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Wow...Brandon Flowers OUT for today's game. DJ will play.
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) September 9, 2012
Jacques Reeves, starting today for KC Chiefs, has not played in a regular season game since 2009.
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) September 9, 2012
Meanwhile, KC Wolf comes driving onto the field in a 4-wheeler -- with fireworks spitting out the back -- and clotheslines a Falcons fan. Nice, KC Wolf.
Tony Gonzalez receives a standing ovation at Arrowhead. The Falcons stepped onto the field to boos but the field announcer welcomed Tony G. back and the Arrowhead crowd gave him a standing ovation. I heard a light and quick "Tony" chant. Good job, Chiefs fans.
The big board at Arrowhead (via @KCChiefs):
My biggest key to the game: start fast. Don't lose the Arrowhead Advantage.
Eric Berry breaks up a pass to TG....Chiefs future meet Chiefs past
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) September 9, 2012
#Chiefs playing not to get beat deep. Abram Elam roving the middle of the field as single deep back 20 yards beyond the line of scrimmage.
— Danny Parkins (@DannyParkins) September 9, 2012
Matt Ryan is lucky Eric Berry didn't snake that one. Ryan doing like Tyler Thigpen used to: a little too much faith in Tony Gonzalez.
— Kent Babb (@kentbabb) September 9, 2012
SCORE: 7-0, FALCONS: The Falcons first drive goes 80 yards in 12 plays and results in seven points -- Matt Ryan to Julio Jones. They had few problems doing what they wanted offensively on that drive. KC having trouble balancing playing the run and the pass with their defensive players missing.
Eric Berry breaks up a pass. Jamaal has a rush. And now Moeaki has a catch. ACL crew is back.
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) September 9, 2012
Dwayne Bowe hears some boos after dropping a wide open pass on first down. But he makes up for it with a 23-yard reception a few plays later.
Chiefs first drive: 11 plays, 56 yards, 4:49 and ends in a Ryan Succop field goal. Falcons lead, 7-3.
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) September 9, 2012
SCORE: 7-3, FALCONS with that field goal.
Punch in the gut: Falcons take the following return back 77 yards to the Chiefs' 24-yard line. Free yards. KC can not do that and expect to win.
Arrowhead crowd doing work. False start on the QB, Matt Ryan.
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) September 9, 2012
Big time third down stop for the Chiefs. Matt Ryan hit Harry Douglas in the flat and Stanford Routt had a terrific open field tackle to stop him.
SCORE: 10-3, FALCONS with Atlanta tacking on a field goal.
FIRST QUARTER SCORE: FALCONS 10 CHIEFS 3
First quarter notes: Falcons are containing Jamaal Charles, four yards on four carries...Tony Moeaki has 29 yards receiving...Matt Cassel is 5-of-7 for 59 yards...Matt Ryan is 7-of-9 for 75 yards and a touchdown.
Moeaki has been open all day
— Jinx Allessio (@JinxAllessio) September 9, 2012
Welcome Tony Moeaki to the #Chiefs, where did they get this guy?
— joshklingler (@joshklingler) September 9, 2012
My man Moeaki is lookin good #chiefnation
— Mr.Razor Sharp504 (@bigchiefB) September 9, 2012
Chiefs flea-flicker alert! ....Matt Cassel sacked for an 8-yard loss on the play.
That crossing route we all love....Cassel to Bowe for 21 yards. Missed that route over the summer!
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) September 9, 2012
TOUCHDOWN KANSAS CITY!!! Matt Cassel to an outstretched Kevin Boss from 22 yards out.
Looked a little like this one...
SCORE: 10-10
Falcons bounce right back with a 73-yard touchdown drive. That's their second 70-plus touchdown drive.
SCORE: 17-10, FALCONS
Ohhhh ... I remember that guy. Jamaal Chuck just broke a long run. Not a TD, but a signature 46-yarder.
— Kent Babb (@kentbabb) September 9, 2012
Hell yeah, that's the Jamaal we know. 46 yard run, KC moves into Atlanta territory.
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) September 9, 2012
Jamaal Charles lost his balance or he was gone
— Jinx Allessio (@JinxAllessio) September 9, 2012
Great block by Bowe downfield on Charles run.
— Nick Jacobs (@Jacobs71) September 9, 2012
Midway through the second quarter...
QB ratings Ryan 144.9.....Cassel 146.3
— Danny Clinkscale (@dcwhb) September 9, 2012
TOUCHDOWN KANSAS CITY!!!! Cassel takes it in on the keeper from five yards out. The running back motioned out wide, leaving four receivers spread out. Cassel took the snap and and immediately tucked it and ran it in. Check out how the play developed...look at the blockers:
Now see it in action:
And another close-up:
SCORE: 17-17
The Falcons are moving the ball down the field too easily. They quickly move into Chiefs territory on the following drive. But when the Chiefs need a big play...
Justin Houston with big sack, if nothing then to break up rhythm of Falcons' O.
— Eric Edholm (@Eric_Edholm) September 9, 2012
Houston with the sack lunch!
— Craig Stout (@KaloPhoenix) September 9, 2012
Justin Houston, Tamba's replacement, with the sack. Need a couple more of those.
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) September 9, 2012
And the Tambahawk...
SCORE: 20-17, FALCONS with a 21-yard field goal.
HALFTIME SCORE: FALCONS 20 CHIEFS 17
Halftime stats:
- Cassel: 10-of-12, 123 yards, 1 passing TD, 1 rushing TD
- Charles: 8 carries, 72 yards
- Hillis: 4 carries, 16 yards
- Bowe: 2 catches, 44 yards
- Moeaki: 2 catches, 29 yards
Chiefs start the second half with the ball and two receptions for 36 yards from Dexter McCluster put them in field goal range, which Ryan Succop MISSED from 40 yards out.
Game of day so far is Falcons/Chiefs. Highly entertaining. Not much defense.
— Rich Eisen (@richeisen) September 9, 2012
On 3rd-and-11, Matt Ryan goes deep to Julio Jones for a 31-yard gain. A killer momentum-wise. That plus the missed field goal will hurt the Chiefs.
SCORE: 27-17, FALCONS with a Matt Ryan scramble. 9 plays for 70 yards in 4:13 on that drive.
Oh, no....Matt Cassel is hit and fumbles the ball. Falcons recover with the ball inside th 10-yard line. The fist play is a touchdown by...
Tony G. gets his score and dunks. Fans actually boo him. Falcons have pulled away 34-17 over #Chiefs
— Josh Looney (@JoshLooney) September 9, 2012
Well, it was fun while it lasted, #Chiefs
— Jason Shore (@jjshore) September 9, 2012
I mean, you knew has was going to dunk it... #Chiefs #Falcons #TonyG
— Josh Looney (@JoshLooney) September 9, 2012
Tony Gonzalez with TD reception in his return to Arrowhead. Trademark dunk over goalposts, and a 34-17 lead for #Falcons.
— David Skretta (@APdaveskretta) September 9, 2012
Salt, meet wound. Ugh. #chiefs
— KC Chiefs Blog (@KCChiefsBlog) September 9, 2012
Falcons time of possession on that TD: 6 seconds.
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) September 9, 2012
SCORE: 34-17, FALCONS
It can always get worse: a Matt Cassel pass is tipped and picked off by former Mizzou safety William Moore. It's getting ugly at Arrowhead.
THIRD QUARTER SCORE: FALCONS 34 CHIEFS 17
SCORE: 37-17 FALCONS with the early fourth quarter field goal.
Meltdown time! Cassel throws an interception in the Chiefs own territory.
SCORE: 40-17, FALCONS with another field goal.
Fight at Arrowhead! Players were fighting after the kickoff return.
— Arrowhead Pride (@ArrowheadPride) September 9, 2012
Lingering question as we realize this game is over...
Has anyone sent a search party out for Jonathan Baldwin? #chiefs
— Kyle Stafford (@kstafford32) September 9, 2012
Does @jon__baldwin exist? @mellinger @arrowheadpride @ryanscotthall
— Chase G (@chasrock1) September 9, 2012
@arrowheadpride Baldwin is a 6'4, 230lbs ghost. Biggest version of Casper I've ever seen.
— elliott duncan (@Elliott_Duncan) September 9, 2012
SCORE: 40-24, FALCONS with Shaun Draughn punching one in with five seconds left for the Chiefs.
FINAL SCORE: FALCONS 40 CHIEFS 24
USPressWire photos by John Reiger.