ENGLEWOOD, Colo. — In Denver's 38-6 win over the Falcons on Sunday, the Broncos relied on a familiar recipe for success.
When Head Coach Sean Payton was asked after Week 9 about how Denver could continue to make strides, he pointed to winning the turnover battle and the rushing battle as two areas that could be difference-makers moving into the second half of the season.
The Broncos excelled in both areas on Sunday, as the team generated a second-half turnover and limited the Falcons' offense to a season-low 50 rushing yards.
"We felt like there were a few keys to winning this game," Payton said following Sunday's win. "Our defense did a really good job. These guys rush the ball very well. They've been averaging, I think, 140 yards a game, and it becomes more difficult when you're in one of those games. I thought that was important, and then certainly the takeaways."
Denver's defense found a way to shut down Falcons' star running back Bijan Robinson — who posted five consecutive games with at least 100 scrimmage yards entering Week 11 — by limiting him to just 35 yards and an average of 2.9 yards per carry.
Especially important, though, was winning the turnover battle. Inside linebacker Cody Barton recorded his second takeaway of the season, as he intercepted a Kirk Cousins pass in the third quarter. And while the takeaway brought Denver's offense back out on the field, Barton also stressed its importance mentally, noting that it brought an energy and excitement to the game.
"We looked at the numbers and yeah, when this team and this defense forces a turnover and we get the ball back, [our] win percentage goes up immensely," Barton said Monday. "And not just that, a turnover … the energy it creates, we all celebrate in the end zone together. It lifts up the whole team. ... It's just a big momentum shift that's crucial to the game."
The Broncos are now 6-1 on the season when forcing a turnover, and they've won six consecutive games when earning a takeaway.
For Barton, applying this pressure and making key plays is an important part of successfully playing the kind of complementary football the Broncos have been striving to play all season.
"It feels good when we're out on defense, if we get a stop, we have confidence [that] once we get that stop, 'Okay, now it's back in our offense's hands, we know they're going to go down and do something with it,'" Barton said. "... So, that's just complementary football. That's just playing as a team."
QB BO NIX CONTINUES TO MAKE STRIDES
Quarterback Bo Nix took another step in Week 11, as the rookie finished Sunday's victory 28-of-33 for 307 yards, four touchdowns and a 145.0 passer rating.
It was another impressive performance that showed Nix's potential and instilled additional confidence in his teammates around the locker room.
"I think it's pretty powerful," Payton said Monday of having a quarterback that players feel they can rely on. "And here's why, just having experienced it for a long stretch with another player in [former Saints QB Drew] Brees. You always believe you're in each game. You always believe — even if you fall behind — you're in each game. The opposite can be very difficult. I think that player who's touching the ball on every offensive play, it definitely can lead to a direction — both mentally, as well as on the field — … [of] how a team thinks."
While Payton noted there's still plenty of work to be done as Nix continues to gain experience, Sunday was another big step in the right direction as Denver looks to build momentum offensively this season.
"We're sitting here in the middle of the season," Payton said. "He's playing well. I'm excited. The film showed that he's playing well. The film showed a few things, though, that I wanted to scream at him about. We'll keep correcting those things. I like the way he prepares. I love the way he comes to work. I love his enthusiasm. I think it's naturally contagious. I think he's a winner."
TE NATE ADKINS EMBRACES LARGER ROLE IN DENVER
For the second time this season, tight end Nate Adkins opened up the scoring for Denver.
The second-year player found himself wide open on Denver's opening drive in Week 11, and a 12-yard pass from Nix allowed him to run into the end zone untouched to give the Broncos an early lead over the Falcons.
"It was awesome," Adkins said of the touchdown. "It was a play that we had practiced for a while and had in for a while. I just tried to do my job of trying to get lost in the mess a little bit and let Bo do the work of rolling out and then just try to find me. And luckily he did, and it was wide open. [I] didn't have to take a hit or anything. Just [walked] in the end zone. It was awesome."
After appearing in 10 games for Denver last season — and starting just one — Adkins has seen his role significantly increase this season, both offensively and on special teams. The South Carolina product has played 37 percent of Denver's offensive snaps and 61 percent of its special teams plays, and he's started six of 11 games.
Adkins caught the first touchdown of his NFL career in Week 8 against the Panthers, and he is eager to continue to answer the call moving forward this season.
"I think it's just not trying to like force it or anything," he said. "Just go out there, and when the play is called, just go out there and do as best as you can. When the ball is thrown to you, just go out and catch it and try to do what you can. And that's all I've done. The plays I've caught for touchdowns, Bo's put it right on the money, and it's just been perfect design."
