Falcons fall to Broncos 27-7 in preseason opener

Atlanta opened its preseason campaign against Denver on Friday night and was outscored 27-7. The Broncos scored first on a one-yard touchdown run by Adam Prentice after a 40-yard pass to Courtland Sutton, taking a 7-0 lead. Atlanta’s first drive stalled after a fumble by quarterback Tua Tagovailoa and a subsequent punt.

Denver continued to dominate early, adding a field goal in the second quarter to make it 10-0. The Falcons responded with a 17-yard touchdown run by Jaleel McLaughlin, narrowing the gap to 17-0, but a 98-yard interception return for a touchdown by the Broncos extended their lead to 24-0 before halftime.

In the second half, Atlanta managed a short touchdown drive, with running back Tyler Goodson carrying the ball to the one-yard line and quarterback Jack Strand punching it in for a score, bringing the final tally to 27-7.

Both teams rotated many backups, giving coaches evaluation opportunities. After the game, Falcons head coach Kevin Stefanski said the contest provided “evaluation reps” and highlighted the need for adjustments on both sides of the ball.

Denver’s quarterback Jarrett Stidham completed several key passes, including a 40-yard strike to Sutton and a short touchdown pass to Prentice, while the Falcons struggled with pressure on Tagovailoa and later on backup Cooper Rush, who threw multiple interceptions.

Special teams were a bright spot for Atlanta, with solid punt returns, but overall the team appeared outmatched by a better-prepared Denver unit.