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

2. Falcons run game will struggle, relying on passing attack

Over the last few years, Atlanta has featured a high-powered passing game while trying to find a run game that could help balance things out on offense and therefore open things up through the air for quarterback Matt Ryan and company.

In a group now led by Todd Gurley and others out of the backfield, the Falcons have tried to establish somewhat of a running game to help out that passing attack, but have seen a lot of the same out of that running back unit so far in 2020 that we’ve seen in the past.

On Sunday against Denver in Week 9, the ground game will struggle against a Broncos defense that has been relatively decent in that portion of the defense, which means Atlanta will rely once again on the passing game and trying to air things out to wide receivers Julio Jones, Calvin Ridley and others.

Denver comes into the contest giving up 864 yards on the ground so far in 2020, which is the 16th most yards among NFL defenses. The Broncos have also only given up five touchdowns via the run game to opposing offenses. On the other side of the line of scrimmage, the Falcons have rushed for 869 yards and seven touchdowns.

When it comes to the passing game, Atlanta has 317 passing attempts on the year, which is the fourth-most among offenses. It has also thrown for 2,462 yards, the second-most behind only the Dallas Cowboys (2,538).

The Broncos defense has performed relatively well against the passing game, but they haven’t quite faced a defense like what they are about to see from the Falcons in Week 9. And that could play heavily into Atlanta’s favor throughout the contest.