The Broncos Balled Out in Their Preseason Opener
Ross Johnston evaluates the Broncos preseason opener in Atlanta and highlights key players on offense and defense who stepped up.
Video Transcript
I know it's just the preseason, I know it's not real football yet, but the Denver Broncos showed some really good things in their preseason opener against the Atlanta Falcons, winning twenty-seven to seven and really dominating the first half of the ball game with great plays on both offense and defense.
Don't worry, I'll hit on special teams too, 'cause that was kind of a disaster in the kicking game, but we saw some really good things from some key players, and I'm excited to talk about it.
Starting on offense, I thought that Jarrett Stidham actually had a really solid night, nine of 15 with a touchdown pass.
He really played some pretty good football, had some misses, but overall played a pretty clean game.
And then rookie running back, Jonah Coleman, the fourth-round pick out of Washington, my gosh, that dude is a human wrecking ball.
Only four carries on the night for twenty-four yards, but he was earning every single yard, and it got me really fired up about his potential for even his rookie season with Denver.
Pat Bryant has been the talk of camp, hit him on a fifteen-yarder to open the game up.
And then Courtland Sutton, I mean, talk about a guy who, one, it's cool that he's still even playing in the preseason at thirty years old, but also, two, the plays he made.
Had a forty-yard bomb from Jarrett Stidham down the middle of the field and then followed it up with a sixteen-yard completion, one-handed grab, just mossing a defender.
It was really incredible stuff to see by Courtland Sutton.
And it's good, you know, for him, not that there are a ton of doubts about his ability, but getting older in age, showing that he can still play at a high level.
On the defensive side of the football, we saw two interceptions, one a pick six from Jadyn Baron, which was great to see.
The second-year corner out of Texas make that play off a tipped pass.
Cooper Rush kind of missed his man, threw a little behind him.
Jadyn Baron making the play, taking it to the house.
And then Riley Moss getting a pick as well.
He's had a pretty solid camp, and obviously Riley Moss has been a really good corner for the Broncos, but he definitely gets overshadowed due to playing across from Patrick Surtain.
So I'm always excited to see him make some big plays like that, even if it is just the preseason.
I like some stuff I saw from Red Murdoch as well.
The Broncos' last pick of the draft out of Buffalo, the linebacker, led the team with eight tackles on the night and was flying around the football field, which was great to see.
And just one more note on the offense.
Overall, the operation under Davis Webb as OC, I know Sean Peyton calls plays, but the operation, they were getting to the line, they were ready to go, they were moving well and at a good tempo.
Really love seeing that.
And look, the special teams maybe overreacted a little bit at the start, but Will Lutz two for three on the night from field goal has hit all three of his extra points.
Missed on a fifty-five yarder, and it was just an ugly display from that unit.
Getting out there late, the operation was not timely at all and caused Lutz to miss that fifty-five yarder.
Those are things that obviously can happen in the first game back playing football, but it's just not stuff that you wanna see if you're Sean Peyton or the Denver Broncos.
So hopefully they can get that cleaned up.
But overall, a great night for Denver and a good opening to the twenty twenty-six preseason.
Again, even if it's not real football, it is some good reps and good experience for a lot of these guys on the team, and they were able to capitalize on it tonight
