Falcons hold off Broncos
ATLANTA — Peyton Manning kept throwing up wobbly passes.
The Atlanta Falcons kept picking them off.
Taking advantage of a stunning three interceptions in the first quarter, Matt Ryan and the Falcons built a big lead and held on for a 27-21 victory over the Denver Broncos on Monday night, an erratic effort by Manning that showed his comeback is still a work in progress.
Ryan threw the 100th touchdown pass of his career, Roddy White had 102 yards receiving and the Falcons (2-0) made a 20-0 lead stand up, if just barely.
Willis McGahee scored on two 2-yard touchdown runs in the fourth quarter to give the Broncos (1-1) late hope. But, on third down, Ryan connected with Julio Jones on a 6yard pass that gave Atlanta a crucial first down with less than 2 minutes to go.
They managed to run out the clock from there.
For Manning and the Broncos, it’s back to the drawing board.
Even though his velocity is supposed to be nearly the same as it was before four neck surgeries and missing his entire final season in Indianapolis, Manning threw a number of passes that seemed to just hang in the air long enough for the Falcons to step in front of them. He finished 24 of 37 for 241 yards, including a 17-yard touchdown pass to Demaryius Thomas just before halftime.