Atlanta Falcons: Studs and duds from Week 9 vs. Broncos

Stud: Olamide Zaccheaus

The first stud that appeared multiple times in the game for Atlanta was the play of wide receiver Olamide Zaccheaus. Zaccheaus stepped up early and often for the Falcons en route to the win, filling in for a suddenly thinner receiving group against the Broncos.

In the game, Zaccheaus finished with a team-best 103 yards receiving with four catches and one touchdown in the passing game, notching a game-long catch of 51 yards along the win. It was good to see someone other than Julio Jones step up on the receiving unit that was dealing with some injury issues in the game, and Zaccheaus certainly did that for Atlanta.

Dud: No Calvin Ridley

The first dud that took place even before the game began on Sunday afternoon in Atlanta was that the Falcons learned they would officially be without star wide receiver Calvin Ridley in the contest against Denver.

Ridley, who was questionable for most of the week and leading up to the Week 9 game, officially missed the game and was ruled out prior to kick off while dealing with a foot injury that had held him out of practice leading up to Sunday’s game.

It will obviously be important for Atlanta to get Ridley back onto the field and back to full health following the bye week in Week 10, but it was a tough break to not have him on the field in Week 9.