"It presents a big challenge," McClure said. "We have to be ready to come off the ball. Not let their quickness and movement slow us down. They are going to move some, but we are going to have to be ready to play our game and still come off the ball like we've been doing it."

In four games this season, the Falcons haven't allowed a sack. But they'll likely want to run on Denver in order to keep its dangerous quarterback, Jay Cutler, off the field. The Broncos are ranked 27th (out of 32 teams) against the run.

"That's something we try to do every week," McClure said. "It looks like there are going to be some opportunities. We just can't take it for granted and say that teams have done it in the past and we expect it to just happen. We have to get that established earlier."

The Falcons dominated the third quarter last week against New Orleans, using 11:36 of the clock. One drive took up 8:30 of the period.

"When you put those long drives together, it keeps that explosive offense off the field," McClure said.

Sellout

The Falcons game against Denver at the Georgia Dome is sold out, according to a team spokesman.

NFL teams, per league rules, have until 72 hours prior to kickoff to sell out their games or face not being televised locally.

For the season opener, the Falcons turned to their sponsors to help sell out the Detroit game. The announced attendance for that game was 62,310.

Home games against Kansas City (62,434), Chicago (64,096) and New Orleans (64,826) have also been announced as sellouts.

The Georgia Dome lists capacity at 71,250.

Jennings lands

Former Falcons punt returner Adam Jennings didn't stay unemployed long.

He was cut by the Falcons on Tuesday and claimed off waivers by Detroit on Wednesday. The Lions cut quarterback Drew Henson to make room for Jennings.

Winless Detroit plays Carolina this week, and Jennings is slated to return punts. The Panthers are a game up on the Falcons in the NFC South.

Elam's flashback

Falcons kicker Jason Elam spent 15 seasons with Denver and was asked what was his most memorable moment there.

"The Super Bowls, especially the first one [a 31-24 victory over the Packers in the 1997 postseason]," Elam said. "Playing Green Bay and being such a huge underdog. And for John [Elway] having gone in and not gotten it done a couple of times. For him to go out as the Super Bowl MVP [after a 34-19 victory over the Falcons in the 1998 postseason] was special for him and special for the town."

Turnover margins

The Falcons are plus-four in turnover margin this season, tied for ninth in the NFL. The Broncos are minus-11, which is 30th.

"They [the Falcons] only have nine turnovers," Broncos coach Mike Shanahan said. "If you do just one a game, usually you'll lead the league every year. They are running the ball extremely successfully. They have two great running backs. I think they are doing a great job with their offensive scheme, with the unbalanced and different shifts and formations, and they are keeping people off balance on defense."

Payton nominee

The Falcons named offensive tackle Todd Weiner the team's nominee for the 2008 Walter Payton Man of the Year award.

Weiner has been active in the community in a range of issues from pediatric cancer to outreach to troubled youth. During the 2007 offseason, he donated a junior Olympic swimming pool and more than $100,000 to the Eagle Ranch Academy, a safe haven home, school and counseling center for 54 boys and girls from 8-18.