The Atlanta Falcons’ new era faced its first test Friday night, and the grade was not exactly refrigerator-worthy. Denver rolled to a 27-7 win, prompting former NFL defensive lineman Breiden Fehoko to skip the usual preseason caution and reach straight for the basement.
Fehoko watched Atlanta fall behind 24-0 before halftime and offered a brutal assessment of Tua Tagovailoa and company.
Breiden Fehoko Rips Falcons After Ugly Preseason Opener
“You usually don’t put too much stock into preseason games, but the Falcons might be the worst team in the NFL,” Fehoko wrote on X.
Calling any team the NFL’s worst after one exhibition game comes across as aggressive, even by August standards. Still, Atlanta did not give Fehoko much material for a rebuttal.
The Broncos outgained the Falcons 359-192 and controlled possession for more than 36 minutes, according to the official game recap. Atlanta did not score until the third quarter, when rookie quarterback Jack Strand finished a short drive with a rushing touchdown.
The first half was especially rough. Cooper Rush threw two interceptions, including a 97-yard pick-six by Denver cornerback Jahdae Barron. Atlanta entered halftime down 24-0, which is not exactly how a team breeds optimism.
Tagovailoa’s portion of the evening was quieter. He completed three of five passes for 22 yards across two series. Four of his five attempts went toward Kyle Pitts, who caught three passes for 22 yards.
PREDICT THE NFL SEASON: PFN’s FREE NFL Playoff Predictor
The limited workload was planned. Head coach Kevin Stefanski had said Atlanta’s starters would receive roughly one series or 10 plays, and Tagovailoa ultimately operated two possessions.
Tua Tagovailoa Still Has Plenty To Prove in Atlanta
Friday was Tagovailoa’s first game action since joining Atlanta on a one-year deal after his release from the Miami Dolphins.
The Falcons have not named their regular-season starter, with Michael Penix Jr. still working back from the torn ACL he suffered last November.
Penix dressed Friday but did not play and has not yet been cleared for full team work. That leaves Tagovailoa with valuable opportunities to make his case while Atlanta waits for Penix to progress.
There is room for improvement after an uneven 2025 season. Tagovailoa finished with a 72.1 PFN QB Impact score, ranking 28th among quarterbacks. He also threw for 2,660 yards, 20 touchdowns and 15 interceptions in 14 games.
The preseason opener did little to settle the quarterback question. It also offered little comfort elsewhere.
Denver’s first units moved the ball efficiently, while Atlanta’s offense spent much of the night searching for traction.
Of course, nobody hangs banners for preseason games, and Atlanta sat several important players, including Bijan Robinson. One ugly August night does not prove the Falcons are the NFL’s worst team.
It did give Fehoko enough ammunition to skip subtlety entirely.
