Here's how to watch, predictions, tips

The Kansas City Chiefs will look to stay in top form in Hotlanta against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday Night Football.

Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs left Arrowhead Stadium in Week 2 with a win over AFC rival Cincinnati. The Bengals were embroiled in controversy and committed a pass interference penalty, which later allowed the Chiefs to kick the game-winning field goal through the goal posts.

The Chiefs have a tough opponent in the Falcons. After getting crushed by the Steelers in Week 1, the Falcons bounced back with a last-minute win over the Eagles. Kirk Cousins didn’t look quite like himself in this matchup, but he drove the Falcons down the field when they needed it most. He tied it with Drake London and Younghoe Koo scored the extra point to take the lead.

Coincidentally, Mahomes hasn’t quite looked like himself yet either. With two interceptions in the Chiefs’ game against the Bengals, the two-time MVP looked human. The Falcons hope that’s the version of Mahomes their nascent defense will face on Sunday night.

USA TODAY Sports will provide live updates, highlights and more from the Chiefs-Falcons Sunday Night Football game in Week 3.

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What time do the Chiefs play against the Falcons?

The Chiefs game against the Falcons begins at 8:20 p.m. ET at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta.

How to watch Falcons vs. Chiefs

The game will be broadcast on NBC and Peacock. The game can also be streamed for free on Fubo.

Mike Tirico (live commentary) and Cris Collinsworth (analyst) will be on the phone, and Melissa Stark will also report from the field for NBC.

Falcons vs. Chiefs Predictions, Tips

This is how the USA TODAY Sports editorial team reacts to the result of the “Sunday Night Football” duel:

Lorenzo Reyes: Chiefs 25, Falcons 23
Tyler Dragon: Chiefs 26, Falcons 20
Richard Morin: Falcons 24, Chiefs 21
Jordan Mendoza: Chiefs 23, Falcons 19

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The 18 highest-paid players in the NFL are all quarterbacks, according to OverTheCap.com. Dallas Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott became the league’s highest-paid player on Sunday morning when he signed a four-year, $240 million contract. Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson is the first non-quarterback on the list of highest-paid players after signing a four-year, $140 million contract extension in the offseason.

According to BetMGM NFL odds, Kansas City is the favorite to start the season with a win. Want to bet? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps that offer NFL betting promotions in 2024, including the ESPN BET app and Fanatics Sportsbook promo code.

Friday odds

Spread: Chiefs (-3)
Money line: Chiefs (-160); Falcons (+135)
Over/Under: 46.5

Not interested in this game? Our guide to NFL betting odds, tips and spreads has you covered with Monday Night Football odds.

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Jessie Bates, safety for the Atlanta Falcons, doesn’t mind talking badly to Kansas City Chiefs tight end Travis Kelce about his famous pop star girlfriend Taylor Swift.

Bates was a guest on “The Pacman Jones Show” podcast on Friday, and the two-time NFL All-Pro said Taylor Swift’s smack talk is not off limits.

“I don’t listen to a lot of Taylor Swift, but of course you have to have respect for what she’s done in her career. And with Travis (Kelce), you have to have a certain kind of respect,” Bates said, smiling. “But when the clock is ticking and we’re between those lines, sometimes I see red and maybe say crazy things to him, maybe it’s about Taylor, maybe it’s not. It’s just part of the game to go on your little rant.”

After Pacheco’s injury, the Chiefs now have three healthy running backs on their 53-man roster. They are:

Perine is an eight-year veteran that the Chiefs signed prior to the season after he was released from the Denver Broncos. Perine has developed into a top-notch third-down back, so he will likely see plenty of playing time catching passes and as an all-around talent out of the backfield.

The Chiefs brought in veteran running back Kareem Hunt on Tuesday. They obviously liked what they saw, because Kansas City signed the 29-year-old Hunt to its practice squad.

Kansas City originally selected Hunt in the third round of the 2017 NFL Draft, and in his rookie season he led the NFL in rushing yards with 1,327 yards. He looked like he would become a star for the Chiefs, but he was released during the 2018 season after a video surfaced of him throwing a woman to the ground and kicking her.

The Falcons are opening the roof for their Week 3 game against the Chiefs. It’s easy to understand why, as it’s going to be a beautiful night in Atlanta, with highs of 80 degrees at kickoff and lows of 77 degrees at midnight.

According to the Weather Channel, winds will peak at 5 miles per hour during the game, while the chance of precipitation is less than 1 percent.

Kirk Cousins’ primetime record on Sunday Night Football is 13-20 overall.

Cousins helped correct the narrative around him a bit with a big last-minute win over the Eagles in Week 2.

The last time we saw Cousins play on Sunday Night Football was in Week 8 of the 2021 season, which ended in a loss to the Cowboys.

The No. 1 team in NBC’s Sunday Night Football will remain unchanged, at least for the foreseeable future.

According to a report from The Athletic, NBC Sports is close to signing a new four-year contract extension with top analyst Cris Collinsworth. The extension will keep him with the network through the 2029-30 season. His current contract runs through the 2026 season.

NBC is scheduled to broadcast two more Super Bowls over the next six years, including Super Bowl 60 in 2026 and Super Bowl 64 in 2030.

Collinsworth, 65, who has won seven Emmy Awards as outstanding sports studio commentator, earns about $12.5 million a year and has teamed up with Mike Tirico to commentate on games.

On the Chiefs side, there are no surprises on the list of inactive players ahead of Sunday Night Football.

OL CJ Hanson
T Ethan Driskell
DT Marlon Tuipulotu
EN Chameron Thomas

After practicing earlier in the week despite an injury, running back Tyler Allgeier practiced fully and injury-free on Friday and will be active tonight.

Here is the list of inactive players for today’s game:

RB Jase McClellan
DL Brandon Dorlus
OL Jovaughn Gwyn
T Brandon Parker
DL Ruke Orhorhoro

The Chiefs can secure sole possession of first place in the AFC West if they beat the Falcons in Week 3. The Chargers lost their Week 3 game to the Steelers after starting the season 2-0, while the Raiders and Broncos now both have two losses.

Chiefs 2:0

Chargers 2-1

Raiders 1-2

Broncos 1-2

A win could put Atlanta in a three-way tie at the top of the standings. The Saints and Buccaneers both lost after starting the season 2-0, so the Falcons could cause chaos in the South with a surprise win over the Chiefs.

Saints 2-1

Buccaneers 2-1

Falcons 1-1

Panthers 1-2

There is a good chance that Taylor Swift will attend the Kansas City Chiefs game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night to support her boyfriend Travis Kelce.

The singer is taking a two-month break from her Eras tour and will not perform in Miami until October 18. – Bryan West