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

The Falcons got a dose of reality yesterday as they were pushed around by the Bucs in Tampa.  Matt Ryan looked lost against the Bucs completing 13 of 33 passes for 158 yards with 2 interceptions.  Michael Turner only rushed for 42 yards on 14 carries (3.0 ypc).  Jerious Norwood pitched in with 6 carries for 18 yards (3.0 ypc).  Roddy White was the leading receiver for the Falcons yesterday with 59 yards on 4 catches (14.8 avg).  Laurent Robinson pitched in with 4 catches for 45 yards (11.3 avg).  Rookie WR Harry Douglas made some plays yesterday as he caught 2 passes for 34 yards and he also carried the ball 1 time for 33 yards.  The Falcons finished up with 105 yards rushing on 28 carries (3.8 ypc) against the Bucs and they also completed 13 of 33 passes for 129 yards.

The Falcons’ Defense had issues with the Bucs’ running game yesterday.  Safety Lawyer Milloy and linebacker Curtis Lofton led the way for the Falcons yesterday with 8 tackles apiece.  The Buccaneers finished up with 164 yards rushing on 28 carries (5.9 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 31 passes for 147 yards.  The Falcons still have to be happy that they are 1-1 right now.

The Tampa Bay Buccaneers swept the Falcons by a combined score of 68-10 last season.  But, the Falcons are a much different team this season especially on offense.  The Falcons rushed for a amazing 318 yards (7.6 ypc) last week against the Lions and they will attempt to run the ball early and often in this game.  Barrett Ruud, Cato June and Quincy Black will have a hard time corraling Michael Turner who rushed for 220 yards (10.0 ypc) last week against the Lions.  Jerious Norwood will test the perimeter of the Bucs’ defense as he rushed for 93 yards (6.6 ypc) last week.  If the Falcons can establish the running game that would take a lot of pressure off of rookie QB Matt Ryan.  The Falcons will run a lot of their pass plays off of play action against the Bucs.  The Bucs did allow 343 passing yards to the Saints last week so look for the Falcons to take a few shots downfield against them.

Brian Griese will get the start for the Bucs in this game in the place of the injured Jeff Garcia.  The Bucs would be smart to run the ball more often this week as they rushed for 146 yards (7.3 ypc) last week against the Saints.  Earnest Graham and Warrick Dunn will test the middle of the Falcons’ defense which only allowed 62 yards rushing (3.0 ypc) last week against the Lions.  The Falcons allowed 262 yards passing last week so Griese will likely be looking deep to Joey Galloway often in this football game.

PREDICTION:  TAMPA BAY BUCCANEERS 23, ATLANTA FALCONS 17

The Falcons opened up a can of whoop ass on the Lions yesterday!  The Falcons made sure that they protected rookie QB Matt Ryan in his first NFL start by dominating this game on the ground.  Ryan completed 9 of 13 passes for 161 yards with 1 TD pass (a beautiful 62-yard bomb to Michael Jenkins) and 0 INTs.  RB Michael Turner was the story of this game however as he rushed for a stunning 220 yards on 20 carries (11.0 ypc) and scored two rushing TDs (66 yards, 5 yards).  Turner left enough crumbs under the table for Jerious Norwood to carry the ball 14 times for 93 yards with a 10-yard TD run.  Roddy White pitched in with 2 catches for 54 yards (27.0 avg) yesterday.  You have to like the new offense of the Falcons which is run the football and throw deep.  The Falcons finished up with 318 yards rushing on 42 carries (7.6 ypc) against the Lions.  They also completed 9 of 13 passes for 156 yards.

The Defense was solid against the running game but a couple of leaks developed in the pass defense.  Still, it was a decent overall effort by the Falcons’ Defense.  Linebacker Michael Boley led the Falcons’ defensive effort with 7 tackles.  Safety Lawyer Milloy was crafty against the Lions yesterday with 5 tackles and a interception that he returned 38 yards.  DE John Abraham had an outstanding game for the Falcons on Sunday with 4 tackles and 3 sacks.  The Lions finished up with 62 yards rushing on 21 carries (3.0 ypc) and they also completed 24 of 33 passes for 246 yards.  This was an outstanding win to start the season for the Atlanta Falcons.

The Falcons have signed 25-year old safety Jamaal Fudge.  Fudge played in 14 games (0 starts) for the Jaguars last season and he made 9 tackles, defensed 2 passes and had 1 interception.  Fudge will likely get most of his playing time for the Falcons on special teams in 2008.  Fudge has now played in 20 games (0 starts) in his NFL career and he has made 13 tackles, has defensed 2 passes and has 1 interception.

The Falcons have acquired 25-year old CB Domonique Foxworth from the Broncos for a undisclosed 2009 NFL Draft Pick.  Foxworth played in 14 games (6 starts) for the Broncos last season and he made 42 tackles and defensed 5 passes.  But, Foxworth is a talented back who should help out the Falcons secondary.  He has now played in 46 games (18 starts) in his NFL career and he has made 173 tackles, has defensed 24 passes and he has picked off 3 passes.