Broncos vs. Falcons: 5 Things to Watch for in the Preseason Opener

Football is back. The Denver Broncos are getting ready for their first preseason game by traveling to take on the Atlanta Falcons on Friday.

With this being the Broncos' first football contest since losing the AFC championship game, there are five things to watch for, especially given the changes the team has made since January.

Let's get into Broncos-Falcons.

How Long Does it Take to Get the Play-Calls In?

Denver Broncos quarterbacks coach Davis Webb calls plays vs. the Arizona Cardinals in preseason action. | Dustin Bradford / IMAGO / Icon Sportswire

The biggest change the Broncos made is with their offensive play-caller, which means there is a lot to watch for here. It might take some time for Davis Webb to get up to speed, and the first step to watch for is how long it takes to get the plays in.

It was a clear issue for Bo Nix last year, and in multiple games you could see his frustration with how long the play calls took coming in from Sean Payton on the sideline. We don't yet know whether Nix will play in preseason Game 1, but we will still be able to monitor whether Webb can get the calls in on time and give the quarterbacks time to make adjustments before the snap.

The Depth at Linebacker and Safety

Red Mudock. — Denver Broncos rookie linebacker Red Murdock practices during rookie minicamp at Broncos Park Powered by CommonSpirit. | Gabriel Christus/Denver Broncos

Throughout the camp practices, there has been a lot of harping on the Broncos' safeties for their poor play. There have been a lot of downfield passes that have gotten over the safeties' heads.

This game will be a chance to see whether they step it up in a game setting or if the Broncos need to start looking outside for additional safety help. The Broncos know they have quality special teams play from their depth safeties, but they need someone to step it up on the defensive side of the ball.

The linebackers have a similar situation before them, as Payton mentioned how he is looking for a linebacker to step up for the third spot on the roster. There have been some plays made by the depth linebackers, especially Karene Reid and Red Murdock, but this game offers them all a better chance to ply their wares, and for them to stand out, especially with special teams being a factor.

O-Line and Tight End Run Blocking

Adam Trautman and Dallen Bentley — =Denver Broncos tight end Adam Trautman (82) and tight end Dallen Bentley (89) during training camp at Broncos Park. | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Denver’s run game was inconsistent last year whenever J.K. Dobbins wasn’t carrying the ball, both before and after his injury. The offensive line did well, though it wasn’t perfect, while the Broncos' tight ends were extremely poor in run-blocking execution.

Denver needs more from both its offensive line and tight ends, but more pressure is on the latter group. Part of the issue with the tight ends in particular is the lack of blockers in the room.

The Broncos have some potential blockers if Justin Joly and Dallen Bentley can develop, but until then, they only have Adam Trautman and Nate Adkins, and the latter has been dealing with an injury.

Can the unit step up and be a boost to the run game instead of the detriment it was last season?

How Does the Defensive Front Handle the Run Game?

Jordan Jackson, Eyioma Uwazurike, and Sai'vion Jones — Denver Broncos defensive tackle Jordan Jackson (94) and defensive endd Eyioma Uwazurike (96) and Sai'vion Jones (95) at the line of scrimmage in the first quarter against the Arizona Cardinals/ | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

On the opposite side of things, the Broncos' defensive front had some inconsistencies against power running teams last year. While the Falcons may not have some of their starters playing, including their star and recently paid running back Bijan Robinson, this can still be a good test for the Broncos' defensive front.

Not only is it about how the unit executes as a collective, but also how individual players handle the run game. Players like Sai’vion Jones and Que Robinson both have some concerns about their run defense, so can they show improvement in that aspect of their game, or will they look like pass rushers only?

Robinson showed promise in limited playing time in 2025, and what he's displayed in camp thus far shows there's plenty to build on. It's time to really make it clear in the preseason.

Who Steps Up as Returners?

The Broncos have an All-Pro returner in Marvin Mims Jr., but they need someone to step up to help on kick returns and provide value as a backup returner. They have some options to look toward, but do any of them actually step up?

Keep an eye on rookies Jonah Coleman, Kolbe Katsis, and Cameron Ross in the return game. With Mims nursing an injury, it's unlikely he plays, so this group should get plenty of action.

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