Entering Sunday’s game in Denver much of the talk was about how the Broncos could contain Julio Jones, who entered the game as the league’s top wide receiver. As the Broncos walked off the field on the wrong side of a 23-16 final score, everyone will be wondering how on earth a running back who was questionable to even play in the game could put up 132 receiving yards on just four catches to torch the Denver defense.

While the Broncos contained Jones to the tune of just two catches for 29 yards, offensive coordinator Kyle Shanahan cooked up a game plan that freed Tevin Coleman for a career receiving day that included a 31-yard touchdown catch and run that proved to be the back-breaker for the Broncos. Before the game, it was questionable as to whether or not Coleman, who suffers from sickle cell anemia, would even play. The condition can be exaggerated at altitude and has previously prevented other NFL players with the affliction from playing in Denver.

Coleman wasn’t alone in gashing the Denver defense on the day. Shanahan’s game plan exploited two major weaknesses in Wade Phillips’ unit – ones that will need to be corrected in short order as the Broncos head to San Diego next for Thursday Night Football. First, Denver was unable to stop the two-headed rushing attack of Coleman and Devonta Freeman. Coleman accounted for just 33 yards, but Freeman added an additional 88 and a touchdown on 23 carries. Freeman was also dangerous in the passing game, collecting 35 yards on three catches. Linebackers in coverage were the biggest Achilles heel on the day, and the run defense didn’t help.

Jones, all the while, didn’t even record his first catch until the second half. In fact, Jones was just the No. 4 receiver on the day behind both Coleman and Freeman along with Mohamed Sanu who had three receptions for 43 yards.

On a day when Denver’s offense was stuck in the mud, generating just 160 yards and six points through 52 minutes of the game, the defense did it’s best to keep the game within striking distance, but Coleman and Freeman stretched the D to its limit. Atlanta’s backs accounted for 286 of the team’s 372 yards, touching the ball 36 times and scoring both Falcons touchdowns. The rest of team accounted for 11 touches and just 86 yards.

Here’s what the team at MHS, along with some of our favorite follows, had to say about Denver’s inability to stop the running backs and the positives to take away from holding one of the game’s marquee playmakers to only two catches…

On not stopping the running backs…

On stopping Julio Jones…