The opponent: 2008 – that is the year in which Denver last won a game against Atlanta. The Broncos are also returning to their home turf after losing two away games. With a record of five wins to five defeats, the Denver franchise is currently in third place in the AFC West, behind the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers. Your goal for this week is clear and clear: everything to win. Because this game may already be a deciding factor as to whether the Broncos can make it into the playoffs in their first year with their rookie quarterback Bo Nix or not. In the Broncos, the Falcons face a team that has been able to move the ball down the field effectively this season. So far they are only lacking in completing their drives with touchdowns. We can also expect a Broncos defense that will try to put constant pressure on quarterback Cousins so as not to give him any comfortable position in the game. Because Denver’s defense – which currently leads the league in pressures and is second in terms of sacks – not only held quarterback Patrick Mahomes to a touchdown last Sunday and brought him down a total of four times, no, they will also know that Cousins is capable of great success with a lot of time in the pocket and is therefore expected to operate with a particularly high blitzing rate. The player to watch will definitely be defensive end Zach Allen, who is one of the most dangerous weapons in Denver’s defense with 39 tackles and five sacks.
Die Falcons: While the injury report for Wednesday, when the team did not officially practice, led to speculation as to which starting offense Atlanta would have on the field on Sunday, players like quarterback Kirk Cousins (elbow and shoulder), running back, were found on Thursday Tyler Allgeier (quadriceps) and the two centers Drew Dalman (ankle) and Ryan Neuzil (calf) are back in training as unlimited participants. A functioning and well-coordinated offense will be the basis of the clash against one of the best defenses in the league this season. This is also from the point of view that Atlanta was only able to convert five of a total of 14 third downs into a new first down in the game against the Saints and an improvement is urgently needed here in order to ultimately leave the field as the winner with enough points on the board can.
Stop the run. That’s the motto for Atlanta’s defense. With almost 125 rushing yards allowed per game, Denver’s offense will try to rely on the running game early in the game and establish play action. In addition, the Falcons’ secondary is required to force important turnovers. One player will certainly be particularly anxious to be successful on Sunday: safety Justin Simmons. Because he is anything but a stranger to the Broncos. Simmons spent the first eight years of his career with the Broncos and still calls Denver home for his family. “No bad blood on my part. I have nothing but love for the team,” Simmons said of the Broncos. “They will always be in my heart as a great organization. And at the same time, I know where I am now and I’m excited to go there and find a way to win a football game.”
This is what the experts say: While the Falcons have been the clear favorites in recent weeks, this week looks mixed for the first time, which points even more to an exciting encounter. Experts like Lindsey Thiry (ESPN), Mike Clay (ESPN), Bucky Brooks (NFL Network), Colleen Wolfe (NFL Network), Albert Breet (Sports Illustrated) and Vic Tafur (The Athletic) are betting on a Falcons win, while Dan Graziano (EPSN), Daniel Jeremiah (NFL Network), Connor Orr (Sports Illustrated) and Pete Prisco (CBS Sports) tip on the Broncos.
Of course, as usual, we hope for a win for the Falcons and will keep our fingers crossed for the team next Sunday as usual. Rise Up!
