Broncos 38-6 Falcons (Nov 17, 2024) Game Recap

DENVER — – Bo Nix set a career best by completing 85% of his passes for 307 yards and four touchdowns on Sunday. Still, it was Javonte Williams’ 14-yard touchdown run that really pleased the Denver Broncos’ rookie quarterback.

Williams got a push into the end zone from a half-dozen of his teammates after being lined up at the 5-yard line by former teammate Justin Simmons, and the Broncos rolled past the Atlanta Falcons 38-6 on Sunday.

“No one play ever defines any game,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “(But) it was a great effort by those guys and not a great effort by us. You have to give those guys a lot of credit for playing hard, playing physical. And they absolutely went out there and beat us today with their effort and their physicality and that was a key to the game.”

Game-defining or not, Nix suggested Williams’ TD run summed up the Broncos’ resolve after last week’s gut-wrenching loss in Kansas City where the Chiefs blocked a game-winning field goal attempt as time expired.

Simmons tried to stop Williams at the 5-yard line and held his ground for a second or two as reinforcements from both teams arrived for a shoving match that resembled a rugby scrum.

“My feet came off the ground and I was still moving,” Williams said. “I said it had to be Quinn (Meinerz). It was a collective effort. I felt everyone played well today on both sides of the ball.”

That push into the end zone is not something they practice, Williams said.

“No, they just saw me and Justin 1-on-1,” he said. “We kind of stalled, and after that came the cavalry.”

And they pushed Williams, Simmons and the rest over the goal line to complete the scoring drive that gave Denver a commanding 14-3 lead.

“I think that game kind of epitomizes this week,” Nix said. “Those are the plays you love to see from an offense — a unified team going for one goal. … Just keep fighting and finding ways to get touchdowns.”

Nix, who was 28 of 33, joined Hall of Famer Peyton Manning as the only rookie QBs in NFL history to throw for 200 yards with two or more touchdowns in four consecutive home games. And he joined Dak Prescott (2016) as the only rookies to post four games with a completion rate of 70% or better with multiple touchdowns and no interceptions.

The Broncos (6-5) snapped a two-game skid and made it an unhappy homecoming for Simmons, who spent his first eight seasons in Denver before the Broncos unloaded his $18.5 million salary last winter. Simmons signed a one-year, $7.5 million deal with the Falcons (6-5), who have lost two straight.

“I’ve got to find another way to bring him down,” said Simmons, who had five tackles and decided not to throw Williams left or right lest he end up getting angry and throwing him over the finish line.

“So I’m just trying to run my feet,” Simmons said. “I probably could have stabbed him. But in my head I am the last line of defense. I’m just trying to drive it back.”

Simmons called that game “a small sample size” of Denver’s dominance Sunday.

Nix provided the lead with 12-yard touchdown throws to tight end Nate Adkins and speedster Marvin Mims Jr. as Denver took a 21-6 halftime lead. In the second half he hit fellow rookie and alum from Oregon Troy Franklin from 7 yards out and Lil’Jordan Humphrey with a 41-yarder that topped the scoring and ended Nix’s day as backup Jarrett Stidham cleaned up.

Penix observation

With the game out of hand, the Falcons replaced rookie Michael Penix Jr. Kirk Cousins ​​(18 of 27 for 173 yards, no TDs and one interception). Penix promptly completed a 20-yard pass to Ray-Ray McCloud III. Penix finished 2 of 4 for 24 yards.

Sweet sweep

The Broncos swept the NFC South by a cumulative 125-37. It marks Denver’s first round of a division since going 4-0 against the NFC North in 2015. Asked if he just had institutional familiarity with his old division or was on some sort of revenge spree, Denver coach Sean Payton said, “No, no no. I mean, look, we just focus on winning. I could say something smart, but I won’t.”

Ellis and Elliss

Kaden Elliss had nine tackles for Atlanta, but was surprised by his younger brother, Jonah Elliss, who had a key sack for Denver along with a quarterback hit and a tackle for loss.

Injuries

Falcons CB Kevin King was ruled out in the second quarter with a concussion and WR Darnell Mooney pulled a hamstring in the third quarter. Atlanta suspended eight players before the game, including several starters on defense. … In the fourth quarter, DL Zach Harrison left with a knee injury and WR Casey Washington went to the locker room with an unspecified injury after a deep incompletion.

Broncos S Brandon Jones (abdominal), who replaced Simmons in free play, was ruled out and replaced by Devon Key, who had four tackles.

Next

Falcons: Host the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 1 following their bye week.

Broncos: In Las Vegas next Sunday.

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