Special teams coordinator Ben Kotwica vowed the Broncos would make “corrections” after the blocked field goal heard around the NFL.

And they did.

The Broncos lost 16-14 at Kansas City on Nov. 3 when backup center Alex Forsyth was bowled over while playing the left tight end spot on the field-goal team and Leo Chenal blocked Wil Lutz’s 35-yard attempt on the final play. For Sunday’s 38-6 win over Atlanta at Empower Field, the 6-foot-4, 312-pound Forsyth was moved to the far left outside of the line at wing, and 6-7, 315-pound tackle Matt Peart moved into his tight end spot next to him.

“Just kind of changing things up,” Forsyth told The Denver Gazette on Sunday night. “Obviously, what we were doing wasn’t working. Just trying to change things up to get the most effective combination out there.”

Forsyth had also been knocked down a number of other times in games. But after Forsyth switched spots with the bigger Peart, the Broncos had no issues Sunday with Lutz going 5 of 5 on extra points and making a 45-yarder on his only field goal attempt.

Forsyth, in his second season, said it was “tough” the criticism he had faced after the loss to the Chiefs, including on social media.

“I tried to block out all the noise,’’ he said. “Just trying to move on; correct what I could correct and I think that’s what every competitor wants to do. No one wants to go out there and have a bad play and ultimately be responsible for losing the game. But just trying to correct what I need to correct to get out there and keep on improving.”

Asked if anybody crossed the line in criticizing him, Forsyth, said, “Yeah. I don’t really want to talk about that.”

Asked if he has gotten over the play yet, he said, “I still don’t think it’s out of my mind. But, yeah, just trying to move forward.”

Forsyth looked back at the play against the Chiefs.

“Got hit with one foot in the air,’’ he said. “You get the rush on that side. At that position, you got to try to block three people, so just kind of extended out and I didn’t want them to pull me forward and have the other two guys go through. … (I) was kind on the back of my heels.”

Moving forward, Forsyth remains Denver’s backup center behind Luke Wattenberg. And he said he felt comfortable in his new role Sunday on special teams.

“I felt great,’’ he said.

Nix and the record book

Broncos rookie quarterback Bo Nix moved into elite company with his performance against the Falcons when he completed 28 of 33 passes for 307 yards with four touchdowns and had a passer rating of 145.0.

Nix joined Houston’s C.J. Stroud, who did it on Nov. 5, 2023 against Tampa Bay, as the only rookie in NFL history to throw for more than 300 yards with four or more touchdowns and a passer rating above 140. And Nix’s passer rating was the second best by a rookie, just behind the 147.8 by Stroud in that game.

Nix’s completion percentage was 84.8. Of quarterbacks to have thrown 30 or more passes, Nix had the third-best percentage by any NFL rookie and the second best in Denver history. Peyton Manning completed 86.5% of his throws against the Oakland Raiders on Sept. 23, 2013.

“It’s a lot of fun to watch (Nix) go out there and just have fun,’’ said wide receiver Courtland Sutton. “You can tell he’s like a kid, he is just enjoying himself. For your quarterback to be out there enjoying himself and not panic, there’s not 1 ounce of panic that goes upon him.”

Williams bounces back

After three lackluster games, Broncos running back Javonte Williams had an impressive outing.

Williams, who had carried 30 times for just 87 yards in the previous three games, had nine attempts for 59 yards. He also caught four passes for 28 yards.

“Everybody played well today on both sides of the ball,’’ Williams said.

In the second quarter, Williams scored on a rugged 14-yard run. With the help of multiple offensive linemen pushing him, he went the final 5 yards with about half the players on Atlanta’s defense unable to stop him.

“(I know) it’s going to take more than one guy to stop Javonte. We got drafted here together, so I’ve know that from the beginning that it is going to take a couple more bodies,’’ said guard Quinn Meinerz, who was a third-round pick in 2021 while Williams went in the second round. “They’re bringing more tacklers, and we’re bringing more people. … I’ve been taught to push the pile. So I got there, pushed the pile, and we ended up scoring.”

Jones sits out

With Broncos safety Brandon Jones out due to an abdomen injury, Devon Key filled in and did a solid job.

“Obviously, (Jones) plays a big role in our defense (but Key) came out and did what he had to do,’’ said cornerback Pat Surtain II.

It was the third game this season that Key has filled in for an injured safety. He took over when P.J. Locke missed games Oct. 27 against Carolina and Nov. 3 at Baltimore.

Jones had been listed as questionable after being limited throughout the week in practice. He was inactive along with tight end Greg Dulcich, offensive linemen Calvin Throckmorton and Frank Crum, cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine, defensive lineman Eyimoa Uwazurike and quarterback Zach Wilson.

At safety for the Falcons, Justin Simmons returned to Denver, where he had played the previous eight seasons. Simmons, who was greeted warmly by former teammates, had five tackles, including one for loss.

Briefly

The Broncos had four sacks, including two by outside linebacker Nik Bonitto. “I’ve been struggling to kind of finish some (sacks) in some games,’’ said Bonitto, who has a team-high nine this season. “I was happy.” … The Broncos held the Falcons, who entered the game No. 5 in the NFL in total offense, without a touchdown for the first time this season. “You got to get used to winning and used to dominating teams, especially at home, and we’re only going to keep getting better,’’ said outside linebacker Jonathon Cooper. … Rookie receiver Devaughn Vele caught four passes for 66 yards. “I am so happy for him,’’ Sutton said. “His future is so bright.” … Broncos outside linebacker Jonah Elliss got bragging rights over brother Kaden Elliss, a Falcons linebacker. Jonah’s only tackle while Kaden had nine tackles, one for a loss.