Chiefs face Falcons with new wideout and struggling kicker
Kansas City travels to Atlanta for a noon kickoff, adding Josh Downs while dealing with Harrison Butker's five-game slump and a groin injury to Kenneth Walker.
By Fatima Saleh ·
The Kansas City Chiefs face the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at noon in a cross-conference matchup that serves as the second leg of a three-game stretch of midday games.
Kansas City arrives in Atlanta as a three-point favorite with the over/under set at 47.5. The Chiefs are coming off a win over the New York Jets, a game that snapped a two-game losing streak. Running back Kenneth Walker rushed for over 100 yards in that contest, scoring one touchdown on the ground and two on receptions. Despite the victory, the team is dealing with a groin injury concern for Walker that surfaced on Friday.
The Chiefs made a roster move just before Tuesday's trade deadline, acquiring wide receiver Josh Downs from the Indianapolis Colts. Downs has had four days to learn the offense before his debut. The Falcons, meanwhile, lost veteran safety Jessie Bates III to the Jacksonville Jaguars on Monday. That move thins Atlanta's secondary before facing Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes.
The game features a direct clash between the league's top two rushers. Kenneth Walker and Atlanta running back Bijan Robinson are the No. 1 and No. 2 leaders in rushing this season. Defensive line coach Joe Cullen described Robinson as the best back Kansas City will face all year. Robinson is averaging close to 100 rushing yards per game. The Falcons have allowed the most rushing yards in the league during weeks 5 through 9.
Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker enters the game after missing field goals in five consecutive games. Head coach Andy Reid and offensive line coach Dave Toub have indicated Butker will remain the starter until he improves. Toub compared Butker to Bills kicker Tyler Bass in comments made on Thursday. The team hopes Butker can find a rhythm in Atlanta to boost his confidence before a difficult road schedule ahead.
The Chiefs expect Downs to have a limited role in his first game. Analysts predict he will see a small number of offensive snaps and likely participate in the return game. The team faces the Buffalo Bills, Los Angeles Rams, and Cincinnati Bengals in the next two weeks. Downs is expected to have a larger workload once the Chiefs return home for Week 11 against the Arizona Cardinals.
KCTV sports staff members offered predictions for Sunday's contest. Marleah Campbell projected a 24-13 Chiefs victory, citing the strength of Kansas City's run defense. Mark Poulose called it 31-17 in Kansas City's favor. Katie Maher predicted a 28-17 Chiefs win. Gabe Swartz forecasted a closer 27-24 Chiefs victory.
The Chiefs will look to contain Robinson's ability to run on the outside and cut back downfield. Defensive coordinator Steve Spagnuolo has prioritized keeping opponents' point totals low. The Falcons must account for Mahomes and the new addition of Downs. Atlanta's pass defense will test the newly integrated receiver. The game kicks off at noon Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.
