The NFL is back.
Following six games on the Thursday night slate, there are three new preseason matchups taking place tonight. Kicking off at 7:00 p.m. ET, the Denver Broncos will take on the Atlanta Falcons.
If it had not been for Bo Nix suffering a fractured ankle in the final moments of the AFC Divisional Round, the Broncos may have an even more positive tune coming into the year. Even still, Denver is looking to build off a 14-3 record in which it proved to be ahead of schedule in its developmental timeline.
The Atlanta Falcons narrowly missed the playoffs last season after going 8-9. Michael Pennix Jr. and Kirk Cousins each spent time under center, and in 2026, Tua Tagovailoa will replace Cousins in competition for the quarterback spot. Kevin Stefanski took over as head coach this offseason, and this will be our first look at the two-time NFL Coach of the Year running the Falcons.
Looking at the odds for the preseason matchup, the Broncos enter as 3.5-point favorites and hold -198 odds of winning outright on DraftKings Sportsbook. The Falcons hold +164 odds of pulling off the upset with the game total set at 40.5 points.
Broncos vs. Falcons prediction, pick
Denver Broncos preview
Sean Payton has historically been a coach who has taken the preseason relatively seriously, and he holds a 7-2 straight-up record across his preseason tenure in Denver. The starting unit is expected to play around 15 snaps in this preseason opener. Bo Nix is the exception to this, as he will wait next week to make his preseason debut. Nix is traveling to the matchup, unlike a few of the other players battling injuries, but it will be Jarrett Stidham and Sam Ehlinger who take the snaps under center.
Both Stidham and Ehlinger have NFL experience, which is not always the case in these types of preseason settings. Stidham was asked to fill the shoes of Nix following the postseason injury, and he is entering his fourth season with the Broncos. Ehlinger is entering his fourth season in the NFL, and has spent three seasons with the Colts, where he made eight appearances and three starts. He spent last season on the Denver practice squad, and has drawn some high praise from the coaching staff across this year’s training camp. Payton has been open about how preseason is an audition for quarterbacks for the other 31 teams, and expect him to look to showcase them as such. Both Stidham and Ehlinger are expected to play a half in this matchup.
Beyond the quarterback spot, the 2026 rookie class will get their first opportunities. Running back Jonah Coleman has opened some eyes in training camp, while defensive tackle Tyler Onyedim has also impressed. Jaylen Waddle will not be suiting up due to some muscle tightness that has held him out of recent practices, but the rest of the wide receiver group are expected to see snaps. While evaluation will remain the top priority, expect the Broncos to approach this matchup with a more focused effort on getting a victory than is oftentimes the case.
Atlanta Falcons preview
There were some ups-and-downs from Michael Penix Jr. across his past two seasons, after being selected with the eighth-overall pick in the 2024 draft. Unfortunately, his season ended last year with a partially torn left ACL. Penix Jr. has returned to practice in non-contact settings, but still has not been cleared for live action just yet. Tua Tagovailoa has been named the Week 1 preseason starter, as he looks to get his career back on the right track after a few concerning seasons in Miami. Atlanta has yet to name a Week 1 regular season starter at the quarterback spot. Stefanski told reporters that the starters are expected to play the first series or about 10 snaps, but that he does not believe in showing too much of his hand in the preseason setting.
Cooper Rush will be the second quarterback to take snaps in this game. Rush is entering his ninth NFL season, spending his first seven with the Cowboys and last year with the Baltimore Ravens. The 32-year-old has made 42 appearances and 16 starts across his career to this point. Undrafted rookie Jack Strand will finish out the game. Strand set a variety of records for Division-II Minnesota State University Moorhead while playing from 2022 to 2025. This will be a massive leap in competition, but some of the highlights are eye-popping for the 22-year-old.
There are a number of other positional battles to keep an eye on during this matchup. Trey Sermon will look to push Nate Carter, Tyler Goodson, and Cash Jones to earn a place in the running back room. Undrafted rookie Vinny Anthony has had some encouraging flashes at the wide receiver position, and will be competing with Antwane Wells Jr., Keelan Marion, Kristian Wilkerson, and Dylan Drummond, who will each also see chances. On the defensive side of the ball, the cornerback and linebacker positions are still up for grabs, and this matchup will play a major role in deciding things.
Broncos vs. Falcons best bet
Even without Nix on the field, there is a higher floor of expectations for this Broncos team compared to the Falcons. Denver has found their identity under Sean Payton and are largely a well-oiled machine in the way they go about things. Denver has improved their win total in each season under Payton’s tenure, with preseason viewed as a launching point for each of these opportunities. The Broncos have enough active weapons to put forth a strong effort offensively to put up points, and their defense will remain one of the league’s most elite units entering the season. Denver has depth behind their top talent on this side of the ball, and each will be eager to showcase why they deserve a larger role.
In contrast, the Falcons seem to be viewing this matchup entirely through the lens of evaluation and development. Expect them to keep the playbook relatively simple in Tagovailoa’s first live action in Atlanta. Rush also has plenty of NFL experience, but leans on a relatively limited skill set for his success. There is some talent on this Falcons’ roster, but they are more top-heavy than the Broncos. Expect this to be evident in this matchup.
The Broncos have a deeper roster and have been more expressive in their desire to take this matchup seriously. Expect this to be evident tonight, with Payton’s 7-2 record in preseason with the Broncos in mind. Don’t blink at the 3.5-point spread.
