Denver pulled out every trick to deal with a rash of injuries,
even starting a player on both offense and defense, and the gritty Broncos
managed to put a hurtin’ on Atlanta’s surprising season.
Jay Cutler threw a 9-yard touchdown pass to Daniel Graham with 5 1/2 minutes
remaining, the Denver defense held off Matt Ryan’s last-gasp drive and Denver
rallied for a 24-20 victory Sunday, handing the Falcons their first loss of the
season at home.
Michael Turner scored on a 28-yard run to put Atlanta ahead 20-17 with just
under 11 minutes left, but the Broncos (6-4) managed to pull out their second
straight victory on the road.
Cutler accounted for more than half the distance on the 10-play, 83-yard drive,
going 47 yards to Brandon Marshall after the big receiver got a step on Chris
Houston. Then, on third-and-goal at the Atlanta 9, Cutler scrambled to his right
and spotted Graham for the winning score.
Atlanta (6-4) had won its first four games at the Georgia Dome and four of five
overall...more
Video Recap: The Denver
Broncos got some more breathing room in the AFC West after beating the Atlanta
Falcons 24-20. Kevin Harlan and Rich Gannon review the results of the game
Peyton Hillis rushed up the middle for 7 yard gain (Matt
Prater made PAT)
7 - 0
2:26
ATL
FG
Jason Elam kicked a 46-yard field goal
7 - 3
2nd Quarter
12:33
ATL
FG
Jason Elam kicked a 36-yard field goal
7 - 6
7:34
ATL
TD
Michael Turner rushed to the left for 9 yard gain (Jason
Elam made PAT)
7 - 13
3rd Quarter
9:59
DEN
TD
Peyton Hillis rushed to the right for 2 yard gain (Matt
Prater made PAT)
14 - 13
4th Quarter
14:56
DEN
FG
Matt Prater kicked a 20-yard field goal
17 - 13
10:41
ATL
TD
Michael Turner rushed up the middle for 28 yard gain
(Jason Elam made PAT)
17 - 20
5:35
DEN
TD
Jay Cutler passed to Daniel Graham to the right for 9
yard gain (Matt Prater made PAT)
24 - 20
Team Statistics
DEN
ATL
First Downs
18
20
Passing
11
13
Rushing
7
6
Penalty
0
1
Third Down Efficiency
7-12
11-18
Fourth Down Efficiency
0-0
0-1
TOTAL NET YARDS
332
364
Total Plays
53
68
Average Gain Per Play
6.3
5.4
NET YARDS RUSHING
124
114
Rushes
25
35
Average Per Rush
5.0
3.3
NET YARDS PASSING
208
250
Completions-Attempts
19-27
20-33
Yards Per Pass Play
7.4
7.6
Times Sacked
1
0
Yards Lost to Sacks
8
0
Had Intercepted
0
1
PUNTS
3
2
Average Punt
42.3
31.0
PENALTIES
6
5
Penalty Yards
36
36
FUMBLES
0
0
Fumbles Lost
0
0
TIME OF POSSESSION
26:18
33:42
Pregame Previews, Storylines,
and News
New Page 1
Preview:
With the Atlanta Falcons
off to their best nine-game
start since last reaching the
playoffs in 2004, expectations
continue to grow for rookie
quarterback Matt Ryan, who so
far has been able to exceed them
all. Ryan and the Falcons look
to continue their impressive
play at home when they host Jay
Cutler and the AFC West-leading
Denver Broncos on Sunday.
Atlanta's reward for a 4-12
record last season was the third
overall pick, a selection they
used on Ryan...more
Prediction: Denver travels
to the surprise Atlanta Falcons team and faces a hot rookie of the year
candidate in Matt Ryan. This could be a tough road trip for Denver who escaped
Cleveland last week. This quarterback is not playing like a rookie, and Atlanta
is thinking play-offs. The Broncos passing game torched the Browns last week for
442 yards, but Ryan's still the logical choice here - he's completed 59-of-84
passes for 902 yards with five touchdowns and no interceptions at home, where
the Falcons are 4-0 and a legitimate playoff threat.
Falcons 34 - Broncos 27
Video Preview: Matt Ryan and the Falcons look to continue their
impressive play at home when they host the AFC West-leading Broncos. Join Jason
Horowitz and Charley Casserly for an in depth look at this game
11.5
10.0