The time for speculation and head-scratching is over. The Atlanta Falcons have completed training camp, played four preseason games, and have set their roster for the time being. It’s now time for the regular season to begin, and with that, it’s also time to preview the week 1 game against the Kansas City Chiefs in Kansas City, Mo.
You can’t talk about playing the Chiefs on the road without talking about Arrowhead Stadium, which is by far one of the toughest venues in the NFL for visiting teams to come away with a victory. Even when the Chiefs aren’t playing great football, they still make it tough on opponents at home.
The crowd is big and noisy, and the love their team. The Falcons will need to make sure they are prepared for running the offense on a silent count, because the Arrowhead crowd has helped create more than their fair share of false starts.
The next factor in this game beyond the X’s and O’s is Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez.
This will be Gonzalez’s first trip back to Kansas City and Arrowhead Stadium since leaving as a free agent to sign with Atlanta in 2009. It’s sure to be an emotional day for Gonzalez, who still has strong ties in Kansas City. Being the consummate professional that he is, I wouldn’t expect Gonzalez’s emotions to have any effect on his play, but it is something to watch.
In terms of match-ups, I think you have to say advantage Falcons on this one. Atlanta has a better quarterback, a better stable of running backs and receivers, and better special teams players. Line play on both sides of the ball I would call a push, and I’d probably give the Chiefs a slight edge in the defensive secondary.
However, a big defensive blow for the Chiefs is losing Pro Bowl linebacker Tamba Hali for this game due to a suspension for violation of the league’s substance abuse policy.
Not having Hali to contend with will allow the Falcons offensive line to concentrate on man-on-man blocking, and to be able to run screen plays without Hali disrupting the set. Hali is by far the Chiefs best pass rusher, and best coverage linebacker.
Whether or not this game remains close, or swings mightily in the Falcons favor, will rest on the play of Atlanta’s offensive line. Atlanta will need to control the clock to keep Matt Cassell and Dwayne Bowe standing on the sidelines watching the game as much as possible.
The Chiefs defensive line is big and heavy up the middle and on the ends, which means that Atlanta might have more luck handing the ball to Jacquizz Rodgers rather than Michael Turner. Rodgers size, quickness and speed can allow him to get lost in the pile of humanity, and pop out for some big gainers.
Look for Atlanta receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White to come up big in the second half against a Chiefs defense that will tire and slow as the game wears down. Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan will have one of his trademark excellent fourth quarter performances on the road.
All factors considered, I’m still predicting an Atlanta win by three.
