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by Bob Gretz

It proved to be an unfruitful visit to the Georgia Dome for the Chiefs, as they suffered their third loss of the season by a 38-14 count to the Atlanta Falcons. The Chiefs fell behind early and eventually cut Atlanta’s lead to 10 points in the second half, but could never close the gap to make it a one-score game.

The game began as a battle of punters, as Chiefs P Dustin Colquitt and P Michael Koenen of the Falcons were very busy, punting three times each as both offenses went three-and-out on their initial three possessions.

But the Falcons finally got things moving on offense. Backed up to their own eight-yard line, RB Michael Turner broke free over the left side for a 38-yard run. Two plays later, RB Jerious Norwood caught a pass from QB Matt Ryan and turned it into a 30-yard gain. Then two plays after that, Turner plowed into the center of the line from four yards out for the game’s first touchdown. Jason Elam’s PAT kick gave Atlanta a 7-0 lead. It was a six play, 92-yard scoring drive.

The Chiefs offense couldn’t move the chains on the ensuing possession and this time the Falcons made them pay. Ryan hit WR Roddy White for a 70-yard TD pass and Elam’s PAT kick gave the home team a 14-0 lead as the first quarter ended. The scoring drive went three plays for 69 yards.

The Chiefs offense continued to struggle in the second quarter. After missing on his opening seven passes QB Tyler Thigpen completed his first pass, but it went for one-yard loss on a screen play to RB Jamaal Charles. On the next Kansas City possession, Thigpen overthrew TE Tony Gonzalez and Atlanta S Erik Coleman picked off the pass and gave the Falcons offense possession at the Chiefs 18-yard line. The Kansas City defense stiffened and forced a 27-yard FG by Elam that gave the Falcons a 17-0 lead.

On their next possession, the Chiefs picked up their initial first down of the game and moved to ball into Atlanta territory for the first time. But Thigpen threw his second INT of the quarter, as he failed to connect with WR Devard Darling and the pass was intercepted by CB Brent Grimes, who returned the ball to the Chiefs 40-yard line. Atlanta used 10 plays to move 40 yards, ending with Turner’s one-yard TD run over the right side of his offensive line. Elam’s PAT kick gave the Falcons a commanding 24-0 lead.

The the lights finally came on for the Kansas City offense. The Chiefs most productive possession of the first half came at the end of the period, when they moved 74 yards on 13 plays running out of the two-minute offensive set of three wide receivers, Gonzalez and either Charles or RB Kolby Smith in the backfield with Thipgen in the shotgun. They converted a trio of third down plays and reached the end zone on a 15-yard pass from Thigpen to WR Dwayne Bowe on a third-and-seven play with just three seconds left in the half. Nick Novak’s PAT kick made the score 24-7 at intermission.

The Chiefs offense came flying out of the locker room and moved right down the field on the broad shoulders of RB Larry Johnson, who got it all started with a 48-yard run on the first offensive play of the second half, his longest run since rattling off a 54-yard jaunt at Oakland (10/21/07). Johnson carried seven more times in the drive for 22 yards. A big third-down conversion came on a 12-yard pass from Thigpen to Charles that gave the Chiefs first-and-goal at the Falcons six-yard line. Two plays later, Johnson banged it in over the middle from the one and Novak’s PAT kick cut the Falcons lead to 24-14. It would be as close as Kansas City would get.

The Falcons came right back with their own scoring drive. They started with a 36-yard kick return from Norwood that gave the offensive possession at the Atlanta 40-yard line. Eight plays and 60 yards later, Turner scored on a two-yard run, his third TD run of the game. Elam’s PAT kick gave the Falcons a 31-14 lead.

Atlanta added a late TD on an interception and 10-yard return by CB Chris Houston to make the final score 38-14.

Now 0-3, the Chiefs return home to Arrowhead for week No. 4 of the 2008 NFL season next Sunday, hosting the visiting Denver Broncos. Kickoff is at Noon.