The Atlanta Falcons lost to the Buffalo Bills 29-15 in Week 17. After the Falcons-Bills game, we'll be releasing our Falcons Week 17 takeaways.

The Falcons came into the game with a tough task ahead of them: stopping Bills quarterback and MVP candidate Josh Allen. Atlanta did a good job of stopping Allen through the air, as they intercepted three of his passes, though they couldn't stop the Buffalo star from doing damage with his legs. Aside from their solid defensive effort, the Falcons saw some good things from rookie tight end Kyle Pitts but also likely arrived at a tough realization when it comes to their offense as a whole.

The Falcons made it interesting against the Bills but just couldn't hang in there with them until the end. That said, here are our Falcons Week 17 takeaways.

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Atlanta Falcons Week 17 Takeaways 

3. Kyle Pitts is a freak of nature 

Every now and then, Falcons rookie tight end Kyle Pitts does something that makes people shake their heads. Pitts didn't wow anyone with his box score numbers, but he did flash some of the skills that make him an elite talent on one special play. The Atlanta tight end caught a pass, hit a Bills defender with a wicked stiff arm, then scooted up the sideline for a 61-yard catch-and-run. The physicality, speed and athleticism are what set Pitts apart. Falcons fans probably already knew this, but Atlanta has a serious difference-maker at the tight end position.

2. The Falcons have a promising defense

Atlanta ultimately couldn't slow down the Bills and gave up 29 points. However, Atlanta didn't roll over and let the Bills impose their will on them. Atlanta forced Bills star Josh Allen into three interceptions, one of his worst games of the season as a passer. They have two strong linebackers in Foyesade Oluokun and Deion Jones. Atlanta has a potential future shutdown corner in A.J. Terrell. Perhaps the one area where the Falcons need to improve is their defensive line. However, the pieces are there for a promising defense.

1. The Falcons need to improve their offensive line

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was sacked five times against the Bills. It should be noted that Buffalo owns the league's best pass defense, though this is becoming a pattern for the Atlanta offense. Ryan has now been sacked three-plus times in each of the last three weeks. For a quarterback like Ryan, who has limited mobility, having an offensive line that can't protect all that well is problematic. If the Falcons want to win with Ryan, or any quarterback for that matter, they need to improve their offensive line.