Here are five things to know about the 3-0 Atlanta Falcons today:
1. Jones update. Wide receiver Julio Jones was hit in the back on the team's last offensive play against Detroit Sunday. When he went to the sidelines, he wouldn't immediately let the doctors check on him. Later in the locker room, he told columnist Jeff Schultz that he could have return in the game. Coach Dan Quinn said Jones will be limited in practice, but is expected to play against Buffalo with a lower back injury.
2. Kazee ready to play. Starting free safety Ricardo Allen suffered a concussion on the big hit he laid on Detroit wide receiver T.J. Jones in the fourth quarter. Quinn said that rookie Damontae Kazee is ready to start if needed. Like Allen, Kazee played cornerback in college and has been converted to the free safety spot.
3. Takk attack. With Vic Beasley out with a hamstring strain/tear, Falcons rookie Takkarist McKinley played 48 of the 70 defensive snaps (69 percent) and finished with two tackles, one sack, two tackles for a loss, a quarterback hit and a batted pass in the 30-26 win over Detroit. "I expected him to get in and play really hard," Quinn said. "You know, we've put him on the right side, he's played on the left side, so as you go in, especially through your rookie year, you've got to kind of have some on-the-job training."
4. Mrs. Blank helping MADD. Five years ago, the CEO of Mothers Against Drunk Driving spoke at the NFL owners meeting about their partnership with the league, including how some teams were working with local MADD volunteers on programs. The Atlanta Falcons weren't one of those teams, a fact that didn't sit particularly well with owner Arthur Blank or his future wife. "I talked to Arthur that day at lunch about getting the Falcons involved," recalled Angela Blank, who married the Falcons owner and Home Depot co-founder in 2016, after a two-year engagement. His response: If she was interested, "You can take that on."
5. White wants to defend the defending NFC Champs. Former Falcons start Roddy White can't take it any more. He first had a "beef" with FOX Sports' Colin Cowherd for his ridiculous comparison of Matt Ryan to Andy Dalton. Add Donovan McNabb to White's list of bone-headed commentators.
