The Kansas City Chiefs travel south to take on the Atlanta Falcons this week. Many top skill players receive the immediate focus for this matchup. Kenneth Walker III and Bijan Robinson are two of the best running backs in the league this season. Travis Kelce and Drake London are each go-to pass catchers for their respective offenses as well.
But what about some under-the-radar matchups for this game? There are some players from each of the Chiefs and Falcons who are looking for more consistency. Others on each team hope to ride the wave following a recent positive outing.
Here are three underrated matchups to watch for when Kansas City takes on Atlanta.
Chiefs' interior offensive line vs. Falcons' defensive tackles
There are still plenty of solid moments to point toward when talking about the Chiefs' interior offensive linemen this season. However, Creed Humphrey's occasional botched snaps back to Patrick Mahomes have been noticeable. The entire Kingsley Suamataia situation was also handled awkwardly during a pair of road division games.
Not many people probably realize how impressive the Falcons' defensive tackles have been during stretches this season. LaCale London has 33 combined tackles this year, ranking seventh on the Atlanta defense. Meanwhile, Gervon Dexter Sr. and Maason Smith each have four tackles for loss. We should mention Dexter did not practice to open the week because of an illness.
Even Brandon Dorlus, who will shift between defensive end and defensive tackle, has tallied eight quarterback hits and four tackles for loss himself. This group is capable of putting some pressure on Mahomes if assignments are not taken care of up front. It is a physical, versatile group on the Falcons' defensive interior.
Chris Roland-Wallace against multiple pass catchers aligning in the slot
L'Jarius Sneed remains out and on the injured reserve list. That has given Chris Roland-Wallace an increase in playing time that he fully deserves. A versatile piece, Roland-Wallace has taken over duties as the nickel defender. This matchup may very well test him against a number of pass catchers.
We know Kyle Pitts will align in the slot. Of his 329 snaps this season, 88 have come from that spot. Shiftier wide receivers like Olamide Zaccheaus, Jahan Dotson, and Zachariah Branch have each received a healthy dose of slot snaps this season, too. Of note, Branch is working through a hamstring injury. It will likely be multiple one-on-one matchups that Roland-Wallace will find himself in on Sunday. As long as he does not get burned over and over, the Chiefs' defense has a better shot at limiting Atlanta's explosive plays.
The battle of the kickers
Harrison Butker's struggles have been a constant worry surrounding Kansas City. Andy Reid is giving Butker another shot this week, though. After the Chiefs' kicker missed a 50-plus-yard field goal last week, he is now 12 for 19 on field goal attempts this season. He has missed 12 attempts since the start of last season.
Six of Butker's seven misses this season have come from 50 yards or longer. Three of his five failed attempts from last year also came from that category. Can Butker come through in an indoor stadium this week if the Chiefs place any trust in him in a possible key spot?
The Falcons cut veteran Nick Folk early this week. He had made 107 consecutive kicks inside of 40 yards before missing a 38-yard try last week against the Cincinnati Bengals. As a result, Atlanta has signed Jake Moody off of the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad.
Moody kicked last week for the Ravens after Tyler Loop suffered an injury for Baltimore. A rare third-round pick as a kicker, Moody had two full years with the San Francisco 49ers to open his career. He split time with the 49ers, Chicago Bears, and Washington Commanders last year.
Moody has made just 65 of 83 field goal attempts in his career, good enough for only 78.3% of his attempts. Does he find a more consistent groove in Atlanta? If this one remains tight late, it could easily be determined by which kicker simply executes at his job.
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