The Falcons return home to the favorable scenario of facing a Kansas City Chiefs team with little optimism. After reverting back to their 2007 form against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, this week it appears that the stars have realigned for a team that was explosive against the Detroit Lions. A week removed from being stifled in Tampa, the Falcons have an opportunity to get back above .500 and put up some big offensive numbers against a defense that may be even worse than that of the Lions. The offense, particularly the running game, should have another field day at home, but it will be crucial for the defense to find its preseason form, with road games in the wings against Carolina (with No. 1 receiver Steve Smith back from suspension) and Green Bay. Here’s what to watch for on Sunday.
1. GET THIGPEN DIRTY
The Falcons will not be the only team trotting out a rookie quarterback on Sunday, as the Chiefs will start Coastal Carolina greenhorn Tyler Thigpen, their third starting signal-caller in as many games. Surely, John Abraham and the Falcons defense were salivating when they read the headline ‘THIGPEN TO LEAD CHIEFS’. The Chiefs’ offensive line is a shell of the formerly dominant unit of the early 2000s, which paved the way for record-breaking seasons from the now-retired Priest Holmes and Larry Johnson. A disgruntled Johnson, angry he’s not getting more touches, is averaging only 2.8 yards per carry and the front five for the Chiefs is a hodgepodge of inexperience and aging veterans. If the Falcons can stuff Johnson early, Thigpen will be forced to do what Matt Ryan had to against Tampa: throw more than 30 passes. This will give Abraham a chance to add to his league-leading four sacks.
2. IN THE TRENCHES
The key to the Falcons’ success the entire preseason was their aggression on the offensive line, which enabled them to break off four straight 100-yard rushing games, which parlayed into a record-breaking performance against Detroit. While the Falcons eclipsed 100 yards on the ground as a team last week, it was met with resistance and a blow-for-blow mentality from an unintimidated Tampa front. The yards should accumulate again this week, as Kansas City’s defensive front four has been awful since trading Jared Allen, its Pro Bowl pass rush specialist from a year ago. Statistically, the Chiefs have the second-worst run defense in the league (213 yards per game rushing) and gave up 90-plus yards to two backs in Week 2. Expect the same output from Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood if the Falcons’ offensive line steps up.
3. BEAT THE BRANDONS
Some of Ryan’s shoddy start last week can be attributed to the playcalling of Mike Mularkey last week, who opted to pass on the first three offensive downs rather than establish what has been so successful for the Falcons thus far. Ryan’s success coincides with the success of the running game, but Ryan throwing 15-20 passes as opposed to the 33 he threw last week can limit the opportunities for the Chiefs’ inexperienced corners to find confidence. Expect Ryan to put up his best numbers as a pro against a Chiefs secondary starting two rookies in Virginia Tech’s Brandon Flowers and Division II Grand Valley State’s Brandon Carr. Chiefs coach Herman Edwards says he is not worried about starting two rookie corners against the Falcons, but you can bet that Roddy White and Laurent Robinson are itching to help Ryan get his confidence back to its Week 1 form.
Horne can be reached at ehorne@scoreatl.com.
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