ENGLEWOOD, Colo. --A day after the Broncos fell to the Falcons, 27-21, Head Coach John Fox reflected on the game during a conference call with Denver media.
First, he announced a few roster changes that have been made.
Rookie guard/center Philip Blake has been placed on injured reserve. Center C.J. Davis has been brought up to the active roster from the practice squad, while guard Adam Grant was added to the practice squad.
Blake, one of the team's two fourth-round selections in the 2012 NFL Draft, injured his thumb last week.
Davis, who takes his place on the active roster, is a third-year guard who spent his first two NFL seasons with Carolina under Fox and saw action in seven games for the Panthers in 2010.
PICKING OUT THE POSITIVES
Although the Broncos left Atlanta without a win, there were some things the team was able to improve on and continue to execute in its Week 2 performance.
Denver's run defense had its second consecutive strong showing on Monday night. The Broncos held Atlanta to just 67 rushing yards on 28 attempts, an average of 2.4 yards per carry.
"(I credit) the players and coaches involved," Fox said. "I think guys are buying into what we're doing and they're doing it with good technique. We kind of misfit that last one (a 15-yard run by Michael Turner inside the final two minutes), but other than that, I think we played pretty well versus the run."
On the season, the Broncos have allowed their opponents to gain 2.6 yards per carry on 54 attempts, which is tied for second-best in the league.
On the other side of the ball, Denver running back Willis McGahee topped the 100-yard mark on the ground and rushed for two touchdowns against Atlanta. Fox pointed to that, and an improvement in third-down situations, as bright spots in the loss.
COMEBACK 'RAN OUT OF TIME'
Four first-quarter turnovers put the Broncos at a disadvantage to start off the game.
"It definitely put us in a hole, no question," Fox said. "The record's not real good for minus four (turnover margin) or worse as far as win percentage. Obviously that's a little bit too much to overcome."
Quarterback Peyton Manning came back from his three early interceptions to throw a touchdown pass at the end of the first half and lead a pair of touchdown drives in the fourth quarter. In the end, the Broncos' rally fell just short, but Fox liked his quarterback's response to adversity.
"We were able to make a game of it and just came up a little short and ran out of time," Fox said. "In regards to Peyton, he settled in and we scored three times. That says a lot about him and the offense and what they did."
On Wednesday, preparation for Denver's next home game against the Houston Texans begins with morning meetings and an early afternoon practice.
"Our guys will bounce back," Fox said. "We have a new test, a new challenge, this week against the Texans."
