PASS DEFENSE SPUTTERS IN LOSS TO FALCONS
● Atlanta’s Ryan capitalizes on absence of Callahan, Bouye ● Broncos’ attempt at second straight comeback falls short
» Next year, Broncos cornerbacks A.J. Bouye and Bryce Callahan have salary-cap charges of $13.375 million and $8.715 million, respectively. They my be underpaid
After watching their secondary get chewed up by Atlanta in Sunday’s 34- 27 loss, Bouye and Callahan need to call Broncos general manager John Elway and ask for contract extensions … that include hefty raises … and maybe even induction to the team’s Ring of Fame.
The value of Bouye and Callahan has never been more apparent or higher after Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan dissected the Broncos.
“Our pass defense wasn’t good enough and that includes the pass rush, that includes me making the calls,” coach Vic Fangio said. “We have to do better.”
Each time this year we think the Broncos are ascending, they take a step back. Consecutive wins over the Patriots and Jets? The Broncos were routed by Kansas
City. An improbable win over the Chargers? The Broncos didn’t put that momentum on the charter flight to Georgia.
The Falcons never trailed and spent the first half working over The Cornerback Replacements — rookies Michael Ojemudia and Essang Bassey and veterans Davontae Harris and Kevin Toliver. Ojemudia and Bassey are experiencing onthejob training and Harris/ Toliver entered without a defensive snap to their ledger in the first seven games. In reality, the results were expected and may have been worse had Falcons receiver Calvin Ridley been active.
“We knew it was going to be a big game for us ( defensively) and we didn’t compete nearly as much as we should have