Denver BroncosvsAtlanta Falcons
DEN 27/ATL 7
Things to say
The Denver Broncos beat the Atlanta Falcons 27-7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
01
opener
Broncos rolled, 27-7. It was never close. Atlanta just couldn't move the ball all night.
02
key player
Jahdae Barron took a pick 97 yards to the house for Denver. That's the play that broke it open.
03
hot take
Cooper Rush went 7 of 19 with two picks. If that's your quarterback, it's gonna be a long year in Atlanta.
04
deep cut
Denver punched in a one-yard rush with a fullback, Adam Prentice, on the opening drive. Old-school smashmouth, set the tone early.
05
exit
Anyway, it's early. We'll see if that Denver defense is for real when the games actually count.
The recap
Denver went out to Atlanta and put the game away before the Falcons could even find a pulse, rolling 27-7. Cooper Rush was a disaster under center, going 7-of-19 with two picks, and the backbreaker came when Jahdae Barron jumped a route and took it 97 yards to the house to make it 24-0.
Atlanta just couldn't move the ball all night, and by the time Jack Strand punched in a garbage-time score it was long over. Jarrett Stidham was efficient for the Broncos and Courtland Sutton did his thing early, but this one was all about a defense that never let the Falcons breathe.