ATLANTA — Forward of their Week 3 matchup on Sunday night time, the Atlanta Falcons and visiting Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have already grown accustomed to taking part in in evenly matched video games this season.
The 2-time defending Tremendous Bowl Champion Chiefs (2-0) narrowly escaped the Baltimore Ravens on opening night time, 27-20, earlier than Harrison Butker’s 51-yard discipline objective with three seconds left saved the day of their one-point win over the Cincinnati Bengals final Sunday.
For the primary time this season, the Chiefs hit the highway as they go to Atlanta for the primary time since 2016. They may face a Falcons crew that was getting ready to internet hosting the mighty Chiefs with an 0-2 report. After an anemic offensive displaying in an 18-10 dwelling loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 1, the Falcons (1-1) stole a win in Philadelphia on Monday night time, utilizing a last-minute landing drive to beat the Eagles 22-21.
Trailing by six with 1:39 left, Kirk Cousins led the Falcons on a six-play, 70-yard game-winning drive, incomes his first win for his new crew following the signing of a four-year, $180 million contract with Atlanta. Head coach Raheem Morris, who additionally secured his first win because the Falcons’ head coach, wasn’t stunned by the way in which his veteran quarterback led the ultimate drive.
“I do know what that confidence appears to be like like from follow. I do know what his confidence appears to be like like from daily strolling down the corridor with him and watching his course of,” Morris added. “I did not want to have a look at him earlier than that drive. Earlier than the sport, we mentioned we’ll do it for one another and that is precisely what they did.”
The Falcons, who’ve returned to a state of relevance after a number of years of nationwide apathy, are coming off their first “Monday Night time Soccer” look since 2020. Now they put together for his or her first “Sunday Night time Soccer” recreation since 2019.
The Chiefs have received eight straight video games (together with the playoffs) since final yr’s Christmas Day loss to the Raiders. Kansas Metropolis’s win streak will likely be put to the check on Sunday with out main rusher Isiah Pacheco.
Pacheco’s leg was caught underneath a defender in Sunday’s win, fracturing his proper fibula. In his absence, the Chiefs signed former operating again Kareem Hunt, who rushed for two,151 yards with the crew from 2017-18. Hunt had been in a primarily backup position with Cleveland from 2019 by final season.
“(Pacheco’s) been placed on IR, he is having surgical procedure at this time,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned Wednesday. “I can not provide you with a time when he will return. We’ll see if it is this season or subsequent season.”
Pacheco has run for 135 yards and a landing this season.
Turning the web page to Sunday, Reid and firm sound prepared for his or her uncommon journey to Atlanta.
“Wanting ahead to the problem of taking part in the Falcons,” Reid mentioned. “That is an important surroundings down there at their stadium. Raheem’s accomplished a heck of a job with that group, which was apparent Monday night time. Between Jimmy (Lake), Zac (Robinson) and Marquice (Williams), they have nice coordinators. … We have to have week of follow beginning at this time and I do know our guys are wanting ahead to the problem of taking part in soccer crew like this.”
Three-time Tremendous Bowl MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes enters play vying for a greater efficiency, following a uncommon lackluster displaying on Sunday. Mahomes threw for a pair of touchdowns in opposition to Cincinnati however was additionally picked off twice. The 2-time NFL MVP’s 151 passing yards had been his fewest since throwing for a career-low 76 in opposition to Denver on Oct. 17, 2019 earlier than dislocating his kneecap.
All time, Kansas Metropolis holds a 7-3 collection lead over Atlanta. The Falcons will search for their first win over the Chiefs since Week 1 of the 2012 season.
On the harm entrance, everybody was a full participant in follow for the Chiefs on Wednesday whereas 4 Falcons had been restricted: operating again Tyler Allgeier, cornerback Antonio Hamilton Sr., and defensive linemen James Smith-Williams and Ta’Quon Graham.
–Jack Batten, Discipline Degree Media