27-year old punter Michael Koenen is likely done for the year after suffering a concussion last weekend.  He has played in 15 games for the Falcons this season and he has punted the ball 58 times for 2,493 yards (43.0 avg).  Koenen only has 3 touchbacks (5.2%) and he has pinned the opposition inside their own 20-yard line 18 times (31%) this year.  The Falcons won’t likely have to punt much this weekend against the Bucs.

24-year old QB Matt Ryan regressed some in 2009 but his numbers aren’t too far off from his rookie season.  He has been dealing with a bad toe for a while and that has dogged him hurting his performance.  Ryan has played in 13 games for the Falcons this season and he has completed 240 of 416 passes (57.7%) for 2,693 yards with 20 TD passes and 12 INTs (81.1 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 29 times for 46 yards (1.6 ypc) with 1 TD run this year.  Look for Ryan to rebound with a eye-popping 2010 season if he can stay healthy.

The Falcons totally destroyed the Bills yesterday.  Matt Ryan had one of his best games in quite some time as he completed 18 of 35 passes for 250 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs.  Jason Snelling led the way on the ground for the Falcons yesterday by rushing for 68 yards on 15 carries (4.5 ypc).  Jerious Norwood pitched in with 52 yards rushing on 13 carries (4.0 ypc) against the Bills.  Roddy White was outstanding for the Falcons yesterday with 8 grabs for 139 yards (17.4 avg) with 2 TD catches.  Marty Booker pitched in with 4 catches for 57 yards (14.3 avg) with 1 TD grab.  The Falcons finished up with 391 total yards on offense (157 rushing, 234 passing) in this game.

CB Brent Grimes led a dominating effort by the Falcons on D with 9 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception.  DE Lawrence Sidbury returned a Fred Jackson fumble 11 yards for a TD yesterday.  The Bills finished up with only 178 total yards on offense (40 rushing, 138 passing) in this game.  The Falcons are now 8-7 on the year.

This is a game that the Falcons should be able to control.  The Falcons will likely come out running the ball against a Bills’ D that is allowing 165.6 yards rushing and 4.8 yards per carry.  That sets up Jason Snelling to have a good game.  When the Bills creep up to stop the run look for Matt Ryan to attack them deep off of play action.  Roddy White could be in store for a huge game this week with safety Jairus Byrd and CB Terrence McGee both out for the year due to injury.  The Bills don’t have much of a pass rush so Matt Ryan should have time to throw the ball and his main target in the passing game this week will likely be TE Tony Gonzalez.

Defensively the Falcons should go all out to stop the run and dare the Bills to throw the ball with Brian Brohm likely getting his first NFL start for the Bills on Sunday.  But, the Falcons have not rushed the passer too well this season and they are allowing 254.8 yards passing per game so maybe Brohm will be able to make some plays.  Without the threat of a TE doing anything in the passing game for the Bills look for the Falcons’ safeties to help over the top with Terrell Owens and Lee Evans. 

PREDICTION:  FALCONS 33, BILLS 13

33-year old linebacker Mike Peterson has not been acting his age this year as he is still playing well.  Peterson has played in all 14 games for the Falcons this season and he has 100 tackles, 5 tackles for a loss, 1 sack, 2 forced fumbles, 7 passes defensed and 1 interception.  Peterson has really given the defense a lift as he and Curtis Lofton make it very hard for teams to run against the Falcons.