Ailing Falcons practice without Jones, 3 other starters

The cardiac kids did it again last Sunday in Atlanta when Eric Berry notched an early pick-six and took a 2-point conversion attempt 99 yards the other way, which gave Kansas City a 29-28 win.

“That’s the important part of having depth, ” coach Dan Quinn said.

When the defense allows an average of 27.6 points per game, an offensive blunder can lose them a game.

Berry intercepted a pass in the second quarter and returned it 37 yards for a touchdown.

Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan was reeling.

The Atlanta Falcons returned to practice Wednesday tied for the lead in the NFC South and all banged-up for the final month of the regular season.

Another week gone by, another team scoring on their first possession against the Falcons.

“I was just reading my keys”, Berry said. You never know which play is going to be the one to set it off. To take advantage of that fact, Reid and the Chiefs avoided getting caught in bad passing plays, by running plays that had concepts to attack the weaknesses of Cover 3 on the right and Cover 1 beaters on the left.

The Falcons chose to go for a two-point conversion-a logical decision since an extra point still left them vulnerable to losing if the Chiefs kicked a field goal and the Falcons defense hadn’t been able to slow the Chiefs offense down in critical moments.

This play on the ball was just flat-out exceptional, and Berry continues to show an absolutely ridiculous ability to find the end zone when he gets the ball in his hands.

The first reason is simply the ease of the Falcons next two games. Smith completed 21-of-25 passes for 270 yards, one touchdown, no interceptions, and a 125.0 QB rating.

“It’s tough”, right tackle Ryan Schraeder said. “That was a decision that I can’t make”.

He found his mom in the stands – wearing his No. 29 jersey – and made sure she got the ball. The Chiefs feast on mistakes and rarely make any of their own.

Matt Bryant, though, kicked a 59-yard field goal as time expired to get the Falcons within 20-16 at halftime.

As it is, this was going to be an emotional afternoon for Kansas City Chiefs safety Eric Berry, who grew up in suburban Atlanta and was playing at the Falcons for the first time as a pro – and, more meaningfully, the first time since he was treated for cancer in the city.

Berry’s first interception came with just seconds left in the first-half.

Quarterback Alex Smith had another fine performance to lead the Chiefs offense. The process of recovery is limited with three full days in between games.

Those weren’t the only backbreaking plays given up by the Falcons. Also, it would give the Chiefs another year of observation and evaluation of Berry. “He’s smart with his routes”. That’s a style of football, as you can see, that can win against any type of team.

The Falcons’ locker room was stunned after the game. Quinn said he had a knee sprain.

“It’s a normal routine for us”, cornerback Marcus Peters said. The Chiefs joined the Cardinals, Eagles, Buccaneers, Packers and Chargers with game-opening touchdown against the Falcons. A loss in Kansas City would put Oakland behind the Chiefs in the division (because of the sweep) and the Raiders would need to rely on Kansas City losing to still have a shot at the first round bye.

On third-and-3, Ryan was sacked by Chiefs outside linebacker Justin Houston.

Although the defense allowed some yards, it stepped up in the red zone forcing field goals in place of touchdowns on multiple occasions.