Back to respectability with win

It’s the NFL’s most improved team vs. the team that has the most to prove when the 6-3 Atlanta Falcons host the 5-4 Denver Broncos Sunday.

A win for Denver would bring respectability back to a team that has looked lost for over a month. However, Atlanta is turning out to be one of the most well-rounded teams in the NFL.

Here is everything Broncos you need to know going into Sunday’s 11 a.m. match-up:

What’s the story?

The Broncos’ season was on the line last week, and through three quarters, it looked as though another 7-9 season was in the midst.

That was until the light went on for Broncos quarterback Jay Cutler, and the weight came off his shoulders. For the first time in five games, Cutler looked confident and threw the ball accurately with authority.

Denver’s running game has continued to be a disaster, and after having to put four different starting running backs on the injured reserve, desperate Denver called old No. 26, Tatum Bell.

It is unknown if Bell still has the speed he possessed when he was here from 2004-2006, but beggars cannot be choosers.

The Broncos are actually relying on another big performance from rookie fullback Peyton Hillis, who will be the starter on Sunday.

Hillis was clutch last week, and the week before last he had 116 receiving yards.

If Hillis and Bell can combine for 150 rushing yards, and Cutler can avoid costly turnovers, Denver’s offense should put up 24-plus points.

The problem for the Broncos on Sunday will be their defense stopping an up-and-coming young offense in Atlanta.

The Falcons are led by and reply on rookie quarterback Matt Ryan, who has played fantastic football and has even been in MVP discussions because of his part in his team’s change of fortune.

If Denver’s defense can take away Atlanta’s rushing attack and force Ryan to win or lose the game for the Falcons with his arm, Denver may be able to coax the rookie into a couple of turnovers.

Both teams feature some of the best young talent in the NFL and are pretty evenly matched (though Atlanta is substantially better than Denver defensively). So the winner of the turnover battle on Sunday will likely win this game.

Who are these guys?

As mentioned, Atlanta is led by the 2008 No. 1 overall pick — Ryan. The Falcons’ brass paired Ryan with Michael “The Burner” Turner, former San Diego Chargers back-up turned successful 2008 free agent signee.

Turner has been excellent the first half of this season, eating up yards for Atlanta’s offense, and opening up the play-action offense for Atlanta.

Because teams have been forced to account for Turner, Ryan has turned wide receiver Roddy White into a likely Pro Bowler.

Ryan and White have been killing NFL secondaries all season, and they will try to do the same to Denver’s depleted secondary Sunday.

However, the MVP of this Falcons’ team has to be their new head coach, Mike Smith. After the dreadful hire of Bobby Petrino, who quit on the Falcons only nine games into the 2007 season to go back to college, Atlanta owner Arthur Blank hired the no-name Smith to run his club.

Smith has quickly turned Atlanta into a legitimate contender, and the success he is having with rookie quarterback Ryan has the whole sports world on notice.

Smith and Ryan at 6-3 are doing literally what no other rookie coach and rookie quarterback have ever done in the history of the league.

What should you expect?

Expect the Falcons to try to attack Denver’s defense early, trying to establish an early lead. The Falcons know the Broncos are struggling to run the ball, so they want to take away Denver’s run game completely and force Cutler into making mistakes and turnovers.

Denver will try to run the ball no matter what and no matter who is in the backfield, but if it is not going well again, Denver is not afraid to let Cutler win it himself — or lose it.

This game will likely turn into a shootout, similar to last Thursday’s 34-30 Broncos win over Cleveland — the team with the fewest mistakes will likely prevail.

Denver’s defensive line is yet to make a positive impact this season for the Broncos. They let Browns quarterback Brady Quinn have all day to throw. If they give Ryan all day to throw, he may just throw four touchdowns.

If I were a betting man:

I would take Denver and the points, and Denver strait-up. This smells like a set-up game to me in Denver’s favor.

Atlanta has over-achieved a bit this season, and Denver looks like they might get be getting back on track. 

Atlanta may be in for a letdown game — if Denver can jump on them early, they may fold and look forward to the following Sunday.

PREDICTION: Denver 30, Atlanta 20 — the Broncos control the ball most of the day, and Cutler, along with wide receivers Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal light up Atlanta’s defense.

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