ENGLEWOOD, Colo.
The Denver Broncos insist their first loss in 295 days offers them the rare chance to recalibrate but doesn’t bestow a blueprint upon other opponents.
“ Well, if everybody goes and gets a Coleman, then they’ve got the blueprint. Good luck,” cracked cornerback Aqib Talib.
The Broncos were still in awe of Tevin Coleman on Tuesday, 48 hours after the Falcons’ backup running back with breakaway speed torched them for 132 yards on four catches in Atlanta’s not-as-close-as-it-sounds 23-16 win in Denver.
The Broncos’ usually defiant defense shut down Julio Jones a week after his 300-yard game against Carolina but got burned by Atlanta’s tailback tandem of Coleman and Devonta Freeman. They accounted for 119 yards rushing and 167 yards receiving.
“We just had a tough day on Sunday,” pass rusher Von Miller said. “Every team doesn’t have a Devonta Freeman and a Coleman. It’s just not something that’s going to happen week in and week out. That was one day out of the month, one game.
“We lost a game last year about this time to the Colts, and we lost another game right after that and we were able to rally. How we finished the season, that’s all history. It’s how you bounce back from it that defines what type of team you are.”
The Broncos (4-1) face a tough challenge in rebounding from their first loss since Dec. 20 when they visit the San Diego Chargers (1-4) Thursday night.
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