Atlanta Falcons: 3 Bold predictions for Week 9 vs. Broncos

3. Atlanta will have to focus on Denver airing the ball out

So far this season, the Falcons defense has been one of the weak spots on the team, ranking near the bottom of the league in numerous categories while oftentimes allowing opponents to climb back into a game late in the contest with Atlanta ultimately coming out on the losing end of things.

Specifically, the Falcons have struggled in dealing with the passing game against teams through eight games of the regular season and that might end up being the case once again in Week 9 against the Denver Broncos on Sunday afternoon.

Going into the game, Atlanta has given up a total of 2,491 yards through the air so far this year, which is the second-most for any defense in the league behind only the Seattle Seahawks with 2,511. The Falcons have given up 8.5 yards per completion (tied for second-most) and a league-worst 20 touchdowns in the passing game.

Although the Broncos don’t rank near the top of the league in passing statistics, they displayed in the comeback win over the Chargers in Week 8 that they are capable of airing things out during any given game. In the win over Los Angeles, Denver tallied 248 yards and three touchdowns through the air, giving the Chargers defense all it could handle especially late in that contest.

On Sunday in Atlanta, the Falcons will initially focus on the Broncos run game while forcing Denver to throw the ball during the game. And we could end up seeing Drew Lock and company begin to air things out throughout the course of the contest at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.