No-Huddle Offense Suits Denver Broncos, Atlanta Falcons

Matt Ryan spikes the ball after running in for a touchdown in the second half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium. (Denny Medley-US PRESSWIRE)

The no-huddle offense. It’s all the rage right now. In fact, if you’re not into it, you might as well throw on a jean jacket and walk around with a Zach Morris cell phone.

The Denver Broncos and the Atlanta Falcons are about as good as it gets these days when it comes to the hurry-up, no-huddle. The Broncos scored on four of five possessions once they started running it, and they put up 31 points against a very good Pittsburgh Steelers defense in week one. The Falcons, meanwhile, assassinated the Kansas City Chiefs with 40 points in week one while incorporating a lot of no-huddle.

“Whether you huddle or you don’t huddle, it still comes down to if you have good players,” Peyton Manning said downplaying the tactic and putting the focus on the personnel.

Falcons’ quarterback Matt Ryan has looked to Manning’s no-huddle as a prime model ever since he started running it as a rookie.

“I think he kind of sets the benchmark for quarterbacks playing in that no-huddle system really in the modern era,” Ryan said. “If you’re not looking to see how he does it, and to see some of the things that he does in it, you’re putting yourself at a disadvantage.”

Manning believes that the Falcons have a great group to execute the no-huddle.

“Matt has shown the ability to make plays early in his career, taking his team to the playoffs,” Manning said. “He’s really got some great weapons that he takes advantage of with (Tony) Gonzalez and their two receivers (Julio Jones and Roddy White). We know that our defense is in for a tough test.”

Luckily the Broncos’ defense practices against the best in the game at the no-huddle a lot. Look for a fast-paced, high scoring contest in this one. It’s perfect for a Monday Night game.

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