STORY LINES: THE THREE AMIGOS REMIX: Real triple threat

Receivers rev up Denver’s offense

Denver receivers Brandon Marshall, Eddie Royal and Brandon Stokley have a chance to get their own nickname. For now, we’ll just call them “The Three Amigos II” in honor of the Broncos receivers of the 1990s —- Mark Jackson, Ricky Nattiel and Vance Johnson.

Marshall, Royal and Stokley all bring unique skills to the offense and are extremely dangerous.

Marshall is a load at 6-feet-4, 230 pounds, and he is fast.

Royal is a rookie from Virginia Tech, a small but lightning-fast receiver.

Stokley is the super-quick slot receiver.

“We’ve got a lot of weapons,” Denver quarterback Jay Cutler said.

Marshall can control the game if not contained. He had 18 catches for 166 yards earlier this season against San Diego. In his first game, Royal destroyed Oakland’s DeAngelo Hall (since released and signed by Washington) with nine catches for 146 yards.

“Brandon Marshall started really hot,” Cutler said. “Eddie Royal is starting to come on with some of the two high-safeties looks we’ve seen.”

Stokley, a 10-year veteran, has an interesting matchup against Falcons rookie nickel back Chevis Jackson.

“I think over the last five years he has been one of the top slot receivers in the league,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said.

Birds need a solid Marshall plan

The Falcons know they must account for wide receiver Brandon Marshall in the passing game.

“He’s a big guy,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “He’s a tough guy who has speed. He’s a Pro Bowl-quality receiver.”

The Falcons did a decent job on New Orleans’ Marques Colston, another big receiver, last week. But Marshall appears to be playing on a higher level than Colston.

Because the Broncos move Marshall around, “Everybody is going to get an opportunity to defend him,” Smith said.

Marshall has 57 catches for 714 yards and four touchdowns this season.

“He’s got the great hands and speed,” Denver coach Mike Shanahan said.

GETTING CUTLER UNDER DURESS

Defense will look to apply pressure

The Falcons have an ample amount of respect for third-year quarterback Jay Cutler (right), who ranks third in the league in completions (211) and touchdown passes (13).

The Vanderbilt product has thrown at least one touchdown in his past 10 games and is fresh off rallying the Broncos to a come-from-behind, fourth-quarter victory over Cleveland last week.

“He’s very capable,” Falcons safety Lawyer Milloy said. “When he’s hot, he’s one of the best quarterbacks going. He’s one of the best young quarterbacks in the league right now.”

The Falcons did a good job of getting pressure on New Orleans’ Drew Brees last week. They got only one sack, but they chased him and had him throwing on the run. Cutler has been sacked only six times.

“This is more of the traditional offense with the five- and seven-step drop, and play-action,” Falcons coach Mike Smith said. “They are not a real quick team in getting the ball out of the quarterback’s hands.”

SECONDARY GETS ANOTHER TEST

Last week impressive

The Falcons’ secondary had 15 pass breakups and three interceptions last week against New Orleans, a performance that caught the eye of Denver coach Mike Shanahan.

“I’ve been impressed with the way they played against Drew Brees,” Shanahan said. “I think everybody knows what kind of success that he’s had against every team this year. I think for him to throw three interceptions in game is very unusual and really a credit to the defense of Atlanta.”

The Falcons are starting to mix in a little more man-to-man coverage and more blitzes.

“They do a great job with their scheme,” Shanahan said. “They change things up in the secondary to keep you off balance. They give their corners some opportunities to make some plays.”

There was one person who wasn’t surprised by the showing.

“They’ve picked off plenty of my passes in practice,” Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan said. “So I know they are pretty good. They are tough to fool, tough to look off.”

A WISH FOR THE WISHBONE

Run game is a priority

Maybe offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey will break out the wishbone formation for the Broncos.

It’s no secret that the Falcons want to run the ball at Denver’s small and injury-riddled defensive front. Mularkey could put Ovie Mughelli at fullback and Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood in the halfback formation. When they get tired, Jason Snelling could come in.

We’re not sure Mularkey wants quarterback Matt Ryan running the option out of the wishbone in the NFL, but he ran it in high school.

“We’ve got a good, solid run game, and we’ve got confidence in the guys in our backfield and our offensive line,” Ryan said. “It’s going to be important for us to establish the run and do a good job with it.”

The Broncos give up 146.3 yards, which ranks 27th out of 32 teams in the league.

“Their whole defense is based on speed,” Turner said. “You just have to make sure that we are playing much faster on offense to make sure that we can handle some of the things they do.”

The Falcons’ offensive linemen are on alert for a lot of movement by the Broncos’ defensive line in the form of stunts and slants.

“They are real quick and very active,” Falcons left guard Justin Blalock said. “They do a lot of things up front. They are trying to get in there and be disruptive.”

MATCHUP

> Favorite: Falcons by 4

> Series record: Broncos lead 7-4.

> Last meeting: Falcons 41, Broncos 28, Oct. 31, 2004

> Last week: Broncos beat Browns 34-30; Falcons beat Saints 34-20

> Notes: The Broncos have won three straight against NFC teams. … Denver QB Jay Cutler has thrown for at least 300 yards an AFC-leading five times. … The Broncos had won six in a row over the Falcons until Atlanta’s win at Denver in 2004. … While rallying last week from a 10-point deficit in the fourth quarter, Denver put up 564 yards on Cleveland —- tied for the second-best output in franchise history. … Atlanta DE John Abraham has 11 sacks. … Atlanta has outscored opponents 75-17 in the first quarter. … Falcons WR Roddy White has surpassed 100 yards receiving in four games and is on pace for a 1,000-yard season. … In Atlanta’s only Super Bowl appearance, the Broncos won their second consecutive title, 31-19 in 1999 in Miami.

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