{"id":2857,"date":"2024-09-22T04:00:16","date_gmt":"2024-09-22T04:00:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sportnews.drinkfood.info\/?p=2857"},"modified":"2024-09-22T04:00:16","modified_gmt":"2024-09-22T04:00:16","slug":"chiefs-falcons-prediction-why-this-kc-atlanta-pick-hinges-on-patrick-mahomes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sportnews.drinkfood.info\/?p=2857","title":{"rendered":"Chiefs-Falcons prediction: Why this KC-Atlanta pick hinges on Patrick Mahomes"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>The Kansas City Chiefs play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Atlanta.<\/p>\n<p>Here are the game details:<\/p>\n<p><b>Kickoff:\u00a0<\/b>7:20 p.m. Central on Sunday<\/p>\n<p><b>Where:\u00a0<\/b>Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta<\/p>\n<p><b>TV:\u00a0<\/b>NBC (Channel 41 in Kansas City, Channel 3 in Wichita)<\/p>\n<p><b>Radio:<\/b>\u00a0KFNZ (96.5 FM in Kansas City, KNSS 98.7 FM in Wichita)<\/p>\n<p><b>Betting line:<\/b>\u00a0Chiefs by 3.<\/p>\n<h3>Chiefs-Falcons game prediction<\/h3>\n<p>The Chiefs certainly will go into this game understanding the Atlanta Falcons\u2019 greatest strength.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"caas-figure\">\n<div class=\"caas-figure-with-pb\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"caas-img-container caas-img-lightbox\" data-lightbox-src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/ubs.sYmYnKq2_I.qHOzhRA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTIyODA7aD0xNTIwO2NmPXdlYnA-\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/kansas_city_star_mcclatchy_articles_677\/3127019c47daebf49530326641f3a845\"><span class=\"caas-img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview caas-loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/Numbfbpw0x.Ao4Aa8vIznQ--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTY0MDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/kansas_city_star_mcclatchy_articles_677\/3127019c47daebf49530326641f3a845\" alt=\"Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid observes players during practice at the Chiefs training complex on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Kansas City.\" data-caas-lazy-loading-init=\"1\" \/><button class=\"link caas-lightbox\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;elm:expand;itc:1\" data-rapid_p=\"13\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"caption-wrapper caption-aligned-with-image\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrapper caption-aligned-with-image\"><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"caption-collapse\" data-id=\"m-0\">Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid observes players during practice at the Chiefs training complex on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Kansas City.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Atlanta, on offense, is excellent at old-school football. It has a physical offensive line that clears out the second-most space for its running backs, according to the advanced stat\u00a0<a class=\"link \" href=\"https:\/\/ftnfantasy.com\/dvoa\/nfl\/adjusted-line-yards\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener\" data-ylk=\"slk:\u201cAdjusted Line Yards\u201d;elm:context_link;itc:0;sec:content-canvas\" data-rapid_p=\"14\" data-v9y=\"1\">\u201c<\/a>Adjusted Line Yards\u201d\u00a0used to measure that.<\/p>\n<p>The Falcons also have outstanding blockers on the perimeter in receiver Drake London and tight end Charlie Woerner. And just to add some explosion to the operation &#8230; running back Bijan Robinson is\u00a0top 10 according to Pro Football Focus\u2019 metrics\u00a0in run grade and missed tackles forced, making him a threat for a big play on each snap.<\/p>\n<p>KC, thus far, has only been mediocre at stopping the run. It\u2019s also had some early issues with missed tackles, which isn\u2019t overly encouraging considering how important that aspect will be Sunday.<\/p>\n<p>The Falcons\u2019 passing game is another matter. Quarterback Kirk Cousins engineered a\u00a0late game-winning drive\u00a0on Monday Night Football against the Philadelphia Eagles, but he\u2019s been noticeably less mobile than past seasons, posting two of the NFL\u2019s lowest yards traveled per dropback of the season in his first two weeks, according to NFL\u2019s Next Gen Stats.<\/p>\n<p>If KC can stop the run, it figures to have success if it forces Atlanta into third-and-longs. The Falcons have been susceptible with their pass protection, and Chiefs defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has already proven himself to be an expert at scheming ways to create pressure from all angles.<\/p>\n<p>On offense, this is the second straight game where the Chiefs should have a physicality edge if they want to run downhill.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"caas-figure\">\n<div class=\"caas-figure-with-pb\">\n<div>\n<div class=\"caas-img-container caas-img-lightbox\" data-lightbox-src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/dTjNwl2edlM4cPvqv.gcUg--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTIyODA7aD0xMjY4O2NmPXdlYnA-\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/kansas_city_star_mcclatchy_articles_677\/2d92815ed293bd9e0f855db9b186f824\"><span class=\"caas-img-wrapper\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"caas-img caas-lazy has-preview caas-loaded\" src=\"https:\/\/s.yimg.com\/ny\/api\/res\/1.2\/dQgbd2Wciin5jwoDQXi.QA--\/YXBwaWQ9aGlnaGxhbmRlcjt3PTk2MDtoPTUzNDtjZj13ZWJw\/https:\/\/media.zenfs.com\/en\/kansas_city_star_mcclatchy_articles_677\/2d92815ed293bd9e0f855db9b186f824\" alt=\"Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele (42) warms up with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during practice at the Chiefs training complex on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Kansas City.\" data-caas-lazy-loading-init=\"1\" \/><button class=\"link caas-lightbox\" aria-label=\"View larger image\" data-ylk=\"sec:image-lightbox;slk:lightbox-open;elm:expand;itc:1\" data-rapid_p=\"17\" data-v9y=\"1\"><\/button><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"caption-wrapper caption-aligned-with-image\">\n<div class=\"caption-wrapper caption-aligned-with-image\"><\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption class=\"caption-collapse\" data-id=\"m-1\">Kansas City Chiefs running back Carson Steele (42) warms up with quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) during practice at the Chiefs training complex on Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, in Kansas City.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>The Falcons are short on standout players in their front seven, and they\u2019ve had issues both stopping the run and with tackling. The Chiefs likely will be\u00a0putting their trust in rookie Carson Steele\u00a0with Isiah Pacheco out, and the potential is there for a big day on the ground if the team wants it; center Creed Humphrey and guard Trey Smith were dominant run-blockers a week ago, and they will have the chance again Sunday if that\u2019s the direction coach Andy Reid wants to go.<\/p>\n<p>KC also should undoubtedly be better with the passing game than it was last week. Atlanta has one of the NFL\u2019s worst pass-rushes, and that\u2019s certainly a nice break for the Chiefs as they try to sort out their\u00a0early issues at left tackle.<\/p>\n<p>Look for the Chiefs to get Xavier Worthy more involved after a quiet Week 2. Also, look for them to press the ball further downfield and into the intermediate, especially against a Falcons defense that hasn\u2019t covered tight ends that well this season.<\/p>\n<p>In a game where both teams should have some success running, I like the Chiefs\u2019 pass offense to regain some of the rhythm it had in the\u00a0opener against Baltimore.<\/p>\n<p>Look for Mahomes to play better with more comfort in the pocket following a below-average game for his standards.<\/p>\n<p>In the end, I have KC for both the win and cover, as I think the Chiefs\u2019 advantage in passing and pass blocking will play up in this particular matchup.<\/p>\n<p><b>Chiefs 30, Falcons 21<\/b><\/p>\n<p><b>Jesse\u2019s pick to cover spread:\u00a0<\/b>Kansas City<\/p>\n<p><b>Last game prediction:\u00a0<\/b>Chiefs 21, Bengals 20\u00a0(Actual: Chiefs 26-25) \u2714\ufe0f<\/p>\n<p><b>2024 record vs. spread:<\/b>\u00a02-0<\/p>\n<p><b>Last three seasons\u2019 record vs. spread:<\/b>\u00a027-16 (63%)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Kansas City Chiefs play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Atlanta. Here are the game details: Kickoff:\u00a07:20 p.m. Central on Sunday Where:\u00a0Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta TV:\u00a0NBC&#8230; <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2858,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2857","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-nfl"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Chiefs-Falcons prediction: Why this KC-Atlanta pick hinges on Patrick Mahomes - Sport News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/sportnews.drinkfood.info\/?p=2857\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Chiefs-Falcons prediction: Why this KC-Atlanta pick hinges on Patrick Mahomes - Sport News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The Kansas City Chiefs play the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday in Atlanta. 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