This should be a pretty good football game as the surprising Falcons and the Panthers are tied for first place in the NFC South with the Buccaneers.  The Falcons will try to do what they always want to and that’s to run the football against the Panthers.  The Falcons are averaging 203.0 yards rushing per game and 5.7 yards per carry so the Panthers will have their hands full trying to stop them.  But, the Panthers are only allowing 3.9 yards per carry this season so Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood will likely have to fight hard for every yard they get tomorrow.  Pressure seemed to give Matt Ryan trouble in the teams’ only loss against the Buccaneers so the Panthers will be blitzing a lot on passing downs in this game.  Julius Peppers could also have a big game against the Falcons if the Panthers stop the Falcons’ running game.

The Panthers also would like to run the football tomorrow with Jonathan Stewart and DeAngelo Williams against a Falcons’ defense that is allowing 136.7 yards rushing per game and 5.0 yards per carry.  But, the Panthers also want to get the ball to Steve Smith early in the game to soften up the Falcons’ run defense.  QB Jake Delhomme has been waiting to break out this season but this probably won’t be the game as the Falcons have played well against the pass.  The Panthers’ O-Line needs to improve the pass blocking as Delhomme has been sacked 9 times already this season and Falcons’ DE John Abraham already has six sacks this season as he appears to be a man on a mission.

PREDICTION:  CAROLINA PANTHERS 20, ATLANTA FALCONS 17

Rookie QB Matt Ryan is off to a solid start for the 2-1 Atlanta Falcons.  He has completed 34 of 64 passes (53.1%) for 511 yards with 2 TD passes and 2 interceptions (77.0 QB Rating).  The Falcons are trying to protect Ryan with the play calling as they have run the football 106 times and only passed it 64 times this season.  With Michael Turner and Jerious Norwood running so well it really opens the play action passing game for Ryan as his WRs and TEs are usually never double covered and he has a big arm.  Ryan looks like the definite QB of the future for the Falcons.

The Falcons pushed the Chiefs around yesterday in Atlanta.  Matt Ryan was efficient just like he was in the season opener yesterday as he completed 12 of 18 passes for 192 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 interceptions.  Michael Turner was a bull yesterday as he carried the ball 23 times for 104 yards (4.5 ypc) with 3 TD runs.  Jerious Norwood pitched in with 75 yards rushing on 11 carries (6.8 ypc) and he also caught 1 pass for 30 yards.  WR Roddy White had a huge game in leading the way in the passing game for the Falcons with 119 yards on 5 catches (23.8 avg) including a 70-yard TD reception from Matt Ryan.  The Falcons finished up with 186 yards rushing on 36 carries (5.2 ypc) and they also completed 12 of 18 passes for 192 yards.

The Falcons’ Defense made some big plays especially against the pass to help them win this game.  CB Chris Houston intercepted a pass that he returned 10 yards to the house to seal the scoring in this football game.  S/CB Erik Coleman and LB Keith Brooking led the Falcons with 10 tackles apiece.  Safety Lawyer Milloy pitched in with 9 tackles yesterday.  The Chiefs finished up with 184 yards rushing on 33 carries (5.6 ypc) but they only completed 14 of 36 passes for 117 yards.  The Falcons are off to a good start this season as they are now 2-1 on the season.

The Falcons have cut TE Martrez Milner who was beaten out for a job by Justin Peelle and Ben Hartsock which doesn’t speak well for him.  He did not get into a game this season for the Falcons.  Milner played in 8 games (2 starts) for the Falcons as a rookie last season and he caught 9 passes for 50 yards (5.6 avg).  Maybe the Falcons should have looked outside the state for a TE last April.

The Kansas City Chiefs will likely play this game very close to the vest on offense.  With Tyler Thigpen making his first career NFL start the Chiefs will likely turn to Larry Johnson a lot in this football game.  Johnson has only rushed for 96 yards on 34 carries (2.8 ypc) this season but the Falcons are allowing 113.0 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry.  The Falcons will likely try to take the running game away from the Chiefs and make Thigpen beat them through the air.  Chiefs’ QBs have been sacked 9 times already this season so DE John Abraham (4 sacks) of the Falcons must be licking his chops.

The Chiefs are a team that’s custom made for the Falcons to dominate.  The Chiefs are allowing 213.0 yards rushing per game and 5.7 yards per carry and that has to have Michael Turner (262 yards rushing, 7.3 ypc) and Jerious Norwood (111 yards rushing and 5.6 ypc) foaming at the mouth.  Rookie QB Matt Ryan had a rough time against the Bucs’ defense but they are much more formidable than what the Chiefs will put in front of him.

PREDICTION:  ATLANTA FALCONS 27, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 10