Broncos-Falcons: Denver Reserves Rule the Roost, Shoot Down Falcons

Affixed with nametags to help veteran players and fans alike with the transition to the unplanned youth movement, a new batch of fresh faces gave Broncos' Country hope that they can stop opposing offenses.

Today, the Denver Broncos' depth was truly tested, and they answered the bell in a big way.

Not only did the Broncos have a player (Spencer Larsen) start on both offense and defense, only the fourth player to do so since 1990, but he aided a linebacking core that didn't include a single starter from their opening night rumble with the Raiders.

Not only were these guys not expected to start this year, some never got drafted and were signed as free agents. All three played like they had something to prove.

Spencer Larsen, Jamie Winborn, and Wesley Woodyard combined for 26 tackles and were a major reason that the Atlanta Falcons' high-powered rushing attack (averaging 156 yards a game on the ground) was never able to get into a solid rhythm. 

The story of the game, however, was the versatility of Larsen, a rookie, who amassed seven tackles starting at linebacker and created holes for our patchwork running game that tallied 124 yards on the ground. 

It was an old-school effort from a player who made his mark early in the season with his bone-jarring hits on special teams. He was then forced to step into an unfamiliar role when his colleagues kept disappearing around him.

The defense on the whole never let Matt Ryan get comfortable in the pocket as Denver's pressure finally made the unflappable rookie make some mistakes.

The offense held their own as well.

After a first-drive touchdown, Jay Cutler and Company sputtered for the rest of the first half with their other four possessions each consisting of three plays and a punt. 

Shanahan's halftime speech must have been a pants-dropping doozy because the Broncos came out after the break with a renewed fire and an emphasis on a ground game that was non-existent in the first half.

A committee made up of converted fullback Peyton Hillis, practice squad hero PJ Pope, and cell phone salesman Tatum Bell carried the running game. Bell garnered the late carries in the game as the Broncos tried to run out the clock (much to the shock and fear of everyone watching at home.) 

To Bell's credit, he didn't fumble once, which is a victory in itself. 

Cutler was more game of a manager than gunslinger in this one, but came through in the clutch as he captained his second fourth quarter comeback in as many weeks.

Going 19-27 for 216 yards wasn't as crucial as the "zero" next to his interceptions, marking the first game Cutler hasn't turned the ball over since week five.

The Broncos finally showed how they're capable of playing when they don't get in their own way. The Falcons hadn't been beaten at home this season until their bout with the Broncos and this win, coupled with the Chargers loss, proves that while the AFC West isn't the most competitive division in the NFL, the Broncos are definitely at the top of its class.