Atlanta hosts Buffalo on Monday Night Football after a bye, with Buffalo 4-1 atop the AFC East and Atlanta 2-2 eyeing a move up in the NFC South. The 7:15 p.m. ET kickoff at Mercedes-Benz Stadium airs on ESPN, with ESPN+ and Fubo streaming the game.

Falcons injury notes loom, with Darnell Mooney and Clark Phillips III ruled out, Ta'Quon Graham and LaCale London out, and Natrone Brooks and Billy Bowman Jr. questionable. Bills will sport retro helmets against Atlanta’s red throwbacks in a prime-time branding moment.

A win could lift Atlanta to second in the South; a loss would keep Buffalo atop the East with Patriots tiebreaker implications. Week 7 at San Francisco looms for Atlanta; Buffalo remains squarely in the conference race.

Atlanta returns from an early bye to host Buffalo on Monday Night Football, a test for a Falcons pass defense that leads the league. Mooney is out with a hamstring, while Phillips III and London are sidelined; Terrell will rejoin the lineup to bolster the secondary.

Buffalo remains a top passing attack after a rare loss, and the Bills will test Atlanta's corners. The game also features Atlanta's throwback red helmets in Week 6, and the remaining schedule could influence fantasy lineups and depth-chart decisions on Monday night.

Week 1 carries notable Falcons and Buccaneers injury notes. Mooney limited with a shoulder could open uneven target distribution for Atlanta’s receivers, while Kaleb McGary is out for the year, elevating discussion around the line’s stability. Tampa Bay faces a bruising list in the trenches: Wirfs and Vita Vea may miss time, Otton is limited, and Godwin is unlikely to play. Fantasy managers should monitor Sunday’s practice updates closely, especially for WRs and backfield depth on both sides.

In Week 1, expect Falcons’ pass-game pivots to London and Pitts if Mooney is limited, and anticipate rookie-line adjustments on the line. For TB, check if Godwin returns soon and whether Otton can absorb more looks. The matchup could hinge on how quickly the in-game adjustments shore up the blocking and which secondary players step up in coverage and run defense.

The Falcons released their first Week 1 injury report ahead of Sunday's game with Tampa Bay. Darnell Mooney was limited at Wednesday practice with a shoulder issue, Clark Phillips III was limited with a rib injury, and rookies Jack Nelson (calf) and DeMarcco Hellams (hamstring) did not participate. Michael Penix Jr. is listed as the expected starter in a showdown at Mercedes‑Benz Stadium, a matchup Atlanta has owned in recent meetings with Tampa.

Mooney’s health status shapes Atlanta’s early-week expectations as the offense leans on London and Pitts behind a potentially lean target tree. Nelson and Hellams’ absences could test the Falcons’ depth on both lines and in the back end as Tampa Bay counters with its usual veteran-heavy unit. Updates on Thursday will be pivotal for Week 1 projections.