Broncos’ QB Trevor Siemian limited in practice

Matt Ryan and Julio Jones bring the league’s No. 1 offense to Denver for a showdown Sunday between the Falcons (3-1) and the unbeaten Broncos (4-0).

Broncos DE Derek Wolfe – With 2.5 sacks against Tampa Bay, Wolfe ran his total to four through four games, and now has 10 sacks in his last 11 games (including postseason) dating back to a year ago.

Broncos receiver Emmanuel Sanders said he would retire if he ever had a game like the one Jones put down last week, but the Denver secondary wasn’t quite as impressed. 36-year-old DE Dwight Freeney has eight sacks in last eight games.

The reason Atlanta is not higher on this list is because the rest of the NFC South may not offer much resistance at the top of the standings.

Siemian had said earlier in the week that he anticipates playing Sunday, when the Broncos host the Falcons, and that he’s approaching the week of practice with the expectation that he will start. Your defense is better when your offense is clicking. That includes the Ravens.

The Atlanta Falcons (3-1) own the NFL’s highest scoring attack and two of their three consecutive wins have come by 13 points or more. The Denver defense also leads the National Football League in sacks with 17 this season.

“We’ll see how he sore he is, see how he’s feeling as we move to (Friday)”, Kubiak said. This is 3rd & 16, so letting a catch happen in front of you for 10 yards is fine, but you can’t give Jones a chance to get behind you here – which is exactly what happens.

Sure, the top-ranked offense has balance with a stout running game. “From what we did today, I think we have a good plan so far”. There are liabilities elsewhere too and the cracks are about to show against some better teams with the Bengals, Packers, Eagles and Steelers upcoming.

After a four-game suspension, Tom Brady returns to his 3-1 New England Patriots with a chip on his shoulder, ready to go to work. Denver can become the fourth team in the Super Bowl era to open 5-0 under a QB who had not started the previous season.2. Don’t laugh: We’re only three seasons removed from Nick Foles’ 27 touchdown, 2-INT campaign in Philly. He did seem a bit limited in the first two games, with some interception issues, but did enough that the Broncos won both times. He leads the league with 1,473 passing yards and a QB rating of 126.3. “I definitely see a lot of that on their club”. Plus, Malcolm Smith has a strained groin.

With Siemian still nursing a sprained A.C. joint in his non-throwing shoulder from last week, first-round pick Paxton Lynch made a considerable impression in relief. Maybe next week, it will get better. Both are capable of breaking off big runs and are highly effective in the passing game as well. Generally, in really good defense, how hard you play, the ability to get that ball, that connection and that communication that takes place amongst the teammates.