Rookie quarterback Bo Nix completed 28 of 33 passes for career-highs of 307 yards and four touchdowns as the Denver Broncos dominated the visiting Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, 38-6.
Javonte Williams ran for 59 yards and a score, while Courtland Sutton caught seven passes for 78 yards for Denver (6-5), which snapped a two-game losing streak. Devaughn Vele had four catches for 66 yards, while Lil’Jordan Humphrey, Marvin Mims Jr., Troy Franklin and Nate Adkins each hauled in a touchdown pass.
Atlanta (6-5) was held without a touchdown for the first time this year and lost its second straight game. Kirk Cousins completed 18 of 27 passes for 173 yards and threw one interception. Drake London had three catches for 61 yards, as the Falcons were outgained 400-226.
Leading 21-6 at halftime, the Broncos followed an Atlanta punt to start the third quarter with a 10-play, 45-yard drive that ended with Nix’s 7-yard touchdown pass to Franklin.
Cousins’ pass was intercepted by Cody Barton on Atlanta’s next drive, but the Broncos were forced to punt. After the Falcons punted as well, Will Lutz tacked on a 45-yard field goal with 13:08 left in the fourth quarter.
Denver capped the game’s scoring with a four-play, 59-yard drive that was stamped with Nix’s 41-yard touchdown strike to Humphrey, giving the Broncos a 38-6 edge at the 9:03 mark of the fourth.
The Broncos marched down the field on their opening possession, as Nix’s 12-yard touchdown pass to a wide-open Adkins capped a nine-play, 70-yard drive, giving the Broncos a 7-0 lead with 10:31 left in the first quarter.
Atlanta advanced to Denver’s 10-yard line on the ensuing drive, but penalties on guard Matthew Bergeron for holding and London for illegal motion forced the Falcons to settle for Younghoe Koo’s 41-yard field goal.
Denver tacked on another score, set up when Nix connected with Mims for 37 yards to advance to Atlanta’s 30-yard line. Williams’ 14-yard touchdown run extended the Broncos’ lead to 14-3 with 6:16 left in the first half.
Koo then made a 51-yard field goal on Atlanta’s next possession, before Nix found Mims for a 12-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left in the first half.
–Field Level Media
