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KANSAS CITY CHIEFS (0-2)
VS.
ATLANTA FALCONS (1-1)

REGULAR SEASON GAME #3
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2008 – 12:00 PM (CENTRAL)
GEORGIA DOME, ATLANTA GEORGIA

BROADCAST INFORMATION
CBS Regional Coverage - KCTV-5 (CBS in Kansas City) - Play-by-play: Gus Johnson - Color Commentator: Steve Tasker

Chiefs FOX Football Radio Network - KCFX-FM (101.1 FM in Kansas City - Affiliates) - Play-by-play: Mitch Holthus - Color Commentator: Len Dawson - Sideline Reporter: Kendall Gammon

The Chiefs make just their third-ever visit to the Georgia Dome as Kansas City travels to Atlanta on Sunday. Herm Edwards’ squad is 0-2 on the season after suffering a 23-8 loss vs. Oakland (9/14). The Falcons are 1-1 after suffering a 24-9 loss at Tampa Bay (9/14).

Sunday’s game will be the Chiefs initial encounter with Falcons rookie head coach Mike Smith. Kansas City has won fi ve of its six previous showdowns with Atlanta, including a 56-10 decision at Arrowhead (10/24/04). However, only four players remain on Kansas City’s roster who saw duty in that contest. One of those players is Chiefs nine-time Pro Bowl TE Tony Gonzalez (9,976) who needs just 85 yards to surpass TE Shannon Sharpe (10,060) for the most receiving yards by a tight end in NFL history.

Two-time Pro Bowl RB Larry Johnson will make his fi rst career start against the Falcons. Johnson needs 38 more yards to bypass RB Christian Okoye (4,897) as the second-leading rusher in Chiefs history. Atlanta has its own home-run hitter in the backfi eld in newly-acquired RB Michael Turner, who joined the Falcons as a UFA from San Diego. In his Falcons debut, Turner ripped off an Atlanta single-game record 220 rushing yards in a 34-21 triumph vs. Detroit (9/7). The Falcons boast a rookie signal caller in QB Matt Ryan (D1-08), who was the third overall selection in the 2008 NFL Draft, while LB Keith Brooking (D1-98) is the club’s only remaining member of its Super Bowl XXXIII squad.

The Chiefs lost starting QB Brodie Croyle in a narrow 17-10 Opening Day loss at New England (9/7). Twelve-year veteran QB Damon Huard started last week against the Raiders, but was injured, giving way to second-year QB Tyler Thigpen. Huard owns a 6-2 career record in starts against NFC foes.

Kansas City’s defense ranked in the league’s top fi ve in nine different defensive categories in 2007. Kansas City led the league in third-down defense (30.2%) and ranked second in Red Zone TD percentage (37.3%) a year ago. The Chiefs return home to Arrowhead next week for a divisional showdown vs. Denver (9/28), while Atlanta has an NFC South road trip to Carolina (9/28).

THE SERIES
Kansas City holds a 5-1 advantage in its regular season series vs. Atlanta. The only other NFC team that was in existence before the AFL-NFL merger that Kansas City has met fewer times is Philadelphia (5). Kansas City claimed a 56-10 decision in the most recent meeting between the two squads at Arrowhead (10/24/04) as the Chiefs set an NFL single-game record eight rushing TDs (four each by RBs Priest Holmes and Derrick Blaylock).

The Chiefs are 1-1 in their previous two visits to the Georgia Dome. KC’s defense forced six turnovers in a 30-10 win in the Chiefs debut at that facility as QB Joe Montana threw for 361 yards and two TDs (9/18/94). Atlanta’s lone regular season win over KC was a 29-13 decision (12/24/00).

The Chiefs initial regular season trip to Atlanta came in the ‘72 regular season fi nale at Atlanta’s Fulton County Stadium. RB Ed Podolak’s seven-yard TD catch from QB Len Dawson in the fourth quarter spelled the difference in that 17-14 KC win (12/17/72).

Atlanta is 0-3 in three visits to Arrowhead. Atlanta, Arizona and Washington are the only three current NFL franchises that have never registered a regular season victory at Arrowhead.

AMERICUS, GEORGIA - CRADLE OF COACHES
Kansas City’s offense is guided by offensive coordinator Chan Gailey, who is in his 15th season in the NFL ranks. He returns to his home state after a six-year run as head coach at Georgia Tech, where he compiled a 44-33 record and helped the Yellow Jackets earn six straight bowl berths. Gailey hails from Americus, Georgia, the same hamlet that produced longtime NFL head coach Dan Reeves, the man who guided Atlanta to its only Super Bowl appearance (SB XXXIII). Gailey served on Reeves’ staff in Denver from ‘85-90 and was part of Broncos squads that represented the AFC in Super Bowls XXI, XXII and XXIV. Gailey also served as assistant coach on the Pittsburgh staff that guided the Steelers to a berth in Super Bowl XXX.

Complete 16 page release (PDF)