The Kansas City Chiefs have been stingy in the red zone through nine weeks, but Sunday brings a different kind of stress test. Atlanta has been efficient inside the 20, and Bijan Robinson is the kind of back who can turn a short field into six points in a hurry.
Kansas City has given up eight touchdowns on 21 red-zone trips this season, which puts the Chiefs third in red-zone touchdown rate allowed through Week 9, according to Sharp Football Analysis. Opponents have scored touchdowns on 38% of those chances. Atlanta, meanwhile, has cashed in on 16 of 26 red-zone trips, a 61.5% rate.
Robinson is the engine behind that efficiency. He has run for 880 yards and five touchdowns on 169 carries, and he has added 31 receptions for 250 yards and a score, according to the NFL’s Week 10 matchup notes. That kind of production gives Atlanta multiple ways to finish drives once it gets close.
For Kansas City, the key starts on first down. If Robinson can help the Falcons get to second-and-short, Atlanta can keep him on the field and force the Chiefs to respect both the run and the play-action game. If the Chiefs win early, they can push the Falcons into more obvious passing situations.
That’s where Chris Jones comes into play. The defensive tackle picked up AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors after Kansas City’s win over the New York Jets, and interior pressure could be the difference here. If Jones gets into the backfield, he can speed up the throw and cut down Robinson’s room if the back leaks out into a route.
Robinson isn’t the only name Kansas City has to track. Drake London leads Atlanta with 44 catches and 692 receiving yards, so the Chiefs have to stay disciplined enough to handle him while also keeping bodies close to Robinson underneath. That becomes a tougher assignment if Atlanta stays on schedule and keeps its full package available.
When the Falcons first get inside the 20, the first thing to watch is how much space Robinson has on his opening touch. If Kansas City can force a third-and-long, Jones and the pass rush can make Atlanta settle for a field goal instead of a touchdown.
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Chiefs Enter Falcons Game With Expectations Suddenly Worth Watching
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Chris Jones Just Changed What The Chiefs Pass Rush Can Be
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Jones and defensive line coach Joe Cullen talked through the impact plays on the teams postgame video show, a reminder that this wasnt just a one-off burst from a star player. For a Chiefs pass rush that has been searching for a more consistent edge, the bigger question now is whether this version of Jones can help set a new baseline rather than just a single-game spike. [Read more 🡒]
Chiefs Suddenly Face A Defensive Line Test Before Falcons Game
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Kansas City also brought back defensive end Jack Pyburn on the practice squad after waiving him, keeping him in the mix as another option if the pass rush needs reinforcement. The moves do not solve the larger injury picture, but they do give the Chiefs a little more flexibility as they head into a week where the defensive line is suddenly under a closer spotlight. [Read more 🡒]