On Sunday night time, the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs face the Atlanta Falcons. We welcome Tre’Shon Diaz of The Falcoholic — our sister SBNation web site overlaying the Falcons — for 5 Questions with the Enemy.
1) If Patrick Mahomes is Superman, no participant has been extra his Kryptonite than former Denver Broncos security Justin Simmons. How has Simmons appeared within the Falcons’ secondary?
Justin Simmons has been nothing however dependable. We haven’t seen him make the kind of affect performs he grew to become identified for throughout his time in Denver — however the security has not made any errors, and it’s clear offenses aren’t snug testing him deep. Jessie Bates has appeared to make life a lot simpler on Simmons.
Simmons’s pure management qualities have been on show from the second he arrived. This Falcons secondary was trying slightly pedestrian even with the likes of Bates and Terrell, however Simmons has made them a official drive.
2) Kirk Cousins appeared to have a mediocre first six quarters as Atlanta’s beginning quarterback earlier than executing probably the greatest drives of his profession on Monday night time to defeat the Philadelphia Eagles. Do you anticipate the Falcons’ offense to have the ability to construct from their late-game success?
The Kirk Cousins expertise has been an attention-grabbing one, to say the least. Week 1 actually wasn’t about Cousins as a lot because it was about first-time playcaller and OC Zac Robinson, who rolled out a bush-league recreation plan that tipped off whether or not the Falcons would run or go, didn’t make the most of any play motion and solely had Cousins beneath middle as soon as. That state of affairs made Cousins look much more rusty than he was — however he has been rusty nonetheless.
After Kirk accomplished his first landing go to Darnell Mooney Monday night time, one thing appeared to have modified. Whereas many had been pointing to bodily limitations, it really appears to be like like a majority have been psychological. Cousins was not assured in his resolution (or new teammates) previous to the second half of the Eagles recreation, however it seems that issues are transferring in the correct course. I feel the Falcons offense will be capable of proceed to enhance as they change into extra snug within the first-year system.
3) Former Falcons coach Arthur Smith took heavy blame for disappointing returns on anticipated fantasy stars like Drake London, Kyle Pitts, and Bijan Robinson. What have you ever seen from the brand new employees to recommend these former high ten picks can attain their anticipated ceilings?
I feel Smith will get a variety of flack from the fantasy group, which wants assist understanding simply how dangerous the state of affairs was throughout most of Smith’s tenure. It’s a miracle they received seven video games of their first two years. Kyle Pitts has eclipsed 1,000 yards and Bijan Robinson had 1,400 all-purpose yards as a rookie, so we’ve seen a few of these picks already flirt with their ceiling. Drake London is the one who hasn’t had that kind of season but — and when your quarterbacks are Marcus Mariota and Desmond Ridder, that comes as no shock.
This offense runs by means of Bijan — and the utilization has been nice. The group desires to make use of Kyle Pitts as a standard inline tight finish. I don’t know what meaning for his fantasy inventory, however I anticipate his function to ramp up because the season progresses. Drake London is handled because the group’s WR1, and it’s going to be on Cousins to feed him. Teaching staffs can solely accomplish that a lot. In some unspecified time in the future, gamers need to execute, and the dearth of execution is what tanked these gamers’ fantasy shares beforehand.
4) With the Chiefs and Falcons hardly ever going through each other, who’s a participant on offense and a participant on protection you are feeling must be extra identified leaguewide?
On offense, Matthew Bergeron. The second-year left guard had a good rookie season after transitioning from his faculty place of proper deal with. Now, with a full yr of expertise beneath his belt, he appears to be like able to take off. The Falcons had been working left at will on Monday night time, and a giant a part of that was on account of Bergeron. His go safety was the world that wanted essentially the most enchancment, however he did nicely beginning off towards robust back-to-back inside matchups; it is going to be attention-grabbing to see how he fares towards Chris Jones and firm.
For the defensive aspect of the ball, I’m going to go along with Kaden Elliss, who’s the group’s Swiss Military knife. Elliss will line up as an inside linebacker, outdoors linebacker or inside lineman, relying on the situation. His recreation jogs my memory a variety of Leo Chenal’s. It’s uncommon that you could find guys who’ve the power to take action many alternative issues. The Falcons have been using a variety of 5-man fronts — and on the ultimate play towards the Eagles, it was Elliss who acquired the stress that triggered Jalen Hurts to throw an interception.
5) Do you might have a prediction for the way this one performs out?
I anticipate the Chiefs to play like the perfect group within the league. It doesn’t matter who they’re lacking on offense; that is Andy Ried we’re speaking about. That mentioned, I do consider that Atlanta may give them a great battle. The offensive line has been stable; everyone seems to be lastly beginning to gel. Beating the Chiefs requires a group not beating themselves in the beginning — and if Atlanta can play their recreation with no errors, then this might be one other one-score end for both group.
