Broncos Rout Falcons 27-7 in Preseason Week 1
Denver Broncos 27, Atlanta Falcons 7 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Jarrett Stidham went 9 of 15 for 131 yards with 1 touchdown.
Quarter Scoring
| Team | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Broncos | 7 | 17 | 0 | 3 | 27 |
 Falcons | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
Falcons Leaders
Broncos Leaders
Team Stats
| Broncos | Stat | Falcons |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | 1st Downs | 11 |
| 11 | Passing 1st downs | 8 |
| 9 | Rushing 1st downs | 3 |
| 4 | 1st downs from penalties | 0 |
| 5-14 | 3rd down efficiency | 4-15 |
| 0-1 | 4th down efficiency | 1-2 |
| 69 | Total Plays | 60 |
| 359 | Total Yards | 192 |
| 5.2 | Yards per Play | 3.2 |
| 11 | Total Drives | 12 |
| 197 | Passing | 133 |
| 19/29 | Comp/Att | 16/36 |
| 6.6 | Yards per pass | 3.6 |
| 0 | Interceptions thrown | 2 |
| 1-1 | Sacks-Yards Lost | 1-1 |
| 162 | Rushing | 59 |
| 39 | Rushing Attempts | 23 |
| 4.2 | Yards per rush | 2.6 |
| 2-2 | Red Zone (Made-Att) | 1-2 |
| 8-64 | Penalties | 9-78 |
| 1 | Turnovers | 2 |
| 1 | Fumbles lost | 0 |
| 0 | Interceptions thrown | 2 |
| 1 | Defensive / Special Teams TDs | 0 |
| 36:20 | Possession | 23:40 |
Scoring Plays
6 scores Preseason Week 1: Broncos' Bo Nix Status in Question as Falcons Sort Out QB Room
Read the full recap →The Denver Broncos travel to Mercedes-Benz Stadium to face the Atlanta Falcons on Friday, August 14. Bo Nix, still working back from the broken ankle he suffered in last season's AFC Divisional Round, is expected to be cautious with any preseason reps. Atlanta enters its first camp under new coach Kevin Stefanski with an unresolved quarterback picture between Kirk Cousins and Michael Penix Jr., and hasn't committed to which starters will play.
Nix's recovery timeline remains the top Broncos storyline
Coming off a significant injury, Denver is expected to manage his workload carefully, likely limiting or holding him out of this game entirely.
Stefanski's first Falcons camp still finding its footing
With a new coaching staff evaluating the Cousins-Penix competition and undrafted rookie Jack Strand seeing early first-team-adjacent reps, Atlanta's plan for who plays isn't fully settled.
Two teams still defining their identities
Between Denver managing an injury and Atlanta installing a new system, this game is likely to be shaped more by uncertainty than by clear starter-vs-backup logic.
Pregame AI Prediction
How the prediction did
Predicted 16-20 (Broncos vs Falcons), final was 27-7. Denver won convincingly, 27-7, against the model's Atlanta pick, another lopsided miss on a night with several blowouts.
Broncos Falcons Home field and a full quarterback room favor Atlanta
Even with an unresolved competition, the Falcons have multiple healthy, established options to work with, unlike a Denver group managing Nix's recovery.
Broncos' offense likely without its top playmaker
If Nix is held out entirely, Denver's offense loses its clearest advantage heading into the game.
New-coach uncertainty caps confidence on both sides
Stefanski's still-forming approach in Atlanta adds real unpredictability to how the Falcons deploy their roster.
This is a preseason exhibition. Denver's injury management around Nix is the biggest swing factor, and limited clarity on Atlanta's plans keeps this projection conservative.
Venue
Closing Line
Officials
Futures odds for these teams
Super Bowl futures, win totals & where to bet
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Falcons Injuries