Barron returns pick 97 yards for a TD as Stidham leads Broncos to runaway 27-7 win over Falcons

ATLANTA (AP) — Jarrett Stidham threw a touchdown pass in his bid to keep his hold on Denver’s backup job and Jahdae Barron returned an interception 97 yards for a touchdown as the Broncos overwhelmed the Atlanta Falcons 27-7 on Friday night in the preseason opener for both teams.

Stidham completed 9 of 15 passes for 131 yards, including a 5-yard scoring pass to Jaleel McLaughlin, while playing the first half.

“He's really good with the operation,” Broncos coach Sean Payton said about Stidham. “I thought he handled it well.”

Payton announced Wednesday starting quarterback Bo Nix would not play against Atlanta. Nix is expected to make his preseason debut next week at home against Green Bay. Sam Ehlinger played the second half, completing 10 of 14 passes for 67 yards, after Stidham led the Broncos to a 24-0 halftime lead.

Falcons quarterback Tua Tagovailoa completed 3 of 5 passes for 22 yards while playing two series. Tagovailoa's expected competition for the starting job has been on hold with Michael Penix Jr. still not cleared for team drills as he continues his recovery from surgery on his left knee.

Cooper Rush, who played behind Tagovailoa, threw two interceptions, including Barron's pick returned for a touchdown. A deflection by linebacker Karene Reid on Rush's pass for Chris Blair set up the interception.

Two prominent Atlanta starters, running back Bijan Robinson and wide receiver Drake London, were in uniform but did not play. The Falcons were held to 192 yards in the debut for coach Kevin Stefanski.

“There's plenty to clean up,” Stefanski said. “I thought it was great being in our building, for a lot of us being in here for the first time.”

Stefanski said the offense “didn't move the ball wall.” Asked to evaluate Tagovailoa's performance, Stefanski said “It's hard to give a grade on that sample size” of only nine snaps.

A fumble by McLaughlin set up a 1-yard touchdown run by Atlanta's third quarterback, undrafted rookie Jack Strand, late in the third quarter. Penix and Tagovailoa made sure Strand was given the ball from the touchdown on the quarterback sneak.

“That was cool for sure,” Strand said. “... They've been so supportive of me this whole training camp.”

Falcons second-year edge rusher James Pearce Jr. had two tackles as a backup hours after the NFL announced his suspension without pay for the first eight games of the season for violating the league’s personal conduct policy. The suspension begins Aug. 30 and he will be eligible for reinstatement Nov. 2. He is expected to play in the remaining preseason games.

Pearce's suspension was the second major hit to the Falcons' pass rush, following Jalon Walker's season-ending torn ACL in his left knee. Pearce led Atlanta with 10.5 sacks as a rookie. Walker had 5.5 sacks.

Payton said first-year offensive coordinator Davis Webb enjoyed a “smooth” debut.

“Davis was on point,” Payton said.

A new Field Turf playing surface was installed at Mercedes-Benz Stadium for the NFL season after real grass was used for eight World Cup soccer games this summer.

Broncos: Linebacker Levelle Bailey was carted off the field with an ankle injury and listed as questionable.

Falcons: Stefanski said left tackle Jake Matthews, who left the game after one series, “was dealing with something but he's OK.”

Broncos: Host Green Bay next Friday.

Falcons: Following joint practices at the Colts next week, Atlanta will play at Indianapolis on Aug. 22.

See AP’s full NFL coverage here

Atlanta Falcons running back Tyler Goodson (25) runs against the Denver Broncos during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Lesser)

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Cooper Rush (13) passes during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Lesser)

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Chris Blair (19) makes a catch against Denver Broncos safety Jl Skinner (34) during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Denver Broncos cornerback Jahdae Barron (23) returns an interception for a touchdown during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Erik Lesser)

Denver Broncos quarterback Jarrett Stidham (8) passes during the first half of a preseason NFL football game, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

TORONTO (AP) — Alejandro Kirk homered and hit a tiebreaking double, Shane Bieber pitched six innings to win for the fourth time in six starts and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the New York Yankees 3-1 on Friday night.

Toronto’s Vladimir Guerrero Jr. left after colliding with Yankees rookie shortstop George Lombard Jr. on a chaotic play at third base in the sixth inning.

Kirk went 2 for 3 with a walk. He broke a 1-1 tie with a two-out double off Gerrit Cole in the sixth, then added some insurance with a two-out homer, his fifth, off Bradley Hanner in the eighth.

Bieber (4-2) allowed one run on four hits. He’s 4-1 with a 3.48 ERA in his past six outings.

Tyler Rogers got four outs and Mason Fluharty retired both batters he faced. Louis Varland finished for his 27th save in 28 chances.

Cole (6-6) allowed two runs, one earned, and five hits in six innings, snapping a streak of three straight winning starts. Cole walked two and struck out five.

With Guerrero at first and Nathan Lukes at second and the Blue Jays trailing 1-0 in the sixth, George Springer hit a grounder to third baseman Ryan McMahon, who stepped on the bag to force out Lukes.

McMahon threw to first in a bid to retire Springer, but New York first baseman Luis García Jr. couldn’t scoop the throw.

Guerrero broke for third and García threw toward Lombard, who was trying to get to the bag. When Lombard tried to leap over the sliding Guerrero, his left thigh struck Guerrero’s head.

Charles McAdoo replaced Guerrero in the seventh.

RHP Cam Schlittler (10-6, 2.21 ERA) is scheduled to start for the Yankees on Saturday against Blue Jays RHP Braydon Fisher (3-3, 3.54).

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New York Yankees' George Lombard Jr., front, gets caught in a rundown as Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez, back, pursues during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Yankees shortstop George Lombard Jr. (96) gets caught in a rundown as Toronto Blue Jays shortstop Andrés Giménez (0) throws to third for the out during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) reacts during the sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (27) grimaces as he crosses the plate after scoring following a throwing error by New York Yankees first baseman Luis García Jr. (26) during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays Alejandro Kirk (30) hits a RBI double off New York Yankees pitcher Gerrit Cole (45) during sixth inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Friday, Aug. 14, 2026. (Chris Young/The Canadian Press via AP)