Scouting the Enemy: Atlanta Falcons

Week 11 of the season is upon us. The Denver Broncos host the NFC South leading Atlanta Falcons in a must-win matchup on Sunday.

The Falcons are a good football team. They sport a good offense but have struggled defensively throughout the year. They ranked in the bottom half in most metrics on that side of the ball. However, they are also opportunistic and have a penchant for taking the ball away.

In order to stay afloat in the AFC's playoff race, the Broncos need to end their two-game losing streak and earn themselves a decisive victory. This will be a tough battle for the Broncos, though it's one they certainly can and should win. Let's take a deeper look at the Falcons and what it will take for Denver to notch another mark in the win column.

The Falcons finished third in the NFC South with a 7-10 record. It was the third consecutive finish the same record and after failing the make the playoffs, Arthur Smith was fired.

To replace Smith, the Falcons tabbed Raheem Morris to be their next head coach. After years of struggling on offense since Matt Ryan retired, they made it a priority to find themselves a franchise caliber quarterback.

On the first day of free agency , Falcons made a big splash signing Kirk Cousins to be their quarterback. He earned himself a four-year, $180 million dollar contract. They also added Darnell Mooney and Ray-Ray McCloud to upgrade their receiving corps. Other than that, there weren't any other big moves. Just the usual low-key depth signings.

The Falcons sent shockwaves through the entire National Football League when they drafted Washington standout Michael Penix Jr. with the eighth overall selection in the 20224 NFL Draft . In the second and third round, they added to their defense by bringing in Ruke Orhorhoro to shore up their defensive line and Bralen Trice to help their pass rush.

The Falcons Offensive X-Factor: Bijan Robinson — Running Back After multiple weeks of showcasing quarterbacks as the opposing offensive players to key in on, I figured I'd switch it up this week and highlight the Falcons' most dynamic weapon on offense. That would be standout running back Bijan Robinson.

Getting things moving on the ground is the bread and butter of the Falcons' offense. The duo attack of him and Tyler Allgeier is what jumpstarts their play action passing attack. They are averaging almost 125 yards a game on the ground and 4.5 yard per carry. Robinson is already nearing 800 yards on the ground and boasts six rushing touchdowns.

However, he is much more than just a premier rusher. Robinson is also a top-flight receiver out of the backfield and has 41 receptions for 331 yards. Through ten games, he has 1,079 all-purpose yards. In an era where first-round running backs are scoffed at, Robinson has been worth his weight in gold for their franchise.

The Broncos' run defense has been much improved this season. They've done a good job limiting opposing backs' influence on the game. They'll need to do that again this week. Truth be told. Robinson is likely the best back they will face all season. Limiting his impact and playmaking ability is a must if the Broncos want to get their sixth win of the season at home on Sunday.

The Falcons Defensive X-Factor: Jessie Bates III — Safety Broncos Country may have thought I'd slate Justin Simmons here. Surprise! That's not the guy. In fact, he isn't even the best safety on the Falcons. That honor goes to Jessie Bates III who is one of the most dynamic defenders on the backend of any defense in the NFL.

Bates already has 60 tackles on the season. On top of that, he has racked up 2 interceptions, 5 passes defended, 3 forced fumbles, and 1 fumble recovery. Quite simply, he can do it all. On tape he plays all over the Falcons' secondary. He's a turnover machine and defensive chess piece that has a knack for making big plays when it matters most.

Those players are hard to come by and simply have to be accounted for. Bo Nix and the Broncos' offense are getting better each week, but the two-time All-Pro is certainly going to cause some headaches on Sunday. There's no doubt limiting his impact will be a part of Head Coach Sean Payton's game plan.

How the Broncos can secure a victory over the Falcons The Broncos need to play mistake free football. No turnovers, no untimely penalties, and no more shooting themselves in the foot. They also have to establish the run. That should be a priority considering the Falcons' defense is one of the worst in the league.

If they do that, it should open up the passing game for Nix. The Falcons have struggled getting after the quarterback this season and don't have a single player with more than 3 sacks on their roster. I think this is a game where the Broncos' offense can make a definitive statement and show they are capable of being a postseason contender.

Vance Joseph's got a tough task ahead of him. The Falcons have a lot of playmakers, move the ball very well and are a Top 12 scoring team. I'd expect him to blitz heavy and get after Cousins quite a bit. They have a decent offensive line, but they have allowed 10 sacks over the past four games.

When the clock strikes zero, I do expect the Broncos to come out on top. A big victory would help them keep their standing as the seventh seed in the AFC playoff race and be a momentum shift in the right direction after two tough losses.