From the usual contributions from Brandon Marshall and Eddie Royal to the return of Tatum Bell ("Ding Dong #1"), and even the double-duty efforts of rookie Spencer Larsen, the entire roster had a hand in the win. Peyton Hillis started at runningback and rotated with an entire confection of backs. Along with the former cellphone store manager Bell, the Broncos even used their new PopeMobile, as former practice squader P.J. Pope checked in to run the ball. All three ended up with a combined total of over 100 yards, more than the Falcons' explosive Michael Turner was able to tally.

The linebackers were in a similar predictament. Raise your hand if, before the season, you had Jamie Winborn, Wesley Woodyard and converted fullback Spencer Larsen as starters. It was interesting to see Larsen out there performing, as he became the first player in franchise history to start on both sides of the ball. It was even more interesting to see all three linebackers NOT jog around, unhook their chinstraps, wave their arms and act like jackasses after a second-down tackle (ala Nate Webster).

The Unknown Soldiers of the Broncos were able to fend off the Falcons offense, which had found new life from Turner, rookie QB Matt Ryan and WR Roddy White. The Broncos had a superb opening offensive drive, as they systematically drove down the field and capped it off with Hillis' first TD run. The Falcons answered right back and seemed to gain momentum as the game wore on. Former Donkey-turned-Falcon Jason Elam knocked two fieldgoals and seemed to be outshining his sucessor, Matt Prater, who missed a 47 yarder.

After Michael Turner darted up the middle of the defense for his second touchdown in the fourth quarter, it appeared as if the Donkeys might be folding again. With a 17-20 deficit, it was once again up to Jay Cutler and his offense to save the day. Cutler proved up to the task as, for the second game in a row, he brought the team back and threw the winning touchdown pass. It wasn't exactly Sherman's March to the Sea, yet still a somewhat significant romp through north Georgia.

The offense did the bulk of the work (ie.: "points"), so it was left to the defense to prove something. Ryan found Roddy White for what appeared to be a back-breaking TD pass... but White couldn't get a grip and the ball bobbled away harmlessly. The Falcons ended their hopes by turning it over on downs at midfield. Tatum Bell helped to run out the clock and the Broncos suddenly had their second straight road victory.

They're still looking like their usual 7-9, 8-8, 9-7 selves, but with two home games against the Chiefs and Raiders, it seems that at least 8 wins are attainable. Eek out two more raod wins and they'll be 10-6. Sad to say, but with the sorry state of the AFC Worst, even a paltry 8 wins might clinch the division title. So this week was a mild positive turnaround, but unless something truly amazing happens in the next three weeks, the playoffs will simply be a destination, NOT the starting point they should be. Of course, the Giants were in a similar position last year and that turned out okay. But keep in mind that the AFC is not the NFC.

Chop Blocks

..||..Argh, I think it's a Qwest commercial that features a fan watching TV and excitedly yelling: "yeah! First down"... while the TV clearly shows his team running for a touchdown. Heck, next time I'm watching a game and my team gets in the endzone, that's my battlecry.

..||.. What a difference a week made for Tatum Bell. Last Monday, he was still selling cellphones at Aurora Mall. This Monday, he was the special guest on CBS4's Jay Cutler show. a starter.

..||.. Unless I'm mistaken, this was the first time the Donkeys had played the Falcons in the Georgia Dome since 1997. And only the second time there, overall.

..||.. Saw that the Falcons like to name each section after a certain players. Failry common practice around the lague, nowadays. But I saw that they had "Roddy's Rookies" for Roddy White. Oh, c'mon.. go with "Roddy's Rowdies", which not only sounds better, but harkens to Roddy Piper and the 1989 Survivor Series (although, Atlanta was always an NWA town, now a WWF one...so maybe it wouldn't work).

..||.. If Tony Scheffler has ever muttered a complete sentence in his life, it was on accident. He has a weekly rah-rah radio spot on 850 KOA where he checks in and babbles "athlete sports interview cliches". It's bad enough that the stattion plays it up as something special, but it's worse when Scheffler begins speaking. Sample dialogue: "well, y'know, we gotta', y'know, go out there and , y'know, play our type of game that we play, y'know, and hopefully, y'know, we'll come out on top". Y'know...sure hope he's not getting paid for that shit. I'm almost tempted to write next week's column in Tony Scheffler mode.

..||.. John Lynch officially retired from the NFL. One of his retirement gifts was apparently a verbal blow-job from Mike Shanahan, who said: "they don't come around very often, and that's why I believe he'll be in the Hall of Fame". Really? Which raises the question of who "they" are. White defensive backs? Lynch had a good career for a safety, but I'd stop before enshrining him as some kind of innovator or Hall of Fame caliber player. Read more from the Rocky Mountain News' Dave Krieger. Who also expertly points out that, arguably, Bronco greats Dennis Smith and Steve Atwater should be considered before Lynch.

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