The Falcons’ preseason opener could hardly have gone much worse. By halftime, Atlanta was staring at a 24-0 hole, and the home crowd watched Denver control the night from the opening series onward. The final score, a 27-7 Broncos win, only confirmed how lopsided it felt for most of the evening.
For Atlanta, the game offered a messy first look at a roster still trying to sort itself out, with two series from the starters and plenty of uneven play behind them. The result left more questions than answers, and several of them came into focus fast.
Tua Tagovailoa’s first night in a Falcons uniform was quiet in the worst way. He got two series and both ended in punts, including a three-and-out to open the game.
On that first drive, he also aborted a snap before recovering, but the possession never got on track. Tagovailoa finished 3-for-5 for 22 yards, and every completion went to the same pass-catcher.
That’s not the kind of line that settles a quarterback competition, even in limited preseason work.
Kyle Pitts, though, made his connection with Tagovailoa look like the clearest thing going for Atlanta’s offense. All three of Tagovailoa’s completions went to the newly extended tight end, giving Pitts an 80% target share with Tagovailoa under center. It came over just two drives and without Bijan Robinson or Drake London on the field, but it still pointed to Pitts being a central piece of the offense in 2026.
The pass rush was another problem that never got solved. Atlanta didn’t come close to making Jarrett Stidham uncomfortable, and Denver’s quarterback had time to work all night.
Stidham finished the first half 9-for-15 for 131 yards, and he and Courtland Sutton hooked up three times for 60 yards on the Broncos’ opening drive alone. The Falcons’ defense also wasn’t blitzing nearly as often as it did last season, and the lack of pressure left the secondary exposed.
Chris Blair kept doing what he’s been doing all summer. The veteran receiver only caught two passes, but he led the team with 37 receiving yards.
His best moment came when he went up between two defenders for a 22-yard gain from Cooper Rush just before halftime. With the Falcons’ wide receiver competition still unresolved, Blair is starting to separate himself in the race for a roster spot.
The backup quarterback battle tilted sharply as well. Cooper Rush and Jack Strand have spent camp jockeying for QB3, and Friday night gave the clearest indication yet of where things stand.
Rush got the first turn and looked lost, going 7-for-19 with two interceptions, including a 97-yard pick-six that slammed the door on any comeback hopes. Strand was steadier, completing 6 of 12 passes for 50 yards and adding a rushing touchdown.
For Atlanta, the opener was a rough blend of stalled offense, no pass rush and a few individual bright spots buried inside a very bad night.
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Preseason games are where those questions get answered, or at least clarified, and Atlanta will be watching all three closely as it sorts out who can help now and who might be the odd man out. Bertrand needs cleaner defensive play to keep himself from falling behind, Trice has to continue proving his value, and Strand is fighting for space at a position where every snap matters. [Read more 🡒]