Denver Broncos

Denver Broncos: Weaknesses exposed in season's first loss

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 6:59 p.m. ET

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The Denver Broncos had some major weaknesses exposed in their first loss of the season at home against the Atlanta Falcons. What now?

Oct 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Paxton Lynch (12) reaches for a first down marker as Atlanta Falcons outside linebacker Philip Wheeler (41) defends in the first half at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos lost to the Atlanta Falcons 23-16 in their week five matchup, and although losing on Sundays is one of the worst feelings, the Falcons may have done the Broncos a favor.

The Falcons — more than just beating the Broncos — exposed some significant flaws. This wasn’t an AFC West showdown, and it has very little — if any — implications on the AFC playoff picture as a whole. The Broncos are still tied for the best record in the conference, and Atlanta is a really good team that came in and kicked the snot out of Denver’s under-manned offense.

There’s no excuse other than getting straight up beat, but the Broncos have unquestionably learned a lot about this team and they have very little time to turn things around.

The great news for the Broncos is, most of these mistakes or weaknesses that we saw in this game are correctable. Let’s take a look at the flaws and deficiencies that the Broncos had exposed by the Atlanta Falcons, and what they can do to right the ship before Thursday Night Football against San Diego.

Oct 2, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Denver Broncos offensive tackle Ty Sambrailo (74) blocks as Tampa Bay Buccaneers defensive end Noah Spence (57) rushes during the first half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Denver Broncos’ offensive line was a major weakness last year, and was seemingly upgraded this year with the additions of Russell Okung and Donald Stephenson at the tackle positions, and the move of Michael Schofield from right tackle to right guard.

One injury to Donald Stephenson has completely destroyed the Broncos’ running game that appeared to be on its way to great success after the first two games of the season. Stephenson’s calf injury forced the Broncos to put 2015 2nd round pick Ty Sambrailo into the lineup at right tackle, keeping Schofield at his much more fitting right guard spot.

Sambrailo, to put it nicely, has been horrendous. To give him the benefit of the doubt, he was probably rushed back into action before he was fully recovered from an elbow injury. Regardless of the elbow injury, Sambrailo’s foot quickness is unbearable to behold, and he was burned repeatedly on Sunday afternoon by a Falcons pass rush that has been among the worst in the NFL.

Stephenson’s return to the lineup will give the Broncos their most ideal grouping up front, and will allow Sambrailo to get himself back into football shape. He’s just not there at this point, and his game against the Falcons on Sunday was reminiscent of Michael Schofield’s atrocious performance last year in a home loss to the Oakland Raiders.

Whatever the Broncos plan on doing up front, it had better be done quickly. They need to find a way to establish a running game to get the offense some true balance.

Oct 9, 2016; Denver, CO, USA; Denver Broncos inside linebacker Todd Davis (51) tackles Atlanta Falcons tight end Jacob Tamme (83) short of the goal line in the first quarter at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. Mandatory Credit: Isaiah J. Downing-USA TODAY Sports

The game against the Falcons was the first game in a long, long time that I have seen Wade Phillips get out-schemed in a game, and it started with the linebackers in coverage on running backs.

Brandon Marshall is one of the best coverage linebackers in the NFL, but he’s not a good defensive back. There’s a big difference.

When the Broncos had cut the Falcons’ lead in the fourth quarter to a two-score lead, Marshall was the victim of a huge Tevin Coleman catch that immediately put the Falcons in scoring range. He wasn’t the only one, though. The Broncos were absolutely burned by Coleman to the tune of four catches for 132 yards and a touchdown.

Coleman didn’t get the best of the No Fly Zone because Wade Phillips never matched him up with anyone from that group. It was constantly the linebackers getting beat in a pure speed matchup, and the failed adjustments to that were infuriating to have to sit and watch for 60 minutes of a football game.

This was a player that might not have even been able to physically play in this game, and he shredded the Broncos’ linebackers in the passing game. The Falcons were right to expose it, because Denver didn’t adjust for four quarters.

The simple solution to this is to take out Todd Davis and put in an extra defensive back when the Broncos need to match up one-on-one with a running back in the passing game.

Oct 2, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA; Denver Broncos quarterback Trevor Siemian (13) looks on against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Trevor Siemian hasn’t been perfect this season, but it’s abundantly clear that he’s the most game-ready quarterback on this team. Paxton Lynch did well in spot duty against the Buccaneers, but he was horrible against the Atlanta Falcons.

Lynch was holding the ball too long, he reverted to old habits with his footwork, and he wasn’t driving throws like he did against the Bucs. He just looked tight, he didn’t look overly natural, and he wasn’t making accurate throws.