Falcons Vs. Chiefs Recap: Atlanta's Offense The Real Thing In 40-24 Road Win

The Atlanta Falcons flexed their muscles in a dominant win over the Chiefs on Sunday, and in doing so made a statement to the rest of the NFL that this team is for real.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs 2012: Atlanta's Offensive Line Impresses In Win

The Atlanta Falcons were very impressive in defeating Kansas City 40-24 on Sunday, which made for plenty of positive takeaways. SB Nation's The Falcoholic liked the performance the team got from the offensive line:

The offensive line was very impressive to me. They kept Matt Ryan clean for the bulk of the game and the only hate that was thrown at them was for a whiff that Clabo had during the game. Otherwise, they did a good job in pass blocking. They did well at times in run blocking, but I'd rather them keep Matt Ryan clean rather than have Turner breaking big runs.

Related: Brent Grimes Out For The Season

With his offensive line giving him ample time, quarterback Matt Ryan was able to pick apart Kansas City's defense. Ryan finished the day 23-31 for 299 yards and three passing touchdowns. The Falcons scored at least 10 points in three of four quarters, and the Chiefs simply were not able to keep up.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more in-depth coverage, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Defensive Adjustments Helped In Second Half

The Atlanta Falcons had to make some adjustments after the first half against the Kansas City Chiefs. After entering halftime leading 20-17, the Falcons forced three turnovers on three consecutive Chiefs' third quarter possessions.

Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon said that the unit did not play tough enough in the first half of the game:

I don't think we played tough in the first half. We ended up playing a little bit tougher in the second half and we got some takeaways.

Weatherspoon also thought that the softer practice scheduled, which just about bans tackling at training camp was a contributing factor in the slow start against the Chiefs:

We don't get that many opportunities, so we kind of used the preseason games for tackling. That's all we have and that has hurt us a little bit. We tackled better in the second half.

Defensive end John Abraham sacked and stripped Chiefs quarterback Matt Cassel in the second half. The Falcons then intercepted two passes by Cassel, one by William Moore and the other by Stephen Nicholas.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more in-depth coverage, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Matt Ryan Pleased With Offense

Led by quarterback Matt Ryan, the Atlanta Falcons' offense put up 40 points in a win over the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. Afterward, Ryan spoke about the offense's performance in the team's big road victory:

"I think we wanted to start fast and we wanted to score touchdowns and we did a pretty good job of that. We set up for a couple of field goals, we know we left a couple of plays out there we probably could have made, but all in all points are good in this league. Any time you get the ball and you can score points that's good. So offensively I think it was a pretty good start."

Related: Falcons Vs. Chiefs Final Score: Matt Ryan, Julio Jones Light Up Field In 40-24 Victory

Ryan finished the day 23-for-31 for 299 yards and four total touchdowns. The Falcons were up just a field goal at halftime, but behind Ryan, Atlanta kept the points coming. Julio Jones caught two touchdowns in the game and Tony Gonzalez accounted for one score in his return to Kansas City.

Atlanta hosts the Broncos in Week 2.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more in-depth coverage, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Mike Smith Fully Satisfied With Week 1 Performance

With a new offensive and defensive coordinator on staff, it was unclear how the Atlanta Falcons would perform in their season opener, but after a 40-24 win over the Kansas City Chiefs, there are fewer question marks surrounding the team.

Atlanta got a strong performance from all three of its units, and that made head coach Mike Smith happy.

"It’s always nice to get a win on your first game of the season and to have played the way we played. We came out very quickly, strongly, on offense. I think it took us a while to get going on defense. I thought we made some very good adjustments on the defensive side of the ball at halftime. It took us awhile to get gelling. It was a nice job. Special teams were solid throughout, albeit we had one snafu in terms of an extra point. I really liked the way that our guys played. They played with a lot of passion. They played for 60 minutes, and they finished. That’s what you have to do to have the success we want to have."

The Atlanta Falcons tallied 376 yards on offense and forced three turnovers. They also got a 77-yard return from Jacquizz Rodgers.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more in-depth coverage, check out Falcons blog The Falcoholic. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub.

Brent Grimes Injury: Falcons Cornerback Left Sunday's Game With Calf Injury

Brent Grimes was hurt in the fourth quarter of Sunday's game.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Tony Gonzalez Enjoys Homecoming In Kansas City

Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez received a warm reception from Chiefs fans prior to the start of Sunday's game. He started to hear some boos once the game got underway, but he nonetheless enjoyed the trip:

"It's just been a good homecoming for me," Gonzalez said. "It was great to see all of the fans out there. I saw all of the signs out there and I just want to tell the fans that I love you very much. I thanked them for making this day very special."

Related: Falcons Crush Chiefs In Opener: A Postgame Thread

Gonzalez spent 12 seasons in Kansas City, where he made 10 trips to the Pro Bowl and was a first team All-Pro on five occasions. He had four 1,000-yard receiving seasons for the Chiefs and twice crossed the 1,200-yard barrier. He moved on to Atlanta following the 2008 season.

Gonzalez caught five passes for 53 yards and one touchdown in Sunday's game.

For more updates on the game Falcons fans should stay right here at SB Nation Atlanta. For more analysis, visit The Falcoholic, and Chiefs fans should check out Arrowhead Pride; for more news and notes from around the NFL, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub page.

Julio Jones: Huge Day for Sophomore Receiver

Julio Jones had a huge day against the Chiefs finishing with over 100 yards receiving and two touchdowns.

PHOTO: Warren Sapp Fails At Predicting Football Games

Falcons Vs. Chiefs Final Score: Matt Ryan, Julio Jones Light Up Field In 40-24 Victory

The first half of this game was a close contest, with both offenses moving the ball with ease.

But in the second half, this game was all Falcons. Mike Nolan and his defense made some fantastic second-half adjustments, forcing three Matt Cassel turnovers (two interceptions, one fumble) as they held the Chiefs to seven points after the halfway point in this game.

While the running game was noticeably absent from the offensive success- Michael Turner was held to 32 yards on 11 carries- Matt Ryan was on fire. He finished the day 23-of-31 passing for 299 yards through the air and four touchdowns (three passing, one running).

Julio Jones and Roddy White both had big games as well. They combined for 12 catches and 195 yards receiving in the season opener, including two TD snags made by Jones.

Overall, this was a real muscle-flexer for the Falcons. They looked really impressive against a quality Chiefs squad, and should continue to impress next week as they head home to face the Broncos on Monday Night Football.

For more updates on the game Falcons fans should stay right here at SB Nation Atlanta. For more analysis, visit The Falcoholic, and Chiefs fans should check out Arrowhead Pride; for more news and notes from around the NFL, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub page.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs Update: Two Cassel Interceptions Allow Atlanta To Pull Away 40-17

Matt Cassel lead his offense on a long drive into Falcons territory to open the half, but a missed 40-yard field goal spelled doom for the Chiefs.

The Falcons would respond to that miss with a nine play, 70-yard scoring drive, including two Matt Ryan passes to Julio Jones for 50 yards. That drive would be capped off by a 5-yard scramble by our own quarterback.

A strip-sack by John Abraham on the ensuing possession, recovered by Stephen Nicholas deep in Chiefs territory, would lead to yet another score, this one a seven-yard TD pass to longtime Chief Tony Gonzalez, making the score 34-17 Falcons.

The offensive struggles would only continue to worsen for Kansas City after that. A wobbly pass by Cassel would be picked off by William Moore, leading to a field goal. On the next drive, Stephen Nicholas would intercept another ill-advised Cassel pass, leading to another Matt Bryant field goal. He is four-of-four kicking on the day.

I'm not sure what else there is to say, other than the Falcons defense made some great adjustments at the half and almost everything that could go write has gone right for Atlanta since the thirty-minute mark.

For more updates on the game Falcons fans should stay right here at SB Nation Atlanta. For more analysis, visit The Falcoholic, and Chiefs fans should check out Arrowhead Pride; for more news and notes from around the NFL, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub page.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs Halftime Score: Atlanta Leading 20-17 In KC Shootout

The second quarter generally went the way of the first in this matchup: both the Falcons and Chiefs offenses played well, and both defenses played like hot garbage.

After leading the Chiefs on a nine-play, 76-yard scoring drive early in the quarter, Matt Cassel continued to pick Atlanta's defense apart on second and third down.

And after giving up a 46-yard breakaway run to Jamaal Charles, the Falcons allowed Cassel to carry it in himself on a five-yard TD scramble. As was the case in the first quarter, the defensive line has generated almost no pressure, allowing Cassel all the time in the world he need to throw.

The offense, on the other hand, was as good as ever. Matt Ryan hooked up with Julio Jones on another touchdown pass, this one a screen play from 14 yards outs, and is 17-of-22 for 203 yards and two scores on the day. Roddy White and Tony Gonzalez have contributed to the air show as well, hauling in five and four catches respectively.

But on third and goal from the three, the Chiefs defense held up and the Falcons settled for another red zone field goal, making the score 20-17 at the half.

The Falcons defense will need to get their act together, or else this game will stay the shootout that it's been.

For more updates on the game Falcons fans should stay right here at SB Nation Atlanta. For more analysis, visit The Falcoholic, and Chiefs fans should check out Arrowhead Pride; for more news and notes from around the NFL, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub page.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs Update: Atlanta Tied 10-10, Matt Ryan Hits Julio Jones On TD Pass

UPDATE: Matt Cassel hits Kevin Boss on a 22-yard touchdown pass, capping off a nine play, 76-yard scoring drive.

The Atlanta Falcons are off to a hot start in their season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Much has been made of the Matt Ryan and Julio Jones connection this offseason, and that duo was certainly working on the opening drive of the ball game.

Ryan was six-of-eight passing for 68 yards and a score. Three of those passes and 44 yards of offense went to Jones, who caught an eight-yard touchdown pass to put the Falcons up 7-0 early.

On defense, Mike Nolan's group failed to get a good pass rush going. A couple of holes in Falcons the secondary allowed Matt Cassel to hit Dwayne Bowe and Tony Moeaki on a couple of long passes, driving the Chiefs down to the Atlanta 22-yard line.

But a cleverly designed delay blitz allowed Sean Weatherspoon to come in untouched on third down, forcing Cassel to dump it off short of the first down. The Chiefs would settle for a 39-yard Ryan Succop field goal.

On the following possession, Jacquizz Rodgers reeled off a brilliant kickoff return for 77 yards, setting the offense up deep in KC territory. But after a three-and-out, the Falcons were forced to settle for a field goal, a 34-yard attempt by Matt Bryant that held true.

For more updates on the game Falcons fans should stay right here at SB Nation Atlanta. For more analysis, visit The Falcoholic, and Chiefs fans should check out Arrowhead Pride; for more news and notes from around the NFL, head over to SB Nation's NFL hub page.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs Inactives: Brandon Flowers Out For Kansas City

No big surprises for the Week 1 inactives for the Atlanta Falcons but the Kansas City Chiefs will be missing a big part in their defensive secondary. Brandon Flowers is inactive for Week 1 with a foot injury. Flowers absence will hamper the Chiefs as they try to contain both Roddy White and Julio Jones.

For the Falcons, Dominique Davis is inactive, which means that Luke McCown will serve as the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday and will be Matt Ryan's backup.

Here is a look at both team's full inactive list:

Atlanta Falcons Inactive List Week 1:

QB Dominique Davis
S Charles Mitchell
CB Robert McClain
OL Joe Hawley
OL Lamar Holmes
DE Lawrence Sidbury
DE Jonathan Massaquoi

Kansas City Chiefs Inactive List Week 1:

QB Ricky Stanzi
DB Kendrick Lewis
CB Brandon Flowers
RB Cyrus Gray
TE Steve Maneri
DE Allen Bailey
DB Anthony Toribio

Stick with SB Nation Atlanta for more coverage of the Falcons in Week 1. For all things Falcons, check out The Falcoholic. For the Chiefs perspective, head over to Arrowhead Pride.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs 2012: Game Preview, Kickoff Time, TV Schedule And More

The Atlanta Falcons begin the season against the Kansas City Chiefs in what will be Tony Gonzalez's first game as a visitor at Arrowhead Stadium.

Falcons Add Drew Davis To Roster, Waive Phillipkeith Manley

The Atlanta Falcons added another wide receiver to their active roster on Saturday by signing Drew Davis from the practice squad. Davis is an undrafted college free agent who spent the entire 2011 season on the team's practice squad.

A 6-foot-1 wide receiver out of Oregon, Davis caught 42 passes for 470 yards and three touchdowns in 2010 for the Ducks. The Falcons waived wide receiver Tim Toone earlier in the week and resigned defensive back Dominique Franks. The addition of Davis gives Atlanta five wide receivers on the active roster again. He is listed as a third team receiver behind starter Roddy White and Harry Douglas.

To make room for Davis on the roster the Falcons requested waivers on offensive lineman Phillipkeith Manley.

For more on this week's game stay here on SB Nation Atlanta, or head over to The Falcoholic for more analysis. For more on the Chiefs, be sure to check out Arrowhead Pride.

An Atlanta Falcons 2012 Season Preview: Is Fifth Time The Charm After Coaching Turnover?

The Falcons enter the 2012 season looking to break free from the stigma of being a "one and done" team. But will the coaching and personnel changes made in the offseason be enough?

Falcons Vs. Chiefs Injury Report: Christopher Owens, Jason Snelling Probable For Game

The Atlanta Falcons open their season on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs, and as with any NFL team they have a number of injuries that will effect the game. Thankfully for Falcons fans, Atlanta's injury report lists only cornerback Christopher Owens and running back Jason Snelling. The complete injury report for both teams is below, via the official Falcons website:

Atlanta Falcons Injury Report

Kansas City Chiefs Injury Report

Out = definitely will not play

Did Not Practice (DNP)

Limited Participation (LP) = less than 100% of a player's normal repetitions

Full Participation (FP) = 100% of a player's normal repetitions

Stick with this StoryStream for more from the Falcons Week 1. For all things Falcons, check out The Falcoholic.

NFL Picks Week 1, Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Experts Predict Atlanta Win

Experts are leaning towards an Atlanta Falcons victory over the Kansas City Chiefs for Sunday's game at Arrowhead Stadium. The Falcons are coming off an impressive year under Mike Smith, going 10-6 in the competitive NFC South and earning an NFC Wild Card berth. The Chiefs on the other hand finished with a 7-9 record in the AFC West, finishing last in the division. They were however only one game behind the Denver Broncos, who wound up winning the division.

12 experts from ESPN are split down the middle on who would win. Mike Golic and Merrill Hoge are among the six experts who are picking the Falcons to beat the Chiefs on the road. All eight experts at CBS Sports however are picking the Atlanta, including Will Brinson and Pete Prisco.

At Yahoo! Sports, two of the three experts on staff are choosing Atlanta, with Mike Silver and Jason Cole choosing the Falcons while Les Carpenter expects the Chiefs to win outright as a home underdog.

For all things Falcons, head over to The Falcoholic or head over to SB Nation Atlanta. Find more NFL news at SB Nation's NFL hub. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for sports commentary.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs Preview: Five Key Questions For Arrowhead Pride

SB Nation Atlanta asks NFL and Arrowhead Pride editor Joel Thorman five questions about the 2012 Kansas City Chiefs and their week one prospects against the Falcons.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Matt Ryan Talks About Opening Week

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan is preparing to play in the team's opening game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday. He talked how they are preparing for the Chiefs under new offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter:

We've got guys that have been in our system and have adapted to (Offensive Coordinator) Dirk's (Koetter) new stuff really well. For us, the focus has to be on being rock solid with our game plan and having a really good understanding of what we're doing and what we want to do.

Ryan is coming off a season where he threw for 4,177 yards with 29 touchdowns and 12 interceptions while completing 61.3 percent of his passes. Ryan and the rest of the Falcons play Sunday against the Chiefs with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. ET. The game will be televised on Fox.

For all things Falcons, head over to The Falcoholic or head over to SB Nation Atlanta. Find more NFL news at SB Nation's NFL hub. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for sports commentary.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Mike Smith's Goal Is To Keep Improving

Mike Smith is inarguably the best coach the Atlanta Falcons have ever had. Still, there's a sense of urgency going into this, his fifth year as head coach.

Smith has led the Falcons to a winning record for four straight seasons, a feat the franchise never accomplished even two years in a row in its 40-plus-year history prior to the former longtime assistant took over a team in turmoil. Yet the team hasn't won a playoff in the Smith-Matt Ryan era, something that has to happen this year to avoid any questions about Smith's job security.

Improving on a 10-6 season that ended in the Wild Card round is important, Smith told the media Wednesday.

"I think that we have one goal and that’s to be better than we were last year," Smith said. "I think all 31 teams beside us have the same goal. We want to be better than we were last year. We’re a year older. We’re a year more mature. It’s a different makeup of the roster, and I like how the guys have worked. I think this is a team that loves to play the game. They play hard and when you do that you have a chance to win."

The Falcons begin that quest Sunday at 1 p.m. ET on the road against the Kansas City Chiefs.

For all things Falcons, head over to The Falcoholic or head over to SB Nation Atlanta. Find more NFL news at SB Nation's NFL hub. Be sure to subscribe to our YouTube channel for sports commentary.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Arthur Blank Discusses 2012 Expectations

Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank recently spoke about his expectations for the 2012 season. Blank said that he would like to see his team go deeper into the playoffs:

Hopefully, we are going to come out again with a winning season. Hopefully, we'll come out again in a playoff position and hopefully come out with a better result in the playoff situation than we've had in the last few years. So those are my expectations.

Blank also talked about the newest additions to his coaching staff, defensive coordinator Mike Nolan and offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter:

I think that Dirk Koetter and Mike Nolan bring in a little different perspective, some new energy, and maybe some scheme changes and maybe a little different understanding of how to use particular players maybe differently than we've used them in them in the past.

The Atlanta Falcons play the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The game is scheduled for kickoff at 1 p.m. ET with the game televised on Fox.

For more on this week's game stay here on SB Nation Atlanta, or head over to The Falcoholic for more analysis. For information on their opponents, check out Arrowhead Pride.

Atlanta Falcons Vs. Kansas City Chiefs: 3 Things to Watch

Three observations heading into Sunday's matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Kansas City Chiefs.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs Injury Report: Snelling and Owens Return To Practice

As the Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs gear up for their opening week matchup, both teams are struggling with players limited by injuries in the final days of practice.

Falcons running back Jason Snelling had been limited in practice on Wednesday because of a calf injury, but was able to participate fully in Thursday's practice, and the indication is that he will be available for the Falcons' opener. Snelling rushed for 151 yards in 2011.

Cornerback Chris Owens was similarly limited in practice Wednesday but participated fully in Thursday's team preparations.

The Chiefs are more hampered by injuries, as four players did not participate in Thursday's practice, while three others were limited in practice, including linebacker Derrick Johnson and cornerback Brandon Flowers.

Chiefs defensive back Kendrick Lewis has missed practice both Wednesday and Thursday because of shoulder problems, while Kansas City defensive tackle Anthony Toribio has missed both practices with ankle injuries.

For full injury reports, check out NFL.com.

For more Atlanta Falcons coverage, visit The Falcoholic.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Sean Weatherspoon Has Pro Bowl Expectations

Falcons linebacker Sean Weatherspoon begins his third season when Atlanta opens 2012 against the Chiefs, and he's looking to start off a Pro Bowl season. Weatherspoon said Wednesday that making the Pro Bowl is one of his goals this season, but also, it would mean a lot more for the Falcons defense.

"That's definitely one of my individual goals," he said. "I think if I play well enough to reach that goal, I think it'll benefit our defense and our team."

Weatherspoon recorded 115 total tackles in 2011 and 82 solo. He also led the team with 14 tackles for loss last season. If Weatherspoon lives up to his own expectations, the Falcons could see a lot of improvements under Mike Nolan's new defense.

For more on this game, Falcons fans should visit The Falcoholic and Chiefs fans should check out Arrowhead Pride. For more news and notes from around the NFL head over toSB Nation's NFL hub page.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Tony Gonzalez Returns To Arrowhead Stadium As A Visitor

Atlanta Falcons tight end Tony Gonzalez became a household name playing the same position for the Kansas City Chiefs for 12 years between 1997 and 2008. Now, for the first time, Gonzalez returns to the stadium he called home as a visiting player Sunday as the Falcons take on the Chiefs in Week 1 of the NFL season.

In what could be the last season opener of his career, Gonzalez told Falcons.com that he would try to keep his emotions in check, but and will approach the game like any other despite the expected emotion.

"It's going to be hyped and emotional. I want to go out there and win this game very badly just like I do every week. I'm just going to do what got me here and prepare the way I've always prepared. I expect good things out of this team."

Gonzalez said he would expect all of the pregame hype to disappear once the game begins Sunday.

For more on the Falcons-Chiefs showdown, stick with this StoryStream. For more Falcons coverage, check out The Falcoholic.

Falcons Sign Dominique Franks, Waive Injured Tim Toone

The Atlanta Falcons have signed cornerback Dominique Franks, who was among the final cuts made by the team last week.

Franks had a poor training camp for the Falcons this year, but he was a fan favorite and was considered one of the more surprising cuts made by the team. Franks had a solid year for the Falcons in his second year out of Oklahoma, totaling 20 tackles and two interceptions.

Franks was receiving interest by teams like the Kansas City Chiefs and the Miami Dolphins, but was excited when he received a phone call by Atlanta head coach Mike Smith.

"It's really weird. Sunday, i had a workout with Miami, so I've really just been out of town, doing workouts and things like tha. That's been it, just going on workouts and being out of town. Luckily, I got the call from Coach Smith (Wednesday) night to come back."

To make room on the roster, the Falcons have waived-injured wide receiver Tim Toone. Toone could be placed on injured reserve by the Falcons if he can clear waivers.

For more on this game, Falcons fans should visit The Falcoholic and Chiefs fans should check out Arrowhead Pride. For more news and notes from around the NFL head over to SB Nation's NFL hub page.

Week 1 NFL Odds: Falcons Vs. Chiefs

The Atlanta Falcons open their 2012 season as a slight favorite to beat the Kansas City Chiefs. After opening with a 1-point advantage, the Falcons are now favored by anywhere from 2.5 to 3 points.

The Falcons finished the preseason with a 1-3 record, but the team's starters showed flashes of potential. Quarterback Matt Ryan completed 75 percent of his passes for 549 yards while throwing three touchdowns to just one interception. His top two targets -- wide receivers Julio Jones and Roddy White -- combined for 368 receiving yards and two touchdowns.

Even with a strong preseason showing from the Falcons' offensive stars, it's clear the Chiefs, led by quarterback Matt Cassel, running back Jamaal Charles and wide receiver Dwayne Bowe, will present a challenge. Arrowhead Stadium is also one of the toughest venues for visiting teams across all professional sports.

Kickoff is set for 1 p.m. ET Sunday.

For more on this game, Falcons fans should visit The Falcoholic and Chiefs fans should check out Arrowhead Pride. For more news and notes from around the NFL head over to SB Nation's NFL hub page.

NFC South Preview: Falcons and Panthers to Challenge Saints, Buccaneers Still Rebuilding (via sbnation)

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Depth Chart Short On Surprises

There were few surprises in the Falcons depth chart for Week 1.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Akeem Dent Set For First Regular Season Start

Akeem Dent is making his first career NFL start of his career for the Atlanta Falcons when they face the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday afternoon. Dent has some big shoes to fill as he is replacing Curtis Lofton, who signed with the New Orleans Saints this off season, and led the Falcons in tackles with 159 last season.

Dent was a special teams star last year for the Falcons, but will now play the middle linebacker spot when the team is in their base 4-3 coverage, and will come out when Atlanta switches to a nickel package.

As for pressure of his first NFL start, Dent is ignoring that fact and is just preparing to play:

"I'm just going out and making sure that I'm being sound fundamentally, just play assignment football and try to make some plays," Dent said.

[...]

"I don't really think about it like that," Dent said. "It's just another football game and I'm just trying to take it one step at a time. I just want to go out and play to the best of my ability. "

Defensive coordinator Mike Nolan liked what he saw in Dent in the preseason, but he also mentioned that the regular season is a different animal, and expects Dent to have a few hiccups along the way in his first start. Down the road Nolan can see Dent being a three-down player, but for now he will just see playing time in the Falcons' base set.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs Injury Report: Chris Owens, Jason Snelling Limited In Practice

Heading into the first week of the NFL season most teams should be fairly healthy, there have been no real games outside of starters playing a little bit in the exhibition season. The season opener between the Atlanta Falcons and Kansas City Chiefs is no exception as the Falcons have only two players listed on their injury list.

Falcons Depth Chart: Konz Still Not Starting As Team Releases Week 1 Starters

As Sunday's season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs slowly but sure approaches, the Falcons--despite Mike Smith's unwillingness to give a "competitive advantage" to the other team--have released their week one depth chart.

The big surprise is that incumbent right guard Garrett Reynolds, who was benched halfway through the 2011 season after struggling in the starting role, has remained the starter over second-round draft pick Peter Konz.

While Konz failed to "wow" the coaching staff this preseason, Reynolds had his share of mistakes as well, particularly in pass protection. But at the same time, it is a safe move. As far as the immediate upcoming game is concerned, Konz doesn't represent a significant upgrade over Reynolds.

Still, it should only be a matter of time before the team opts to give the younger, less-seasoned Konz a chance to start.

As for cornerback, Asante Samuel is still listed behind Dunta Robinson, but with Mike Nolan expected to run the nickel package often this season (three CBs and two LBs), expect Samuel to see plenty of time on the field.

As far as the rest of the depth chart is concerned, the team has recent signee Luke McCown as the No. 2 QB, Jacquizz Rodgers as the kick returner, and Harry Douglas as the punt return man.

For more on this game Falcons fans should visit The Falcoholic and Chiefs fans should check out Arrowhead Pride. For more news and notes from around the NFL head over to SB Nation's NFL hub page.

2012 NFL Schedule, Week 1: Peyton Manning Makes Debut With Broncos

The NFL season begins on Wednesday night at 8:30 p.m. ET on NBC as the Dallas Cowboys travel to take on Eli Manning and the defending Super Bowl Champion New York Giants.

The other feature game of the week will be on Sunday night, also on NBC at 8:20 p.m. ET, when Peyton Manning returns to the NFL with the Denver Broncos after sitting out the 2011 season with a neck injury. The Broncos will be hosting AFC North foe the Pittsburgh Steelers.

As for the games across the NFC South, here is their Week 1 schedule:

Atlanta Falcons at Kansas City Chiefs, 1 p.m., TV: CBS

The Falcons head out to Arrowhead Stadium and face the Chiefs in an early season test against a possibly much improved Kansas City team. With the NFC South being a solid division, a win over the inferior Chiefs would be a good way to start the season.

Carolina Panthers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1 p.m., TV: CBS

This is the only game that features two NFC South teams, and Panthers are hoping that quarterback Cam Newton will have a sophomore slump. As for the Bucs, they are kicking off the Greg Schiano era in hopes to turn around the teams losing ways and get them back as a winner.

Washington Redskins at New Orleans Saints, 1 p.m., TV: FOX

The Saints have Drew Brees, Mark Ingram and Darren Sproles to lead the way, but this will be a long road for them with replacement coaches due to suspension from the bounty scandal. The Redskins get to show off their new shiny toy in their rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III.

For more on the Falcons visit The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta. SB Nation's NFL hub has you covered for news on all 32 teams.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Mike Smith Talks 2012 NFL Schedule

Falcons head coach Mike Smith talked about the nuances of a challenging schedule on Monday. At first glance, the Falcons play just one team that went to the playoffs last season before their Week 10 meeting with the Saints -- and that's the Broncos.

Be advised that Smith isn't looking past the quarterbacks in Atlanta's division opponents for a second. Here are quotes from the coach, via the team website:

"I think all four have been challenging in terms of our schedules. Some schedules look one way at the beginning of the season and can be completely different when you get five or six games into it. It's challenging early on through the first quarter of the season. We're going to play three very good quarterbacks that have gone to the Pro Bowl in the first quarter. We break our season down into quarters, and we've got three quarterbacks in our first four games that have been to Pro Bowls. I don't think it's any more challenging than any other year. There is always the unknown when you start the regular season. Everybody is working on different things in the preseason and trying to put their team together, build their team, and get to a 53-man roster. Now that we've done that we're going to get an opportunity to kick off and play. I know our guys are anxious. We haven't started our game planning. We'll start that on Wednesday."

The Falcons open their season against the Chiefs on Sunday at Arrowhead Stadium.

Read more on the Falcons at The Falcoholic and SB Nation Atlanta. Head over to Arrowhead Pride and SB Nation Kansas City for more on the Chiefs.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Luke McCown Rushes To Learn New Offense

As Luke McCown gets settled with the Atlanta Falcons after signing with the team last week, he is in a race against time to learn the playbook before the Falcons' season opener against the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.

In an interview with Chris Vivlamore of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, McCown talks about the differences he noticed in the schemes between Atlanta and Jacksonville, where current Falcons offensive coordinator Dirk Koetter coached before moving to the Falcons,

"There are some similarities. A lot of the verbiage that we use is different than we had in Jacksonville. That part of it is transitioning your mind from what you used to call it to what [starter] Matt [Ryan] likes to call it here. That shouldn’t be too much of an obstacle."

Falcons coach Mike Smith also told Vivlamore that McCown needs to learn the playbook as quickly as possible, spending time after practice to talk with the coaching staff about the small differences in the two offenses,

"There are some differences and there are some small nuances that we put in the 2012 Atlanta Falcons playbook, and they’re different than what they’ve done in the past. We’ve got to get him up to speed as quickly as possible. He’s been spending extra time with [quarterbacks] coach [Glenn] Thomas and coach Koetter. Most of the players were off [over the weekend], but we had guys that have been in here the last couple of days and I can assure you Luke has been one of them. He’s working to try and get up to speed as quickly as possible."

For the latest on all things Atlanta Falcons, be sure to head over to The Falcoholic and join the discussion. Be sure to check back here at SB Nation Atlanta next week to see where the Falcons are ranked after Week 1.

NFL Power Rankings: Atlanta Falcons Are No. 13

SB Nation's first NFL power rankings of the year are out, and the Atlanta Falcons have been ranked No. 13 by the gurus at SBNation.com.

Though the middle-of-the-pack rank might seem fairly high, the Falcons are the seventh-ranked team in the NFC. The New York Giants, New Orleans Saints, San Francisco 49ers, Detroit Lions, Chicago Bears and Philadelphia Eagles are all ranked ahead of the Falcons.

Here's what the folks over at SB Nation had to say about the Falcons:

Some people seem to be forgetting Atlanta. It [...] could be the last productive year for Michael Turner. Tony Gonzalez is likely gone. There's still plenty of talent but 2012 makes sense as its year.

Falcons fans can look forward to an aerial assault from Matt Ryan and company, and perhaps a breakout year from second-year wide receiver Julio Jones.

For the latest on all things Atlanta Falcons, be sure to head over to The Falcoholic and join the discussion. Be sure to check back here at SB Nation Atlanta next week to see where the Falcons are ranked after Week 1.

NFL Power Rankings: Atlanta Falcons Ranked No. 13

The Atlanta Falcons are ranked No. 13 in SB Nation's NFL power rankings. The only team from the NFC South that is ranked higher than the Falcons are the New Orleans Saints at No. 7. Divisional rival Carolina Panthers are right behind the Falcons at No. 14 and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers are No. 25.

Joel Thorman says that this could be the last season where the Falcons have running back Michael Turner as a major contributor on offense.

Some people seem to be forgetting Atlanta. It is in what could be the last productive year for Michael Turner. Tony Gonzalez is likely gone. There's still plenty of talent but 2012 makes sense as its year.

By way of comparison, the Falcons' Week 1 opponent, the Kansas City Chiefs are ranked at No. 23. Thorman says that this is a team that could make its bones on offense with the ground game.

This has the look of a team who lead the league in rushing.

The Falcons play the Chiefs in Week 1 at Arrowhead Stadium in Kansas City. The game will be televised on Fox.

For more on the Falcons, head to The Falcoholic and stick with SB Nation Atlanta.

Mike Smith Playing Falcons' Depth Chart Close To The Chest

Atlanta Falcons head coach Mike Smith knows who will be starting at right guard and cornerback for the team's season-opening game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium next Sunday, but he is not going to let anyone else know.

Coach Smith says he will not discuss who the starting right guard and corner will be, but they have made a decision. #atlkc12

— Atlanta_Falcons (@Atlanta_Falcons) September 3, 2012

Garrett Reynolds is currently listed as the first-teamer at RG on the Falcons' official depth chart, with Peter Konz as the backup. Dunta Robinson and Brent Grimes are listed as the corners, with Asante Samuel and Robert McClain backing them up.

The second-string QB position will also remain a mystery, as Smith said Monday he would not be announcing that either. Dominique Davis is currently listed in that position, but Luke McCown has been receiving plenty of work.

For more on the Falcons, head to The Falcoholic and stick with SB Nation Atlanta.

Falcons Roster 2012: Tight End Depth A Cause For Concern

The Falcons should be looking at the backup tight-end position ahead of their season opener.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Jason Snelling, Christopher Owens Return To Practice

Atlanta Falcons running back Jason Snelling and cornerback Christopher Owens both returned to practice on Monday. Snelling has been recovering from a lower leg injury. Though he might have been able to play in the preseason finale against the Jacksonville Jaguars, Snelling says that he just wasn't ready yet.

I wasn't completely ready to go. There is a lot of stuff that goes into rehabbing after being out that long. The decision was for me not to play. I feel comfortable now.

Owens on the other hand is recovering from a hamstring issue. He impressed Falcons coaches during training camp and the preseason with his play on special teams, which helped him earn a spot on the final roster.

As a competitor it sucks [being out]. I'm practicing today and it feels good. I got through it. Now, all the focus is on K.C.

The Falcons play the Chiefs on Sunday with kickoff scheduled for 1 p.m. on Fox.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more in-depth coverage of this game, visit Falcons blog The Falcoholic as well as Chiefs blog Arrowhead Pride. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Mike Nolan Says Defense A 'Work In Progress'

Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Mike Nolan is pleased with what he's seen from the defense in the preseason, though he says the unit is not yet a finished product:

When it's new like this, it's always a work in progress. It still is right now because there are things that you practice, every team is this way, you practice things you haven't shown [in an exhibition game] and have only done in practice. I would say they have progressed pretty well. The guys have responded well to the things we have asked them to do, scheme-wise and technique-wise.

Related: Mike Nolan, International Coach Of Mystery

Nolan has his concerns about the defense -- though he gives no details -- but he likes the talent on that side of the ball and feels they have a chance to be good in 2012. They'll get their first test when the Falcons open the regular season against Kansas City on Sept. 9.

For updates, stay tuned to SB Nation Atlanta. For more in-depth coverage of this game, visit Falcons blog The Falcoholic as well as Chiefs blog Arrowhead Pride. And for more news, notes and analysis from around the league, check out SB Nation's NFL hub.

Falcons Practice Squad: Pat Schiller, Mark LeGree Added

The Atlanta Falcons rounded out their practice squad with the additions of three players including Pat Schiller.

NFL 2012 Week 1, Falcons Vs. Chiefs: Season Opener In Arrowhead No Joke

The Falcons will open their 2012 season in Kansas City against an underrated Chiefs team.