Game balls for the Broncos 38-6 win over the Falcons

The Denver Broncos dominated another NFC South opponent — this time the Atlanta Falcons. Here are Mile High Report’s game balls for this game!

The Denver Broncos put on a clinic on Sunday during their 38-6 win over the Atlanta Falcons. They punted just three times and scored on every other drive. This complete game in all three phases closed the door on two tough road losses and put Denver back on track with a late season playoff push. At 6-5, their schedule looks favorable and all they have to do now is take care of business.

With such a convincing win, there are more game ball possibilities than we have staff to give them. But we did our best! Here are Mile High Report’s game balls!

Marvin Mims Jr.

Credit to where credit is do on this one. Few wide receivers have taken more heat for lack of production than former second-round pick Marvin Mims Jr. No heat coming this week, because Mims brought his own heat against the Falcons. There are so many highlight reels from this 33-yard bullet route for a in the second quarter to this 37-yard punt return in the third quarter, but we’ll stick the money catch that resulted in the game-breaking score at the end of the first half. Have a game ball, Marvin! – Tim Lynch

Bo Nix

Bo Nix just put up his best game as a pro. In the process, he’s now heavy in the discussion for NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year, and one could argue he should be the favorite. Against the Falcons, Nix was 28-for-33 for 303 yards passing with four touchdowns, 9.3 yards per completion and a 145.0 rating. Nix has 11 TDs in the past four games. He has four TDs in two of the last four games, and 19 total TDs to six INTs. The Broncos finally have their QB. – Ian St. Clair

Nik Bonitto

When the Broncos traded away Von Miller there was much chagrin about where our alpha pass rusher would come from? Generally these players are really expensive either in draft capitol (like Von) or as free agents. Unless a team gets lucky, like the Raiders did with Maxx Crosby or Bengals did with Trey Hendrickson or the Broncos did with Nik Bonitto. Nik has cemented himself as an elite edge in the NFL. His play yesterday was very much something like we would have seen from early career Von. Nik had seven total tackles (4 solo), 2 TFL, 2 QBhits, and 2 sacks. He now has nine sacks on the season and should be the first Bronco since Von (and Bradley Chubb) to get double digit sacks (which they did in 2018). Nik now has at least one sack in eight of the last nine games (BAL was the exception). The guy taken with the last pick in the second round in 2022 could end up being the best defensive player taken in that draft. Sauce Gardner, Kyle Hamilton and Aidan Hutchinson are good, but I think Bonitto will surpass all of them when it’s all said and done.

The Broncos already 39 sacks this season. They had 44 in 2018 when Miller and Chubb both got double digits. The franchise record is 57 and this team is on pace for 60 so we could see a new franchise record. – Joe Mahoney

Quinn Meinerz

The Broncos had an offensive explosion and dominated the Falcons as Bo Nix had the best game of his career and planted himself atop the OROY conversation. But none of this would have been possible if Quinn Meinerz wasn’t a one-man wrecking crew. He was taking souls out in space on screens, bullying defensive linemen inside on run plays, and helped give Nix tons of time to slice up the secondary. The best game of the year for him. – Ross Allen

Javonte Williams

Javonte Williams is a player that comes with a little bit of baggage. His knee injury has left him with a lot less power. He has taken a lot of time to get his mojo back. It’s likely that he will never be the player he was before tearing his ACL. That being said, with Audric Estimé hot on his heels for playing time, Williams stepped up big against the Falcons. He rushed for 59 yards on 9 carries averaging over 6.6 YPC, rushed for a floating TD, caught 4 passes for 28 yards, and was an integral part of the offensive output against the Falcons. It’s always a good day when Pookie looks like he did on Sunday. – Adam Malnati

Sean Payton

The Broncos were ready to play and dominate this game. Bo Nix was obviously excellent, but Payton gets an assist to that because his game plan and play calling are putting Bo in a position to succeed. The use of Marvin Mims out of the backfield in recent weeks is an example of how Payton continues to add new wrinkles to the offense, keeping defenses on their heels, and creating ways to get receivers open (see the Adkins TD). Some teams would have let the crushing defeat from Week 10 slow down their progress, but this Broncos team is proving to be resilient – and that starts at the top.

If nobody else awards a ball to Vance Joseph, I wouldn’t mind making this game ball the entire coaching staff. Vance’s defensive unit just held a potent Falcons offense to their lowest yardage and scoring outputs of the season. Certainly deserves a mention in one way or another. – Jonathan Rice

Broncos Defense

Bo Nix, Sean Payton, and a handful of other offensive players certainly merit the game balls, but how about that Broncos’ defense? They deserve some love too. Another week, another dominating performance. Atlanta’s high-profile offense only had 226 total yards and only converted 30-percent of third-down attempts. Their ability to shut down Kirk Cousins, Bijan Robinson and Drake London also played a key cog in the team’s dominating victory over the Falcons. Kudos to Vance Joseph and his players!’ – Chris Hart

Devaughn Vele

Devaughn Vele gets my game ball this week. This young rookie out of Utah made 4 catches for 66 yards and each one of them were chain-moving plays. He’s growing with Bo Nix and looks like a future fixture of the Bronco offense for years to come. – Sadaraine

Courtland Sutton

Sutton put together yet another strong performance against the Falcons, leading the Broncos for targets, receptions, and yards. He might not have made it into the end zone this week, but he’s one of the most indispensable players on this offense. Sutton’s experience and sheer reliability have been a huge factor in Bo Nix’s development and the offense’s rising potency. – Taylor Kothe

Who gets your game ball for the Broncos-Falcons game? Share in the comments section below.