The Question:
Who will win this battle in the trenches?

Broncos O-line		Falcons D-line
By Merril Hoge Special to ESPN.com The Broncos have the best offensive line in football as a unit, and the Falcons have the best defensive line in football as a unit. But when you look at Denver's running game, the Broncos have balance across the field. The line -- center Tom Nalen (pictured), guards Dan Neil and Mark Schlereth, and tackles Tony Jones and Harry Swayne-- allows the Broncos to attack the perimeter and from tackle to tackle. They also have an audible system that, no matter what front Atlanta may be in and the tendencies the Falcons have, the Broncos will actually take advantage of it. Denver's linemen work together on double teams better than anybody. When you double-team a player, you do it to get movement, but one lineman has to come off to block someone else. The Broncos get good movement, and the right guy always comes off at the right time to get the other guy. They orchestrate every blocking scheme to near perfection and make very few physical and mental errors. As a unit, each lineman has a high level of pride in each one and how they perform. Each one polices one another; they watch each other and push each other to the limit. Since last season the Broncos lost Gary Zimmerman to retirement and Brian Habib to free agency, but the reshuffled line is playing as well as last year. It speaks even higher of this team because they've lost two key players.		By Anthony Munoz Special to ESPN.com If there's one area in this game that doesn't get enough credit, it's the Falcons defensive line. I talked to an NFL offensive line coach early in the year about defensive tackle Travis Hall, and that coach said Hall is one of the best in the league. Hall isn't that well-known, but he has one of those motors that's always running. If there's a guy in the middle that can be a factor, Hall is the guy the Broncos have to contend with. Lester Archambeau is a veteran who's playing extremely well. It's always a difficult task against the Broncos offensive line because they have Terrell Davis, a running back who helps the line with his vision and running style. That's not saying the Broncos don't have a good offensive line; they're excellent. But it helps when Davis can set their whole blocking scheme. If the Falcons defensive line has an edge, it's because no one gives them a chance. That fires them up a little bit. You hear about defensive end Chuck Smith (pictured) having a chip on his shoulder. Sometimes, that might be the difference when you're playing. The Falcons' line applies tremendous pressure and penetration. One of the toughest jobs for an offensive lineman is playing someone like Smith, who's on the edge and can penetrate, unless you're going with double teams and misdirection. What I like about the Falcons defensive linemen is they are always active, always coming after you. A lot of times Hall will run by the quarterback with the guard trying to hang onto him. Then Smith will penetrate and make a play. He had an excellent game against Todd Steussie, the Vikings' Pro Bowl tackle, and most of it was because he was on the edge getting up the field quickly. Atlanta's defensive lineman are able to penetrate, react to the run or get to the quarterback because of their quickness and speed.