Broncos vs. Falcons Preview
The Broncos come into this week's game at 5-4 and looking to stay at the top in the AFC West. While the Chargers are in striking distance of the division title, the Broncos still control their own destiny. Even if A.J. Smith wants to steal players away from the Broncos. The Broncos are 2-2 in road games. Also, teams on the west coast and in the mountain time zone are winless against east coast teams who are playing at the 1:00 ET game.(I credit Guru for that stat)
The Falcons come into this game at 6-3 and 2nd in the NFC South. Led by one of the best rushing attacks in the league, Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood have been carrying this team to an unremarkable turn around for last season. Matt Ryan is not playing like rookie. He as only 5 INTs and is 12th in the league in passer rating with an 89.9 QB rating. The Falcons are undeated at home this season so obviously this is going be a tough match-up for the Broncos.
Now lets take a look at the breakdown of the game and who I think has the Advantage.
Quarterback: Jay Cutler is commanding one of the best passing attacks in the league this year with the help of Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal, and Tony Scheffler, of course. I think Jay will be able to find the open man in an average Flacons secondary that in 21st in the NFL against the pass. Matt Ryan, on the other hand, is not playing like a rookie at all this season as I mentioned before. He could have success agaist another average pass defense.
Advantage: Denver. I think Mike Shannahan and Jay Cutler will air it out this Sunday considering the Broncos are down to their 8th sting RB, it seems. The Falcons won't be able to get away with an average passing defense this week.
Runningback: It looks like Peyton Hillis will start on Sunday. Selvin Young has not practiced this whole week and listed as doubtful. Tatum Bell could get a few carries, he has been out of football for a few months. Who knows if this guy knows how to somewhat hold on to the ball anymore. Now the Falcons. What a pick-up Miachael Turner has been for this organization! 3rd in the league with 890 rushing yards. He has been the bulk of the Faclons offense. Jerious Norwood is a nice change of pace back to help out the running game, also.
Advantage: Falcons. A below average running defense is going to do the Broncos no favor this week. It is hard for me to think about the Broncos stopping these two backs. I just don't see it happening.
Recieving: Don't think I have to say much about the Broncos recievers. Marshall and Royal have been huge for the Broncos, along with Scheffler, Stokely, and Hillis. Even Daniel Graham has made some plays this year. Roddy White has been a stud, so far, stacking up 53 catchs to go along with 6 TDs. Michael Jenkins is solid and Jerious Norwood is a recieving threat out of the backfield.
Advantage: Broncos. They just have too many weapons. This Falcons D isn't going to be able to just triple cover Marshall with all of the starting offense ready to play Sunday. (Except RB. But that has seemed to differ each week.)
O-Line: Both of these team have very solid offensive linemen. Both teams are in the top 10 for total yards and both are doing a great job protecting their QBs. The Broncos have only given 7 sacks with the Falcons at 13. Rookie tackle Sam Baker is out do to injury, so that could hinder the offense.
Advantage: Toss up! The Broncos have one of the best pass protecting lines out there, but the Falcons have been able to run the ball like crazy.
Defense: The Broncos have been having a hard year on defense. The offense has put them in bad situations part of the time and has all 3 starting linebackers out. Oh yeah, and Champ, of course. The D-Line has been doing a little bit better lately, but seems they can not get to the QB. That has led to problems with the pass defense. The run defense has been a little below average, also.
The Falcons defense has been playing OK ,too. John Abraham has been a monster racking up 11 sacks! Keith Brooking is still a solid player, but he is getting to the end of his career. The run defense has been average in both against the run and the pass. But this Broncos offense can destroy a secondary any week.
Advantage: Falcons. With Denver having 4 RBs on IR, the Falcons will have to primarily focus on getting pressure on Jay Cutler. The Broncos will have to focus on stopping those Atlanta RBs, who have been dynamite this year.
Special Teams: Eddie Royal has been a beast at returning kickoffs. But Jerious Norwood can also break the big play off kickoffs.
Advantage: Denver. I don't see how I can pick against this guy. He's my choice for Rookie of the Year.
My Prediction: Broncos 30-24. Jay Cutler will be able to rally the troops to get a win in the Georgia Dome. The defense will play good enough too get the ball to the offense to score some points. That means Broncos win! Go Broncos!!!
This is a Fan-Created Comment on MileHighReport.com. The opinion here is not necessarily shared by the editorial staff of MHR
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Great post, my question is who gets to line up across from Foxworth?
Royal will burn him like his name was DeAngelo!
I would put B-Marsh against him
If he is such a good tackler, lets see him tackle B-Marsh
"You play to win the game!"- Herm Edwards
I think Atlanta will
switch who he lines up against depending on the formation. I do see both Marshall bowling him over and Royal spinning him around, as you guys have suggested.
Touchdowns win championships?
Very good post broncoboy--I really like your conclusion!
For some reason I think Eddie, Graham, and Hillis will have big games this week.
The best defense is a good defense!
And last week's young players. Yes!
Good post broncoboy
I think this is a very important game for Denver.
It all starts in the trenches HT 11/11/08
For 12-4 to remain possible--it is critical.
The best defense is a good defense!
And last week's young players. Yes!
spelling has never been a priority
The best defense is a good defense!
And last week's young players. Yes!
Well said bronco boy and I think our special teams
also have an advantage on the Prater vs Elam matchup. With Elam giving Royal some oppurtunities to return the ball, I think we can win the field position battle. If we do that and limit turnovers we can win despite a rushing defense that will certainly bend but hopefully not break.
Elam doesn't kick off
The punter does.
"It's all over Fat Man" - Tom Jackson to John Madden 1977 AFC Championship Game
"I love your analysis of our team. Its kinda like watching a spider monkey trying to figure out a jar of peanuts.. you know whats going on.. you know whats in there, but to actually figure it out, is just a bit beyond your mental skills..."
- Bronco Dano
by DesertBroncoFan on Nov 15, 2008 6:13 PM MST up reply actions
Broncos Win...it has come to me in a dream
ok not really, but I am ending a great birthday. My mozilla finally updated the broncos skins to be compatible with 3.0 so that was a nice surprise. A lot is going the Broncos way. They are feeling good, and have a little swagger. Long week to prepare for this one. Its a put up or shut up game for the season. We need to and will beat a good up and coming Falcons. If they win this one we have a chance to do something special this season setting us up for a great shot at minimum wild card. With just this win. Time to break out the mile high salute men. Others want to use it as a taunt, Marshall needs to turn that around to be a salute to Obama. Turn a negative to a positive. I would love to see him salute 20 times during the rest of the season as long as he’s scoring touchdowns, and the rest of the team isn’t penalized. Fan will be happy bringing back a great tradition started by a great running back.
P.S. I need Pope to have a great day for my FF (tatum got swept up opening seconds of pickups) I’m hoping he gets some short yardage tds
Hmmm...
Position by position breakdown for the offense, but just one blanket category for the D? I think the Broncos would havce to win this in a shootout and I think they will. I’m gonna go with 38-30 Denver!
Here we go again: http://thefulldeck.blogspot.com/
I say Denver 51, Atlanta 35.
Cuts goes nuts, and Michael Turner has 5 TD’s for the Albino Wildebeests! Two of them are out of the Wildcat offense, and are passes to Roddy White, meaning more points for the Beests!
Hehe, j/k. But I do think we’ll have to score more than 30 to win. Again. Shanny’s going to have to have Cutler on a longer leash like last week, and we will have to pick up some semblance of a running game.
It was once said that a million monkeys typing at a million computers could reproduce the entire works of Shakespeare. Now, thanks to the internet, we know that is not true.
i say broncos win 2-0
there will be a horrid snap by the falcons center on a shotgun from the 20 matt ryan will go running after it pick it up 1 yard into the endzone then woodyard will touch him down for the safetey. ONLY POINTS OF GAME. jk
LOL
That would require Denver to have a better defense than we have.
by metalman5050 on Nov 15, 2008 9:42 AM MST up reply actions
Broncos
will win after Jason Elam misses a FG as the clock goes to zero in the fourth quarter. I’ll be touring Gettysburg while the game is on.
"Never Surrender Dreams" - Inscription on J. Michael Straczynski's bench
Purple Row - Covering all your Rockies needs!
Off to the GA Dome..
Lifelong Broncos fan, finally getting to see them live for the first time!
Cheer for the O, pray for the D, hopefully I can pull ’em through.
testing
He had read the inscription on the gates of Busyrane–‘Be bold’; and on the second gate–‘Be bold, be bold, and evermore be bold’; and then again had paused well at the third gate–‘but not too bold.’" RW Emerson




























