The Kansas City Chiefs are heading on the road for the first time this season, facing the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday, September 22, at 8:20 p.m. EDT at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. With this game being in primetime, it will air on NBC’s Sunday Night Football.
The Chiefs are coming off two nail-biting victories in their first two games, defeating the Baltimore Ravens 27-20 in their season opener and the Cincinnati Bengals 26-25 last Sunday, giving them a 2-0 start. The Falcons, on the other hand, bounced back from a rough Week 1 18-10 loss to the Steelers in their season opener with a thrilling 22-21 win over the Eagles on Monday Night Football.
Both teams enter this game on the heels of walk-off victories. The Chiefs will aim to navigate recent injuries while maintaining momentum, and the Falcons will seek back-to-back wins and build on early season success.
Game/Team Matchup Info
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The Chiefs and Falcons haven’t faced off in four years, with Kansas City winning a close 17-14 contest back in December 2020. Since then, both teams have seen major changes. The Falcons now have Kirk Cousins leading the offense, replacing longtime quarterback Matt Ryan. Atlanta’s offensive core is also much younger, while Kansas City has largely retained its key players. Notably, this will be only the second time that Patrick Mahomes faces Cousins, with their first meeting being a 27-20 Chiefs win in 2023 when Cousins played for the Minnesota Vikings. In that game, Mahomes threw for 281 yards and two touchdowns, while Cousins put up 284 yards with two touchdowns.
This matchup brings different circumstances for both quarterbacks, as Cousins is now adjusting to a new team and head coach Raheem Morris, while Mahomes operates with a more familiar supporting cast. Kansas City is favored by 3.5 points according to ESPN, with an over/under of 46.5 points. Despite the changes, both teams will need to sharpen their game plans to secure a win, especially as they navigate early-season challenges.
Statistically, the Chiefs enter the game with the 15th-ranked offense and 29th-ranked defense, highlighting areas of both strength and concern. The Falcons’ offense ranks 18th overall, but their defense stands out, ranking 11th overall with a stout pass defense (7th). However, Atlanta has struggled to stop the run, ranking 27th in that category. This sets up an intriguing battle between the Chiefs’ air attack and the Falcons’ tough secondary, while Kansas City may look to exploit Atlanta’s run defense in hopes of securing their third win of the season.
Chiefs’ Offense Looks to Get Back into Rhythm
The Chiefs’ offense faces a challenge after losing running back Isiah Pacheco to injured reserve due to a broken fibula in Week 2. With Clyde Edwards-Helaire also on the NFI list, the running back duties will fall to Carson Steele, Samaje Perine, and possibly Kareem Hunt. Hunt, who has been recently reunited with the team after six years, is on the practice squad but could be elevated to game-day duties, providing support in both running and pass protection.
In the passing game, wide receiver Rashee Rice and tight end Travis Kelce are expected to lead the charge. Rice has been the Chiefs’ most reliable offensive weapon this season, with seven receptions for 107 yards in Week 1 and five catches for 75 yards and a touchdown in Week 2. Kelce, though yet to deliver one of his trademark performances this season, remains a crucial piece of the offense. The last time Kelce faced this opponent, he was the primary weapon, recording seven receptions, 98 yards, and a touchdown.
With Marquise “Hollywood” Brown sidelined and Pacheco out, Kelce is expected to see an increased workload this week. As always, Mahomes will distribute the ball as needed, but the Chiefs are likely to rely on short passing attacks given the strength of the Falcons’ secondary. The hope is for players like Rice, Kelce, and even Hunt to generate yards after the catch, an area where all three have proven effective.
Falcons Lean On Rushing Attack
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When the Falcons face the Chiefs, expect them to attack Kansas City’s defensive line and linebacking corps by running the ball frequently. Leading their rushing attack is Bijan Robinson, who has been a two-way threat this season with 10 targets and a team-leading 165 rushing yards. He ranks eighth in the NFL in yards from scrimmage, and the Chiefs will need to find a way to contain him.
However, Robinson isn’t the only ground threat for the Falcons. Tyler Allgeier has also been efficient, accumulating 74 rushing yards on 20 fewer carries than Robinson. He leads the team with 6.2 yards per carry, making this Robinson-Allgeier backfield duo a handful for the Chiefs’ defense.
Players to Watch For Kansas City
The players to watch for Kansas City this week are Travis Kelce and linebacker Nick Bolton. Patrick Mahomes and Andy Reid will likely make it a priority to get their star tight end involved. Kelce has been relatively quiet this season with just four catches for 39 yards through two games, and a long reception was called back due to a penalty last week. With the deep passing game likely to struggle, the short-to-intermediate routes — where Mahomes and Kelce thrive — could be crucial.
On defense, all eyes will be on Nick Bolton, who serves as the signal-caller for the Chiefs defense. Kansas City has struggled against tight ends this season, and Bolton has been part of the issue. His leadership will be critical as the Chiefs look to contain Kyle Pitts. Will they step up and stop the bleeding, or will the 138 yards per game already surrendered to tight ends continue to grow?
Players to Watch For Atlanta
On offense, the player to watch for Atlanta is Bijan Robinson. In just two games this season, he’s averaged over four more touches and 25 more yards per game compared to last year. His rushing success rate has soared, and he’s been more efficient in the passing game. While Robinson has yet to score in 2024, he’s poised for a bigger workload this week, making him a key focus for the Chiefs’ defense.
Defensively, the spotlight is on free safety Jessie Bates III, who entered 2024 as PFF’s No. 3-ranked safety. He’s coming off a massive performance against the Philadelphia Eagles, where he broke up a would-be touchdown pass to DeVonta Smith and sealed the victory with a game-ending interception. Bates also recorded 12 tackles, including one for a loss, earning NFC Defensive Player of the Week honors. He’s a player the Chiefs’ offense must account for.
Final Thoughts
Kansas City, currently dealing with an injury bug, is also trying to figure out its identity. It may sound odd for the two-time defending champions to be in an identity crisis, but despite their early success, they have many questions to answer on both sides of the ball. This week presents an opportunity to resolve some of those questions, but it could also create new ones.
This game will be pivotal for both teams. The Chiefs know that their path to a third straight Super Bowl requires overcoming adversity, and they are already feeling the pressure after losing both their WR1 and RB1 to injured reserve. Meanwhile, the Falcons come into this game riding high after a primetime win against the Eagles, led by an impressive comeback. It will be interesting to see how the Chiefs fare on the road for the first time this season.
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