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ATLANTA (AP) Matt Ryan took advantage of Denver’s slim secondary to throw in three touchdown passes and the Atlanta Falcons fended off Denver’s bid for a second straight comeback to beat the Broncos 34-27 on Sunday.
Ryan completed 25 of 35 passes for 284 yards with an interception. Atlanta (3-6) improved to 3-1 under interim coach Raheem Morris.
Atlanta led Denver (3-5) 20-3 at halftime. Drew Lock, trying to lead another comeback in the fourth quarter, threw two touchdowns and ran for 10 yards in the final quarter that went 34-27. With Atlanta in the lead by seven points, the Broncos took the ball to 20 with 44 seconds left and no time outs. After three misses by Lock, a escaped snap ended possession.
A week after throwing three touchdown passes in the fourth quarter to lead Denver to a 31-30 victory over the Chargers, Lock tried to start another rally. With Atlanta leading 27-6, Lock threw a 20-yard pass to Jerry Jeudy early in the fourth quarter. On Denver’s next possession, Lock was under pressure when he knocked down Jeudy and was intercepted by Ricardo Allen. , who returned the ball 20 yards. at Denver 12.
Two plays later, Todd Gurley’s 4-yard run extended Atlanta’s lead to 34-13. Lock responded with a 9-yard pass to Tim Patrick with less than four minutes to go.
Lock completed 25 of 48 passes for 313 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. Denver lacked an effective running game to help Lock. Phillip Lindsay made eight carries for 23 yards.
The Falcons scored on their first four possessions, thriving on Ryan’s ability to find holes in the exhausted Broncos secondary. Denver starting cornerbacks AJ Bouye and Bryce Callahan suffered a concussion and an ankle injury, respectively.
Atlanta converted six of seven third downs in the first half. The offense had no difficulty overcoming the absence of starting receiver Calvin Ridley, who was held with a sprained midfoot. The Falcons’ backups increased to complement Julio Jones.
Olamide Zaccheaus beat Davontae Harris for a 51-yard touchdown in the first quarter. Zaccheaus hit his first touchdown of the season, even though Harris was called up for pass interference on play.
Zaccheaus added a 42-yard catch in the second quarter to prepare for Ryan’s 9-yard pass to Brandon Powell. It was the first career touchdown for Powell, Atlanta’s top returns specialist.
INJURIES
Broncos: TE Albert Okwuegbunam left with a knee injury at the end of the third quarter and did not return … TE Noah Fant limped off the field with an ankle injury after catching 32 yards on the first possession of Denver. After being listed as questionable, Fant returned in the second quarter. OT Demar Dotson also returned in the first half after leaving with a hip injury.
Falcons: Defensive ends Dante Fowler (hamstrings) and Takk McKinley (groin) did not play. Ridley has missed practice all week due to the left foot injury he sustained in the team’s victory in Carolina on October 29.
NEXT
Broncos: Denver will make its first visit to Las Vegas next Sunday.
Falcons: After their bye, the Falcons will play in New Orleans on November 22.
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