turnovers	1	3
Turnovers on downs	1	0

ATL turnover edge: +2

The Bills opened the scoring on their first possession, a 15-play, 69-yard drive that ended in a touchdown.
The Bills scored touchdowns on two of their first three drives, then drained the clock with three second-half drives of five to eight minutes.

All 17 possessions, drive by drive

Drive chart
Team	Start	Plays	Yards	Time	Result
ATL	Q1 15:00	6	29	3:56	Punt
ATL	Q1 11:04	3	-4	1:39	Punt
BUF	Q1 9:25	15	69	6:10	Touchdown
ATL	Q1 3:15	2	-7	0:48	Fumble
BUF	Q1 2:27	6	18	1:52	Touchdown
ATL	Q1 0:35	10	65	5:27	Field goal
BUF	Q2 10:08	12	67	6:48	Interception
ATL	Q2 3:20	5	80	1:32	Touchdown
BUF	Q2 1:48	2	12	0:42	Interception
ATL	Q2 1:06	7	50	1:06	Field goal
BUF	Q3 15:00	3	3	0:59	Interception
ATL	Q3 14:01	3	-12	1:29	Punt
BUF	Q3 12:32	11	80	6:36	Touchdown
ATL	Q3 5:56	5	12	2:52	Punt
BUF	Q3 3:04	12	65	7:18	Touchdown
ATL	Q4 10:46	11	59	5:04	Downs
BUF	Q4 5:42	10	29	5:42	End of game

About these numbers

Possessions that ended with the clock running out at the half or the end of the game aren't counted.

Personnel groupings, average depth of target and pass rate over expected appear when the tracking feed is connected.

Falcons vs Bills Head-to-Head

The Falcons and Bills first met in 1973 and have played 14 times since.

All-time series: 8–6Falcons lead, 14 meetings since 1973
Postseason: 0No playoff meetings
Largest Falcons win: 31–32009
Largest Bills win: 41–141992

Since 2021

1–1 Series tied

2 meetings since the 2021 season, regular season and playoffs.

Oldest to newest. F = Falcons win, B = Bills win, outlined = this game.

Recent Meetings

2025 Wk 6 Bills at Falcons, 2025 Wk 6 recap Mon, Oct 13, 2025 ATL 24 BUF 14 ATL W
2021 Wk 17 Falcons at Bills Sun, Jan 2, 2022 BUF 29 ATL 15 BUF W

Season to Date (Through Week 18)

The 2021 regular season, from each game's box score.

Season to date, Falcons vs Bills
Falcons	Stat	Bills
7-10	Record	11-6

18.4	Points per game	28.4

303.8	Yards per game	381.9

5.1	Yards per play	5.7

27.0	Points allowed per game	17.0

364.4	Yards allowed per game	272.8

Falcons vs Bills Odds and Results

How this game finished against the betting lines.

Spread: BUF −14Push
Total: 46Under: 44 points scored (by 2)

Expected vs Actual Scoring

Implied team totals against the actual score
Team	Implied	Actual	Difference
Bills	30.0	29	−1.0
Falcons	16.0	15	−1.0

Both offenses finished under the market's expectation, which matches the low fantasy output in the Fantasy tab.

Betting Trends

Each team's 2021 season through this game. Over/under is overs first.

Atlanta Falcons

Against the spread: 6–9–1
Over/under: 6–10
ATS as favorite: 3–3
ATS as underdog: 3–6–1
ATS on the road: 5–3–1

Buffalo Bills

Against the spread: 8–6–2
Over/under: 8–8
ATS as favorite: 6–5–2
ATS as underdog: 2–1
ATS at home: 3–3–2

Lines: ESPN's consensus, captured at kickoff. Individual sportsbooks varied.

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Falcons and Bills in Fantasy

The two teams don't meet again this season. If you roster a Falcon or a Bill, these answer the week-to-week question.

Keep Exploring

2021 Game Logs for Players in This Game

Falcons vs Bills Game FAQ

Who won the 2021 Falcons vs Bills Week 17 game?

The Buffalo Bills beat the Atlanta Falcons 29–15 in Week 17 of the 2021 season. The game was played at Highmark Stadium (Old) in Orchard Park, NY, on January 2, 2022. See the Bills' 2021 schedule.

What was the final score of Falcons vs Bills?

The final score was Bills 29, Falcons 15. The Falcons led 15–14 at halftime, and the second half went Falcons 0, Bills 15.

What happened in the Falcons vs Bills game?

Buffalo erased a 15–14 halftime deficit, outscoring Atlanta 15–0 after the break to win 29–15. The Bills finished with a 351–265 edge in total offense. Josh Allen led all players with 11 of 26 passing for 120 yards, plus 15 carries for 81 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. The Bills committed 3 turnovers, the Falcons 1.

Who scored the most fantasy points in Falcons vs Bills?

Josh Allen led the game with 23.9 PPR fantasy points, the QB4 of Week 17, on 11 of 26 passing for 120 yards, plus 15 carries for 81 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns. Devin Singletary was next with 23.0 (RB5). See Josh Allen's 2021 game log.

Who led Falcons vs Bills in passing, rushing and receiving?

Matt Ryan (ATL) led all passers with 13 of 23 for 197 yards. Devin Singletary (BUF) led in rushing with 23 carries for 110 yards and 2 touchdowns. Kyle Pitts (ATL) led in receiving with 2 catches for 69 yards.

How many fantasy points did Josh Allen score against the Falcons?

Josh Allen scored 23.9 fantasy points against the Falcons in Week 17 of the 2021 season, the same in PPR, half-PPR and standard scoring because he had no catches, on 11 of 26 passing for 120 yards, plus 15 carries for 81 rushing yards and 2 touchdowns.

Who outperformed and underperformed expected fantasy points in Falcons vs Bills?

Devin Singletary outperformed his expected fantasy points the most, scoring 23.0 PPR points on 16.4 xFP (+6.6). Stefon Diggs fell furthest short, with 10.2 points on 15.2 xFP (−5.0). A gap either way reflects efficiency and touchdowns in one game; it is not a forecast. For matchups ahead, see fantasy points allowed by position.

Who had the highest expected fantasy points in Falcons vs Bills?

Josh Allen had the most fantasy opportunity in the game, worth 21.1 expected PPR points (xFP) at league-average rates, and scored 23.9. Expected points measure the volume of a player's pass attempts, carries and targets, not how well he used them.

How did the Bills beat the Falcons?

The Bills beat the Falcons 29–15 because they outgained them 351–265.

Which team won the turnover battle in Falcons vs Bills?

The Falcons won the turnover battle 3–1: the Bills gave the ball away 3 times and the Falcons 1 time. The Bills won the game anyway.

What is the all-time Falcons vs Bills record?

The Falcons lead the all-time series 8–6 across 14 meetings since 1973.

When did the Falcons and Bills last play before this game?

Before Week 17 of 2021, they last met in the 2017 season on October 1, 2017, when the Bills beat the Falcons 23–17.

What was the closing spread for Falcons vs Bills?

The consensus closing spread at kickoff was Bills −14, making the Buffalo Bills 14-point favorites, with a closing total of 46. That implied about 30.0 points for the Bills and 16.0 for the Falcons.

Did Falcons vs Bills go over or under the total?

The game went under. The consensus closing total was 46, and the teams combined for 44 points, 2 under the number.

Was Falcons vs Bills a push against the spread?

Yes. The Bills closed as 14-point favorites and won by exactly 14, so the spread was a push: neither side covered, and spread bets were refunded.