Before the season started, the Atlanta Falcons, with the addition of Kirk Cousins, were the early favorite to win the NFC South. After a 1-1 start, including an upset over the Philadelphia Eagles Monday Night, they face the Kansas City Chiefs in what could be a pivotal game for both teams.
The Kansas City Chiefs face their first road game of the season on Sunday Night in Atlanta. After a 2-0 start with big-time AFC wins over the Baltimore Ravens and Cincinnati Bengals, the team shifts to the NFC to face a Falcons team riding a high after their road win at Philadelphia.
This game can be viewed in two different ways. First, the Chiefs are the better team, and Patrick Mahomes plays some of his best football in domed stadiums. Second, the Falcons have renewed confidence, which makes this a hazardous game for the Chiefs.
Again, on paper, the Chiefs are better, but as we’ve seen thus far in the 2024 season, the Ravens and Bengals played their best football and still came up short. For the Falcons to win Sunday night, they must play a near-perfect game.
Then again, if the Chiefs continue to struggle early in games, and Mahomes throws interceptions, the Falcons have a significant edge in this football game. However, that’s a big issue if you consider that Mahomes isn’t likely to go three games in a row with an interception.
Kansas City will enter this game without Isiah Pacheco, and they are expected to start rooking running back Carson Steele. The coaching staff and his teammates are confident he can deliver the same production as Pacheco. He gets the nod over backup Samaje Perine and recently signed Kareem Hunt.
Head Coach Andy Reid already indicated Hunt would not play Sunday, so this is a big moment for Steele. Some view him as the next man up, but I think he could become the full-time starter in the not-so-distant future.
Still, relying on a rookie running back is risky, but Steele’s big-time running style could bring a smash-mouth football element to this offense, providing a significant advantage for Mahomes.
If Steele can bring down one of the two safeties closer to the line of scrimmage to support the run, Mahomes can take more downfield shots. That’s a significant element to this offense as it tries to change their passing woes from a year ago.
That’s strange to say when Mahomes is your quarterback, but he’s struggled this season, making better decisions downfield and moving out of stable pockets. I wouldn’t suggest Mahomes has happy feet, but sometimes he senses pressure when none exists.
Then again, Kingsley Suamataia has struggled, and it’s unclear if he or Wayna Morris will start at left tackle. Andy Reid must be mindful that Kingsley is a rookie, and he will take his lumps this season. So, if he is the future, I would start him against Atlanta.
However, that won’t be the case because the Chiefs have indicated Morris will start Sunday Night against Atlanta.
Regardless, the Falcons have a good pass rush and a poor run defense, so the clear line of attack should be establishing the run, using play action, and trying to get Xavier Worthy and Rashee Rice some chunk yards downfield.
Still, this game makes me a bit nervous. The line is under four points, and Kansas City has a big AFC West battle next Sunday in Los Angeles against the surging Chargers. They can’t look past the Falcons.
So, if the Chiefs can get a big lead and put the hammer down, they will prevent any notion that the Falcons can upset both Super Bowl LVII participants in the same week.
