Much has been said about the Denver Broncos’ relative lack of talent at the skill positions, especially heading into the 2024 season. Even with a prolific rookie quarterback at the quarterback position, doubts about the Broncos’ supporting cast surrounding Bo Nix are justified as the season progresses.
The picture around Nix has gradually improved, but the Broncos’ passing attack has been the epitome of low volume, as evidenced by the team’s 27th-ranked ranking. Combined with the Atlanta Falcons’ support system around Kirk Cousins, the deficiencies at the skill position are highlighted at Denver blatantly.
The Broncos will be busy on Sunday with the Falcons’ top three players. Darnell Mooney and Drake London were dynamic at wideout, while tight end Kyle Pitts was a lethal weapon in Cousins’ arsenal. The Broncos will need a good game plan to limit the explosive potential of this trio on Sunday.
“I think we’re all conditioned to A [No.] 1 and a [No.] “They’re two completely different types of receivers,” Payton said of Mooney and London. Then you deal with the tight end, and we didn’t even talk about [running back]. So I think they are different types of players.”
The question is how will the Broncos plan against them? There’s always the option of assigning Patrick Surtain II to one, and putting Riley Moss on the other, allowing nickel Ja’Quan McMillian to battle with Pitts with a little situational help at the top of the safety.
“I think the trick is how you want to defend them,” Payton said. “You put Surtain in one direction [and] The other Riley? It all goes into game planning. “They are very different in terms of their skill sets.”
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Both Mooney and London were on Atlanta’s practice report with injuries this week. While nursing a hip injury, London was a full participant in both practices, while Mooney’s Achilles tendon limited him. Cousins is also on this week’s practice report, nursing a shoulder and elbow injury.
Cousins is a lock to fit up, but it sank. London will play. Barring an unforeseen catastrophic setback between now and Sunday, Mooney will, too. The Broncos have to be ready.
On the season, Mooney leads the Falcons with 684 yards, followed closely by London’s 649 yards. To put it in perspective, Courtland Sutton leads the Broncos with 569 rushing yards. Betts is Atlanta’s third-leading receiver with 485 yards.
In other words, Sutton will be Atlanta’s No. 3 receiver. If that doesn’t show what Denver needs to do at the skill positions, I don’t know what will. The only hope the Broncos have this year is that Nix’s development accelerates enough to lift the boats around him.
As Payton said; We’ve got just the traffic hunters covered. Falcons running back Bijan Robinson is having one season, with 748 yards and six touchdowns. He’s averaging 4.8 yards per carry, and his backup — Tyler Allgaier — has 41 more receiving yards (429) than Denver’s leader, Javonte Williams (388).
You can see why Payton seems intent on jumping rookie Audric Esteem into the Broncos’ starting lineup. Williams has a lot more moves than Allgeier, but his efficiency with those moves can’t even compare to the Falcons’ RB2.
The Falcons boast a 12th-ranked rushing attack. With Cousins playing the catch-and-shoot game with this trio of ballplayers, the Falcons rank fifth in passing yards.
“They run the ball very well. I think about 100-140 yards per game clip,” Payton said of Atlanta. “Again, the backend is the running game. Some of it comes from the pistol, some of it is under center. Kirk gets rid of the ball on time… For their offense, you kind of get… [Sean] McVeigh’s wide-area disciple.”
And if you let Robinson catch you sliding, he’ll be happy to catch four or five passes out of the backfield, breaking your defence. His 41 receptions for 331 yards and a touchdown put him over 1,000 yards from scrimmage on the season. He’s just a few scores away from double-digit touchdowns from scrimmage as well.
“He does a lot of things well,” Payton said of Robinson. “He’s someone who can catch the ball out of the backfield if you’re not careful. He’s a very talented player.”
Broncos defensive coordinator Vance Joseph has been praised for his unit’s stellar play this season. He’ll have to order another masterpiece this week if the Broncos are to snap their two-game losing streak.
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