Atlanta Falcons vs Denver Broncos Match Player Stats (Nov 17, 2024)
The Atlanta Falcons vs Denver Broncos match player stats from November 17 show just how ugly it got at Mile High. Rookie QB Bo Nix shredded Atlanta’s secondary in a 38-6 blowout, hitting 28 of 33 passes as Denver dominated in every phase.
What began as a matchup of 6-5 teams quickly turned into a Mile High massacre. Denver scored on six of eight drives while Atlanta’s offense failed to find the end zone all day.
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Broncos Build Early Lead, Never Ease Up
Denver came out firing and Atlanta never recovered:
First Quarter: Nix hit TE Nate Adkins for a 12-yard TD to start the scoring. Atlanta’s lone response? A 41-yard Younghoe Koo field goal.
Second Quarter: Denver broke it open when Javonte Williams bulldozed into the end zone on a 14-yard run. Initially stopped by former Bronco Justin Simmons, Williams got a massive push from teammates to cross the goal line. Nix then connected with Marvin Mims Jr. for another TD just before half, making it 21-3.
“That was a great-effort play by those guys and not a great-effort play by us,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said after the game. “They absolutely went out there and beat us today with their effort and their physicality.”
Second Half: Denver piled on with Nix finding Troy Franklin for a 7-yard score in the third and Lil’Jordan Humphrey for a 41-yarder in the fourth. Atlanta mustered only another Koo field goal from 51 yards out.
By the fourth quarter, Atlanta had benched Cousins for rookie Michael Penix Jr., while Denver cruised to victory.
QBs: Nix Makes History, Cousins Collapses
The QB comparison tells you everything:
| Category | Bo Nix | Kirk Cousins | Michael Penix Jr. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comp/Att | 28/33 | 18/27 | 2/4 |
| Comp % | 84.8% | 66.7% | 50.0% |
| Yards | 307 | 173 | 24 |
| TDs | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| INTs | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Sacks | 1 | 3 | 1 |
| Rating | 145.0 | 68.9 | 68.7 |
Nix’s day wasn’t just good – it was historic. Per CBS Sports, he joined Peyton Manning as the only rookie QBs in NFL history to throw for 200+ yards with multiple TDs in four straight home games.
The rookie looked like a veteran, dropping dimes all over the field with perfect timing and touch. Cousins, meanwhile, spent most of the day running for his life behind an overwhelmed O-line.
By The Numbers: Total Team Dominance
The team stats paint a clear picture:
| Stat | Broncos | Falcons |
|---|---|---|
| Total Yards | 400 | 226 |
| First Downs | 22 | 13 |
| Rushing | 105 | 50 |
| Passing | 295 | 176 |
| Turnovers | 0 | 1 |
| 3rd Down | 6/11 (54.5%) | 4/13 (30.8%) |
| Red Zone | 4/4 (100%) | 0/1 (0%) |
| Yards/Play | 6.7 | 4.0 |
The most surprising stat? Time of possession was nearly dead even (Denver 30:05, Atlanta 29:55). This wasn’t about controlling the clock – it was about Denver making explosive plays while Atlanta’s drives stalled repeatedly.
According to Pro Football Reference, Denver’s average starting field position (their own 33) compared to Atlanta’s (their own 25) added to their advantages all game long.
Ground Game: Williams Powers Through
While Nix grabbed headlines, Denver’s rushing attack kept the chains moving:
| Runner | Team | Carries | Yards | Avg | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Javonte Williams | DEN | 9 | 59 | 6.6 | 14 | 1 |
| Jaleel McLaughlin | DEN | 4 | 19 | 4.8 | 8 | 0 |
| Audric Estime | DEN | 6 | 16 | 2.7 | 5 | 0 |
| Bijan Robinson | ATL | 12 | 35 | 2.9 | 9 | 0 |
| Jase McClellan | ATL | 8 | 15 | 1.9 | 8 | 0 |
Williams’ bruising TD run – pushed across the goal line by teammates – symbolized Denver’s physical dominance. Meanwhile, Atlanta’s star back Bijan Robinson found nothing but brick walls, averaging a paltry 2.9 yards per carry.
Receiving: Broncos Spread Ball, Find Open Men
Four different Broncos caught TDs as Nix spread the wealth:
| Receiver | Team | Rec | Targets | Yards | Avg | Long | TD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Courtland Sutton | DEN | 7 | 8 | 78 | 11.1 | 23 | 0 |
| David Vele | DEN | 4 | 5 | 66 | 16.5 | 33 | 0 |
| Drake London | ATL | 3 | 7 | 61 | 20.3 | 26 | 0 |
| Lil’Jordan Humphrey | DEN | 4 | 4 | 52 | 13.0 | 41 | 1 |
| Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN | 2 | 2 | 49 | 24.5 | 37 | 1 |
| Ray-Ray McCloud | ATL | 6 | 6 | 46 | 7.7 | 20 | 0 |
| Troy Franklin | DEN | 2 | 2 | 15 | 7.5 | 8 | 1 |
| Nate Adkins | DEN | 1 | 1 | 12 | 12.0 | 12 | 1 |
| Kyle Pitts | ATL | 1 | 3 | 9 | 9.0 | 9 | 0 |
Sutton led in receptions and yards, but the scoring strikes went to Adkins, Mims, Franklin, and Humphrey – making Denver’s offense unpredictable and lethal.
For Atlanta, Drake London showed glimpses of his talent but couldn’t sustain drives. The continued disappearance of Kyle Pitts (1 catch, 9 yards) remains a head-scratcher for a former top-5 pick.
Defense: Bonitto, Elliss Brothers Shine
Denver’s defense suffocated Atlanta’s offense all day:
| Defender | Team | Tackles | Solo | Sacks | TFL | INT | PD |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kaden Elliss | ATL | 8 | 8 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Riley Moss | DEN | 6 | 6 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Jessie Bates III | ATL | 5 | 5 | 0.0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Ja’Quan McMillian | DEN | 5 | 5 | 0.0 | 1 | 0 | 2 |
| Nik Bonitto | DEN | 4 | 4 | 2.0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Caden Sterns | DEN | 3 | 3 | 0.0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Jonah Elliss | DEN | 1 | 1 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Mike Purcell | DEN | 2 | 2 | 1.0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Nik Bonitto wrecked Atlanta’s protection with two sacks, while safety Caden Sterns snagged the game’s only interception.
The game featured a family showdown too – Denver’s Jonah Elliss (1 sack) against his brother Kaden (game-high 8 tackles for Atlanta). Little brother got the better day with both a sack and the win.
Special Teams: Big Returns Change Field Position
While both kickers were perfect, Denver’s return game gave them another edge:
| Player | Team | FG | XP | Punts-Avg | PR-Avg | KR-Avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wil Lutz | DEN | 1/1 (45) | 5/5 | – | – | – |
| Younghoe Koo | ATL | 2/2 (51, 41) | 0/0 | – | – | – |
| Riley Dixon | DEN | – | – | 3-45.0 | – | – |
| Bradley Pinion | ATL | – | – | 5-50.0 | – | – |
| Marvin Mims Jr. | DEN | – | – | – | 3-19.0 | – |
| Avery Williams | ATL | – | – | – | 2-11.0 | 3-21.7 |
Mims’ 19-yard punt return average, including a 37-yarder, flipped field position for Denver throughout the game – another way the Broncos won every phase.
Scoring Summary: Denver Piles on Each Quarter
| Quarter | Team | Play | Score |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | DEN | Nix 12-yd TD pass to Adkins (Lutz kick) | 7-0 |
| 1st | ATL | Koo 41-yd FG | 7-3 |
| 2nd | DEN | Williams 14-yd TD run (Lutz kick) | 14-3 |
| 2nd | DEN | Nix 12-yd TD pass to Mims (Lutz kick) | 21-3 |
| 3rd | DEN | Nix 7-yd TD pass to Franklin (Lutz kick) | 28-3 |
| 3rd | ATL | Koo 51-yd FG | 28-6 |
| 4th | DEN | Nix 41-yd TD pass to Humphrey (Lutz kick) | 35-6 |
| 4th | DEN | Lutz 45-yd FG | 38-6 |
Denver scored in all four quarters, while Atlanta never found the end zone once. The Broncos’ 14-point second quarter blew the game open before halftime.
Playoff Implications: Teams Going Opposite Ways
Both teams finished the day at 6-5, but their futures look drastically different.
For Denver, the win was a perfect bounce-back after their heartbreaker against Kansas City the previous week, where a blocked field goal in the final seconds cost them.
The Broncos would actually hold a playoff spot if the season ended now – surprising for a team Vegas had winning just 5.5 games all year.
Atlanta, meanwhile, has lost two straight games and shown major flaws in pass protection and run defense. Their early season promise against teams like the Dallas Cowboys seems like ancient history now.
Bottom Line: Broncos Arrive, Falcons Collapse
The Atlanta Falcons vs Denver Broncos match player stats tell the full story: Denver dominated in every way.
Nix (28/33, 307 yards, 4 TDs) looks like the quarterback the Broncos have desperately needed since Peyton Manning hung it up. His accuracy, decision-making, and poise have Denver fans thinking playoffs and beyond.
For Atlanta, it’s back to the drawing board. Their O-line got manhandled, Cousins looked lost under pressure, and their defense couldn’t get stops when it mattered.
With the playoff race heating up, this game might just be the turning point where Denver established itself as a legitimate contender, while Atlanta faces some hard questions about whether they belong in the postseason conversation at all.
