NFC South-leading Falcons facing tough test against Chiefs
KANSAS CITY (8-3) at ATLANTA (7-4)
Sunday, 1 p.m. ET, CBS
OPENING LINE - Atlanta by 3
RECORD VS. SPREAD - Kansas City 5-6, Atlanta 7-4
SERIES RECORD - Chiefs lead 5-3
LAST MEETING - Falcons beat Chiefs 40-24, Sept. 9, 2012
LAST WEEK - Chiefs beat Broncos 30-27, OT; Falcons beat Cardinals 38-19
AP PRO32 RANKING - Chiefs No. 4, Falcons No. 8
CHIEFS OFFENSE - OVERALL (27), RUSH (23), PASS (23).
CHIEFS DEFENSE - OVERALL (28), RUSH (29), PASS (20).
FALCONS OFFENSE - OVERALL (3), RUSH (15), PASS (3).
FALCONS DEFENSE - OVERALL (27), RUSH (10), PASS (32).
STREAKS, STATS AND NOTES - Chiefs rookie WR Tyreek Hill last week became first player since Gale Sayers in 1965 to score on kickoff return, run and catch in game. ... RB Spencer Ware ranks fifth in NFL with 107.7 scrimmage yards per game. ... Travis Kelce third among NFL tight ends with 57 catches, 675 yards receiving, has 100-plus yards in two straight games. ... LB Justin Houston, from Statesboro, Georgia and University of Georgia, third in NFL with 53 1/2 sacks since 2012, including three sacks last week. Houston also had 10 tackles and forced fumble against Broncos in best game since layoff recovering from knee problems. ... WR Jeremy Maclin has 446 yards, four TDs in four career games against Atlanta. ... Falcons on pace to set franchise record with NFL-best average 32.5 points per game. ... QB Matt Ryan last week became first NFL player to pass for at least 200 yards in 50 consecutive games. Ryan has 26 TD passes with only six interceptions. ... WR Julio Jones leads NFL with 1,140 yards receiving. ... LB Vic Beasley Jr. second in NFC with 9 1/2 sacks. Beasley has 6 1/2 sacks, three forced fumbles, in last three games against AFC teams. ... RB Devonta Freeman has four rushing TDs in last four home games. ... S Keanu Neal leads NFL rookies with 72 tackles, four forced fumbles. ... Falcons' defense allowed only two 100-yard rushers in last 27 games. ... Fantasy Tip: Falcons undersized but super-quick WR Taylor Gabriel has TDs in four straight games, including first career two-TD game with 75 yards last week. Both TDs last week came on his runs after catching screen passes.
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