DENVER _ The Falcons now have a signature win _ with an asterisk _ under second-year coach Dan Quinn.
Behind the fine pass-catching of running back Tevin Coleman, who played at the high altitude with the sickle cell trait that caused some concern last week, the Falcons defeated the defending Super Bowl champion Denver Broncos, 23-16, on Sunday at Sports Authority Field at Mile High Stadium.
Coleman set up the first touchdown with a 48-yard reception and had a 31-yard touchdown reception in the third quarter. The Falcons weren't in the clear until tight end Levin Toilolo recovered a onside kick with 13 seconds to play.
The Falcons improved to 4-1, while the Broncos, who were playing with rookie quarterback Paxton Lynch making his first NFL start (the asterisk), dropped to 4-1.
The defense, playing without two starting linebackers, was solid and even mounted a pass rush with defensive end Vic Beasley leading the charge with 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles.
Here are the five things we learned from the victory:
1. Coleman is just fine. Coleman had four catches for career-high 132 yards receiving as the Falcons liked the mismatch as the Denver linebackers couldn't cover him.
Coleman had a 48-yard reception in the first quarter to help set up the Falcons' first touchdown.
On the opening drive, on first-and-10 from the 32, Coleman ran out of the backfield and quarterback Matt Ryan hit him in stride cutting across the middle of the field. Denver linebacker Todd Davis was giving chase, but Coleman was too fast.
He shot up the field before being chased out of bounds at Denver's 15.
He later added a 49-yard catch up the right sideline in fourth quarter.
2. Beasley makes an impact. Beasley surpassed his rookie total of four sacks against the Broncos.
He had one sack entering the game and now has 4.5 on the season.
3. Fourth Down Dan. Quinn didn't hesitate when he wanted to go for it on fourth down.
On the Falcons' opening possession, the offense stayed on the field and went for it on a fourth-and-1 from the 1. Devonta Freeman scored.
In the second quarter, on a fourth-and-1 from Denver's 36 the Falcons used a timeout to make the decision. They went for it and Ryan ran a sneak to pick up the first down. The Falcons went on to get a 33-yard field goal drive on a 17-play, 77-yard drive to take a 13-3 lead.
4. Ishmael starts at linebacker. The Falcons started strong safety Kemal Ishmael at weakside linebacker.
Ishmael impressed the coaches with his play at strong safety when Keanu Neal missed the first three games with a knee injury.
With De'Vondre Campbell, Sean Weatherspoon, Paul Worrilow and Deion Jones all out because of injuries, the Falcons were thin at linebacker.
Ishmael started at weakside linebacker and LaRoy Reynolds started at middle linebacker.
The Falcons were pressing all of the buttons to spark their pass rush.
They used offensive guard Ben Garland in the first half at defensive tackle and he got a sack. The play was nullified because of penalties on Robert Alford and Tyson Jackson.
5. Ryan enters the No Fly Zone. With Julio Jones and Mohamed Sanu taken away by Denver's fine secondary, Ryan had to rely on his running backs in the passing game.
Ryan completed 15 of 28 passes for 267 yards and had a passer rating of 101.9 with under four minutes to play.
It has been 29 games since a quarterback has posted a passer rating of 100 or more against Denver.
Julio Jones, a week after catching 12 passes for 300 yards, was held to two catches for 29 yards. Sanu had three catches for 43 yards and had the ball taken away by Denver safety T.J. Ward.
Denver's list of contained quarterbacks remains impressive.
Over the past seven games, they've befuddled Carolina's Cam Newton (twice), Pittsburgh's Ben Roethlisberger, New England's Tom Brady, Indianapolis' Andrew Luck, Cincinnati's Andy Dalton and Tampa Bay's Jameis Winston.
Those quarterbacks have a combined passer rating of 63.9 against the Broncos' defense.
