1. Younghoe Koo
Two things can be true, Younghoe Koo has been one of the best Atlanta Falcons kickers in franchise history and it is time for concern. Raheem Morris gave the kicker his full support after a game in which Koo consistently cost his team. In some ways it was fitting the Falcons dropped a game they should have won because of Koo after the kicker hit a career-long kick at the buzzer to beat New Orleans the first time around.
Still, there is a major cause for concern here and it isn't as if kicking in Denver is a get right spot for the kicker ahead of the bye. Denver is a tough place to play and Atlanta's kicker is going to be needed against a defense that doesn't give up many touchdowns.
As a reminder, the Atlanta kicker has missed five of his last seven kicks. This wasn't simply one bad game you can shake off and forget as a bad week. Atlanta's struggles in the kicking game date back to the matchup against Seattle. Koo hasn't looked right since and the Falcons cannot afford another repeat performance against one of the league's better defenses, Koo must right the ship or it is time to look for answers.
2. Bo Nix runs wild
At this point it is clear the Atlanta pass rush is a lost cause the defense has great pieces but not one reliable pass rusher. We watched last week the defense with very little pressure on Derek Carr, find a way to limit the Saints to three second-half points and give the Falcons offense a chance. This is the type of gritty game the Falcons are going to need from their defense to have a shot in this one. The biggest wrench the Broncos could throw in this plan is Bo Nix using his legs to create big plays.
It hasn't mattered who the quarterback is it seems it is mandatory that at least once a game a big run gets broken. Patrick Mahomes, Andy Dalton, Derek Carr, and Baker Mayfield all had big moments created by quarterback rushes. Nix is a far more capable rusher and has a chance to break this game in Denver's direction.
Perhaps the Falcons aren't capable of applying pressure to the quarterback but they must contain. Do not allow Nix to beat you with his legs force the quarterback to stay in the box and beat you throwing the football.
3. Can Atlanta establish the run?
The Denver Broncos rank among the top-ten in rushing yardage allowed this season. The Broncos are a difficult team to establish the run against allowing them to lean on teams and shorten games. Atlanta's path to a difficult road win in Denver is not Kirk Cousins being the focus of the offense. Cousins is going to need to make plays, however, the Falcons must be able to keep the offense on the field to win this game.
Put pressure on Bo Nix and make the Broncos play outside of character. This is Atlanta's path to claiming a difficult road win. Tyler Allgeier and Bijan Robinson controlling the clock and keeping pressure off Kirk Cousins.
This isn't a game where you want Cousins having a heavy workload against a solid secondary and pass rush. Atlanta's path to winning this game remains the rushing attack and keeping Nix off the field. Robinson has shown an increasing ability to carry a heavy workload and take pressure off Cousins. That has to be the case in Atlanta's final game before the bye to claim their 7th win and beat a surprisingly great Denver defense.
4. How does last week's game change things for Denver?
Look at Chicago as the latest example of what can happen on one failed play. Washington scoring on a desperation heave in the game's final second appears to have broken what was thought to be a playoff contender early in the year. The Broncos are in a very similar spot having put themselves in a position to beat the Kansas City Chiefs and ruin their perfect season.
For those that didn't watch the Broncos controlled most of the game on Sunday and had the game's final drive. Making the Chiefs use every timeout the Broncos played for a short field goal and ran the clock out. The kick was blocked the magic of the Chiefs escaping obvious losses continued to live on.
How does this change things for Denver? Will Atlanta be facing a fiery team frustrated or motivated by the loss or a hungover group that isn't over a week before? The answer to this question goes a long way in deciding Atlanta's season and how they are viewed heading into the bye. A loss isn't the end of the world but it does open the door back up for a Tampa run and raise obvious questions.
