NFL

Atlanta Falcons at Denver Broncos

· National Football League
6-5, 3-2 Away
Final
6 - 38
6-5, 3-2 Home

Bo Nix throws 4 touchdown passes and the Broncos roll past the Falcons 38-6

Bo Nix puts on a show in 4-TD performance

Williams got a push into the end zone from a half-dozen of his teammates after being stood 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) that was a great-effort play by those guys and not a great-effort play by us. You've got 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 summarized the Broncos' resolve following last week's gut-wrenching loss at Kansas City in which the Chiefs blocked a game-winning field goal try as time expired.

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

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

That shove into the end zone isn't something they practice, Williams said.

“Naw, they just saw me and Justin 1-on-1,” he said. “We kind of stalemated and after that the cavalry came.”

And they shoved Williams, Simmons and the rest across the goal line to complete the scoring run that gave Denver a tone-setting 14-3 lead.

“I think that play is kind of the epitome of this week,” Nix said. “Those are the plays that you love to see from an offense — one united team that's going for one goal. ... Just keep fighting and finding ways to get the touchdown.”

Nix, who was 28 of 33, joined Hall of Famer Peyton Manning as the only rookie QBs in NFL history to throw for 200-plus 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 70% or better completion rate 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 in a row.

“I’ve got to find a different way to get him down," said Simmons, who had five tackles and decided against throwing Williams to his left or right, lest he end up getting twisted and throwing him across the goal line.

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

Simmons called that play “a little sample size” of Denver's domination Sunday.

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

Penix sighting With the game out of hand, Falcons rookie Michael Penix Jr. replaced 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 sweep of a division since they went 4-0 against the NFC North in 2015. Asked if he just had institutional knowledge of his old division or was on some sort of revenge tour, Denvder coach Sean Payton retorted, “No, no, no. I mean, look, we're just focused on winning. I could say something smart but I'm not going to.”

Elliss & Elliss Kaden Elliss had nine tackles for Atlanta but was upstaged by his little 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 ruled out eight players before the game, including several starters on defense. ... In the fourth quarter, DL Zach Harrison went out with a knee injury and WR Casey Washington walked off to the locker room with an unspecified injury after a deep incompletion.

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

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

Broncos: At Las Vegas next Sunday.

How can I watch Falcons vs. Broncos?

  • TV Channel: Falcons at Broncos 2021-22 NFL, week 11 is broadcasted nationally on FOX and NFL Sunday Ticket.
  • Online streaming: Sign up for Fubo.
    In Canada, viewers can watch Falcons vs. Broncos on DAZN.

Scoring Summary

DEN TD 1st Period 10:31 Nate Adkins 12 Yd pass from Bo Nix (Wil Lutz Kick)
ATL FG 1st Period 1:33 Younghoe Koo 41 Yd Field Goal
DEN TD 2nd Period 6:16 Javonte Williams 14 Yd Rush (Wil Lutz Kick)
ATL FG 2nd Period 2:48 Younghoe Koo 51 Yd Field Goal
DEN TD 2nd Period 0:25 Marvin Mims Jr. 12 Yd pass from Bo Nix (Wil Lutz Kick)
DEN TD 3rd Period 9:05 Troy Franklin 7 Yd pass from Bo Nix (Wil Lutz Kick)
DEN FG 4th Period 13:08 Wil Lutz 45 Yd Field Goal
DEN TD 4th Period 9:03 Lil'Jordan Humphrey 41 Yd pass from Bo Nix (Wil Lutz Kick)

Statistics

https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/atl.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originATL https://a.espncdn.com/combiner/i?img=/i/teamlogos/nfl/500/den.png&h=100&scale=crop&w=100&location=originDEN
13 1st Downs 22
10 Passing 1st downs 14
2 Rushing 1st downs 7
1 1st downs from penalties 1
4-13 3rd down efficiency 6-11
2-2 4th down efficiency 1-1
56 Total Plays 60
226 Total Yards 400
4.0 Yards per Play 6.7
10 Total Drives 9
176 Passing 295
20/31 Comp/Att 28/33
5.0 Yards per pass 8.7
1 Interceptions thrown 0
4-21 Sacks-Yards Lost 1-12
50 Rushing 105
21 Rushing Attempts 26
2.4 Yards per rush 4.0
0-1 Red Zone (Made-Att) 4-4
6-52 Penalties 4-45
1 Turnovers 0
0 Fumbles lost 0
1 Interceptions thrown 0
0 Defensive / Special Teams TDs 0
29:55 Possession 30:05
Denver Broncos Denver Broncos Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Evan Engram, TE Questionable Mar 12
Delarrin Turner-Yell, S Questionable Feb 11
Alex Singleton, LB Questionable Feb 11
Frank Crum, OT Questionable Feb 11
Jonah Elliss, LB Questionable Jan 17
Atlanta Falcons Atlanta Falcons Injuries
NAME, POS STATUS DATE
Bralen Trice, LB Questionable Feb 10
Jase McClellan, RB Questionable Feb 10
Younghoe Koo, PK Questionable Feb 10
DeMarcco Hellams, S Questionable Feb 10
Troy Andersen, LB Questionable Feb 10

Game Information

Empower Field at Mile High

Location: Denver, CO
Attendance: 76,545 · Capacity:

2024 NFC South Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Tampa Bay 10 7 .588 0 502 385
Atlanta 8 9 .471 0 389 423
Carolina 5 12 .294 0 341 534
New Orleans 5 12 .294 0 338 398

2024 AFC West Standings

TEAM W L PCT T PF PA
Kansas City 15 2 .882 0 385 326
Los Angeles 11 6 .647 0 402 301
Denver 10 7 .588 0 425 311
Las Vegas 4 13 .235 0 309 434
Full Standings

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