DENVER – The Atlanta Falcons locker room at Mercedes-Benz Stadium trembled with hope and admiration two weeks ago. The team celebrated its best start – 6-3 – since 2016, the last time the franchise appeared in the Super Bowl.

Fast forward two weeks to Sunday, and the mood in the visiting locker room at Empower Field at Mile High was somber. The same team went from thinking about controlling the NFC South to trying to shake off a 38-6 loss to the Denver Broncos.

“Pissed off,” said Falcons linebacker Kaden Elliss, describing the mood after the Falcons’ biggest loss since losing by 40 points to the Dallas Cowboys in 2021.

Coach Raheem Morris said the Falcons were not only defeated, but they lost the battle of physicality and effort. They didn’t handle well. Atlanta didn’t score an offensive touchdown, and a struggling defense — which came in without three cornerbacks and lost another in Kevin King (concussion) — allowed rookie Bo Nix to put together one of the best freshman quarterback performances in NFL history.

Nix was 28 of 33 passing for 307 yards and four touchdowns, the first rookie QB to throw for 300 yards and four touchdowns with an 80% completion rate. The Falcons already came in and allowed opposing quarterbacks to complete passes at the fastest rate in the league, and their pass rush was again zero on Sunday, save for a bull rush sack by Matthew Judon.

“The whole game was about physicality and effort and they outworked us physically, they outplayed us,” Morris said. “They definitely won the game. They talked about that early in the game and what it takes, and it was give your best when you have to give your best. That wasn’t us today.”

Atlanta’s offense wasn’t much better than its defense. Key penalties halted drives, which was a recurring problem, and quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​was 18 of 27 for 173 yards and an interception. It’s his third game without passing touchdowns and an interception, which is tied for second-most in the league.

The Falcons are entering their bye week with a bang and are looking for solutions. Defensive lineman Zach Harrison (knee) left Sunday’s game. Edge rusher James Smith-Williams and defensive lineman Ta’Quon Graham were just placed on injured reserve on Saturday. Atlanta also missed cornerbacks Mike Hughes, Dee Alford and Antonio Hamilton Sr. in Week 11. due to injuries.

“There’s no magic formula, but I think we’re having conversations this week to say, ‘Hey, what are we doing well, what are we not doing well?’” Cousins ​​said. “And then how do we solve it? Those are important questions to ask, but the answers are even more important when it comes to how you solve it, and that has yet to be determined.”

Cousins ​​said things like effort and physicality can be controlled, so that’s something the Falcons can correct.

“You can’t expect to go into a hostile environment and win with that defensive effort,” said Pro Bowl safety Justin Simmons, who spent eight seasons in Denver. “It’s not nearly good enough for us.”