The Atlanta Falcons enter Week 3 feeling much different compared to last week. Coming off a legendary two-minute touchdown drive to win the game, there’s a lot more confidence in new quarterback Kirk Cousins, as well as Zac Robinson’s offense as a whole after the unit looked like a completely different group compared to their Week 1 performance against the Steelers.
However, the road only gets more difficult this week. The Falcons host the two-time defending Super Bowl champions in Atlanta, who have yet to lose a game, and once again, the whole world will be watching on Sunday Night Football with Taylor Swift in the building.
Falcons Linebackers and Safeties vs. Travis Kelce
Travis Kelce is the greatest receiving tight end to ever live, and despite getting up there in age, it hasn’t seemed to slow him down. The Chiefs, while a good offense, still don’t have a ton of weapons that Patrick Mahomes trusts, especially with Isiah Pacheco out. I imagine Kansas City will have to lean on the passing game in this contest, and the Falcons linebackers will have the tall task of attempting to slow down Travis Kelce. I imagine they’ll also have some help from the safeties, particularly Jessie Bates III, who continues to play like the best free agent signing in Falcons franchise history. If Atlanta’s defense can stop the run and take Travis Kelce out of the game, it will make life extremely difficult for Patrick Mahomes.
Mike Hughes vs. Andy Reid
From a wide receiver perspective, the Kansas City Chiefs don’t really have a top option. Rashee Rice is their most proven guy, but most of it is dictated by matchups, and Andy Reid might think his best shot is to target whoever is lined up across from Mike Hughes.
Coming into the season, the cornerback position across from A.J. Terrell was viewed as the weak link. But to this point, that hasn’t been the case. Hughes has only allowed three receiving yards and has been elite at stopping the run. With that being said, the Steelers and Eagles don’t exactly have high-flying passing attacks. The Chiefs do, and we’ll really get an opportunity to see if Mike Hughes is cut out to be CB2 in this Atlanta defense.
Falcons Offensive Line vs. Chris Jones
I like to refer to Chris Jones as the Tom Brady of defensive linemen. Jones might be the best defensive closer the league has ever seen. Whenever the Chiefs seem to need a big play, he always delivers.
In Week 1, Falcons offensive coordinator did an absolutely miserable job game-planning for T.J. Watt. He let one of the best players in football completely wreck the game for four quarters. Hopefully, that served as a learning lesson for the first-year OC. Because if he comes into Sunday with a similar game plan for Chris Jones, it’s going to be a long night for the Falcons offensive line.
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Photographer: Rich von Biberstein/Icon Sportswire
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