Special Postgame Episode | Joe Patrick on Football

The Atlanta Falcons started its preseason schedule on the wrong foot with a 27-7 loss to the Denver Broncos at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Tua Tagovailoa and the first team offense looked sloppy and ineffective. On the other side of the ball, the Broncos starters pummeled the Falcons en route to a 24-0 halftime lead in what was ultimately an ugly way to start the preseason for Kevin Stefanski.

The Morning Shift’s full show on Friday, August 14th, 2026.

HR1 - Plenty of players & position groups to watch heading into Falcons preseason opener

In hour one Mike, Ali, and Beau recap and react to some of the preseason games that happened in the NFL last night including the Arizona Cardinals beating the Las Vegas Raiders last night 27-14. The Morning Shift crew also talks about how Raiders rookie quarterback and number one overall pick in April’s draft Fernando Mendoza looked pretty good in his preseason debut, explain why they think he’s not ready to be the Raiders starting quarterback yet despite playing well in his debut, preview the Atlanta Falcons preseason opener against the Denver Broncos tonight, talk about what players and position groups they’ll be watching closely, explain why they think the rotation at inside linebacker and right tackle are the top things to watch for in the Falcons preseason opener tonight, react to the news that targeting penalties assessed in the second half of a game will no longer require the offending player to sit out the first half of his team's next game, offensive pass interference will become a 10-yard penalty and the little-used fair catch kick will be introduced to college football as a part of the rule changes for the 2026 season, announced by the National Football Foundation in its annual summary of rules changes. Mike, Ali, and Beau also explain why they think the targeting penalty rule changes in college football were long overdue, and then close out hour one by diving into the life of Mike Johnson in Mike’d Up!

HR2 - Falcons fans may get some insight tonight on how team plans to use Zachariah Branch

In hour two Mike, Ali, and Beau continue to preview the Atlanta Falcons preseason opener against the Denver Broncos tonight, talk about what players and position groups they’ll be watching closely, explain why they think how much and in what way the Falcons will feature rookie wide receiver Zachariah Branch is something to watch tonight, play a round of Fair or Foul for the halftime portion of the show, discuss if it’s fair or foul to think that they will know who the Falcons starting quarterback is going to be after tonight's preseason opener against the Denver Broncos, preview the Atlanta Braves matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight in what is the first game of a three game series in Atlanta, talk about what their confidence level in the Braves winning this series is, explain why they think the Braves are clicking on all cylinders for the first time since their hot start to the season, and then close out hour two by talking about the biggest news, rumors, and reports in the NFL as they go In The Huddle!

HR3 - Falcons 1st preseason game will be success if they stay healthy & look well coached

In hour three Mike, Ali and Beau continue to preview the Atlanta Falcons preseason opener against the Denver Broncos tonight, talk about what players and position groups they’ll be watching closely, and explain why they think the Falcons need to look well coached tonight versus the Broncos more than anything. Then, The Morning Shift crew continues hour three by spending some time with 92.9 The Game's own Atlanta Braves insider and reporter, Grant McAuley! Mike, Beau, and Grant discuss Grant wanting the Braves to play in the Field of Dreams game sooner rather than later, how he feels about the Arizona Diamondbacks and their pitching rotation, why Walt Weiss flipped Drake Baldwin and Ronald Acuña Jr. in the lineup and is now having Ronald Acuña Jr. leading off and having Drake Baldwin hitting second in the lineup, if Grant thinks Walt Weiss and the Braves flipping Acuña Jr. and Baldwin between the one and two spots in the batting lineup is something that will continue for the rest of the season, the Braves hitting the most home runs since the All-Star Break, if the Braves team we’re seeing now is the Braves team we can expect to see down the stretch, who Grant thinks would start at shortstop in game one of a playoff series, if it’s Mauricio Dubón why Grant thinks shortstop Ha-Seong Kim is still on the roster, and if Grant thinks this is Matt Olson’s best season as an Atlanta Brave. Finally, The Morning Shift crew closes out hour three by spending some time with former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, and now analyst for the Atlanta Falcons Radio Network Dave Archer! Ali, Mike, Beau, and Dave discuss how much Dave thinks the Atlanta Falcons starters should play tonight in their preseason opener versus the Denver Broncos, what Dave thinks the rotation at right tackle will look like tonight in the Falcons preseason opener, who Dave is excited to see play tonight in the Falcons preseason opener, how Dave thinks Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. gets over the mental hurdle of his latest ACL injury, and which Falcons players Dave expects to see play at the nickel corner position tonight.

Mike, Ali, and Beau spend some time with former Atlanta Falcons quarterback, and now analyst for the Atlanta Falcons Radio Network Dave Archer! Ali, Mike, Beau, and Dave discuss how much Dave thinks the Atlanta Falcons starters should play tonight in their preseason opener versus the Denver Broncos, what Dave thinks the rotation at right tackle will look like tonight in the Falcons preseason opener, who Dave is excited to see play tonight in the Falcons preseason opener, how Dave thinks Falcons quarterback Michael Penix Jr. gets over the mental hurdle of his latest ACL injury, and which Falcons players Dave expects to see play at the nickel corner position tonight.

Mike, Ali and Beau spend some time with 92.9 The Game's own Atlanta Braves insider and reporter, Grant McAuley! Mike, Beau, and Grant discuss Grant wanting the Braves to play in the Field of Dreams game sooner rather than later, how he feels about the Arizona Diamondbacks and their pitching rotation, why Walt Weiss flipped Drake Baldwin and Ronald Acuña Jr. in the lineup and is now having Ronald Acuña Jr. leading off and having Drake Baldwin hitting second in the lineup, if Grant thinks Walt Weiss and the Braves flipping Acuña Jr. and Baldwin between the one and two spots in the batting lineup is something that will continue for the rest of the season, the Braves hitting the most home runs since the All-Star Break, if the Braves team we’re seeing now is the Braves team we can expect to see down the stretch, who Grant thinks would start at shortstop in game one of a playoff series, if it’s Mauricio Dubón why Grant thinks shortstop Ha-Seong Kim is still on the roster, and if Grant thinks this is Matt Olson’s best season as an Atlanta Brave.

Mike, Ali and Beau continue to preview the Atlanta Falcons preseason opener against the Denver Broncos tonight, talk about what players and position groups they’ll be watching closely, and explain why they think the Falcons need to look well coached tonight versus the Broncos more than anything.

Mike, Ali, and Beau preview the Atlanta Braves matchup with the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight in what is the first game of a three game series in Atlanta, talk about what their confidence level in the Braves winning this series is, and explain why they think the Braves are clicking on all cylinders for the first time since their hot start to the season.

Ali, Mike, and Beau play a round of Fair or Foul for the halftime portion of the show, and discuss if it’s fair or foul to think that they will know who the Falcons starting quarterback is going to be after tonight's preseason opener against the Denver Broncos.