Atlanta (6-4) will be facing off against Denver (5-5) this Sunday at 4:05 p.m. EST, airing on FOX. The current betting odds from BetMGM have the Broncos as favorites by 2.5 points. Historically, the Broncos have a narrow lead in the series with a record of 9-7. In terms of performance against the spread, the Falcons hold a record of 5-5 while the Broncos have fared better at 7-3. In their last encounter, Atlanta triumphed over Denver with a score of 34-27 on November 8, 2020.
Both teams are coming off defeats; the Falcons lost to the Saints 20-17, while the Broncos fell short against the Chiefs 16-14. Looking at statistics, the Falcons show a strong offense, ranked fifth overall, with 12th place in rushing and fifth in passing. However, their defense is struggling at 24th overall, especially against the pass. The Broncos, on the other hand, have a lackluster offense ranked 24th, but their defense has been impressive, sitting at fifth overall.
A player to watch for Atlanta is running back Bijan Robinson. He has recorded at least 100 scrimmage yards in his last five games and is coming off a standout performance where he gained a season-high 116 rushing yards and scored two touchdowns against the Saints. With a total of 1,079 scrimmage yards, Robinson is the first Falcons running back since Devonta Freeman in 2015 to surpass 1,000 scrimmage yards within the first 10 games of the season.
For Denver, wide receiver Courtland Sutton is on track to secure a 1,000-yard receiving season for the first time since 2019. After two consecutive 100-yard games, he recorded six catches for 70 yards and a touchdown in the loss to the Chiefs. So far this season, Sutton has amassed 42 catches for 539 yards and three touchdowns.
An intriguing matchup to watch is between Sutton and safety Justin Simmons. The two players, who were teammates for seven seasons in Denver, will face off for the first time in this game. Sutton even humorously texted Simmons, joking about their friendship before the game.
In terms of injuries, the Falcons have a lengthy list of 16 players on their injury report, which includes quarterback Kirk Cousins dealing with shoulder and elbow issues. The depth of Atlanta’s defensive front will be tested, as both defensive linemen Ta’Quon Graham and James Smith-Williams are out. However, rookie defensive tackle Brandon Dorlus may make his debut, and linebacker Troy Andersen is expected to play despite aggravating a knee injury. The Broncos, conversely, are mostly healthy, with safety Brandon Jones being the only notable player limited during practice this week.
Although the Broncos lead the series 9-7, Atlanta has won the previous three encounters. Remarkably, the Falcons have secured victories in their last two games played in Denver—27-21 in 2012 and 41-28 in 2004. Notably, the Falcons boast two players, Drake London and Darnell Mooney, in the top 10 for receiving yards—a rare feat. Mooney stands at 684 yards with five touchdowns, while London has 649 yards accompanied by six touchdowns. Additionally, Mooney leads the league with 16 receptions of 20 yards or more.
As the season progresses, the Falcons currently rank last in the NFL with just nine sacks. Despite a decent performance against Dallas, where they recorded three sacks, they failed to secure any against the Saints. The Denver defense has been quite formidable this season, having held opponents to under 20 points in seven games—a record that ties them with the Los Angeles Chargers for the most such games in the league.
Fantasy enthusiasts should take note of Denver’s aggressive defense, which has already garnered 35 sacks, putting them just one shy behind the New York Giants for the lead in the NFL.