The Atlanta Falcons proved that they are for real by beating the reigning Super Bowl Champion Broncos on Sunday afternoon.

This team is legit.

After dismantling the Carolina Panthers last week, the Falcons surprised a lot of fans and pundits alike. The win was a surprising display of offensive firepower against a bitter division rival. Although it was a huge victory, the upcoming schedule still seemed to be daunting. The reigning Super Bowl Champs were up next in the cozy confines of Mile High Stadium. The Atlanta offense and Denver’s defense seemed like a matchup of an irresistible force against an immovable object. That matchup didn’t disappoint.

What was surprising however, was that the Falcon defense was the best unit on the field today. They compiled 6 (!) sacks, 8 QB hits and limited the Broncos to 267 yards of offense. The Falcons dominated the Champs from the get-go today.

The offense was still balanced and very effective, despite the lack of a 300-yard receiving game. Kyle Shanhan has proven to be an offensive wizard with another masterfully-called game. This team has a legitimate chance to do big things this year, as long as they stay healthy. The balance on offense and the emergence of the defense makes Atlanta a true contender.

What a game though. Let’s dive into it a little deeper with my weekly 5 reasons to why the Falcons were victorious.