FLOWERY BRANCH, Ga. -- Though often evenly matched, rarely are two teams in the NFL as similar as the Falcons and Chiefs.
Two of the youngest teams in the league meet Sunday at the Georgia Dome with Atlana (1-1) looking to get the best of Kansas City (0-2). Both will rely heavily on rookies and players in their first season as a starter.
The Chiefs have 32 players with three or less years experience and are expected to start three rookies on defense. If you include slot receiver Harry Douglas and nickel back Chevis Jackson, the Falcons start five first-year players.
With so much youthful talent, Falcons Head Coach Mike Smith has had to do a little thinking about his coaching style.
His conclusion? Success starts by looking in the mirror.
"I think you have to pound in their heads that it's not about the opponent; it's about them," he said. "If they perform and do their job then they're going to perform well and get the outcome we want. So often I think we talk about our opponents when we should be talking about what we have to do as a football team."
The Chiefs will start two rookie cornerbacks in the game (Brandon Flowers and Brandon Carr). Rookie Glenn Dorsey will start at defensive tackle for a team that is 31st in the league against the run.
Falcons quarterback Matt Ryan, who threw two interceptions last week at Tampa Bay, played against Flowers in college and expects the team to defend against the deep pass.
"They haven't given up much this year in terms of big plays in the passing game," Ryan said. "It's going to be a challenge for us but I think we have a good, tight game plan and guys are going to work hard this week."
"They're going to come with their best game plan," added wide receiver Michael Jenkins. "They're fighting to get their first win of the season and, no matter who's out there, they're going to give their best effort."
The Birds hope to start fast this week, perhaps recreating the dominant running game that led to a 21-0 lead and a 34-21 victory over the Detroit Lions in Week 1.
That started with film review on Monday and continued with highly-detailed practices through the week.
"We have to go out and correct the mistakes that we've made," Smith said. "If we go out and do our job and do what we're supposed to do then we're going to like the outcome of the game."
WELCOME TO THE NFL: Chiefs Head Coach Herm Edward named second-year pro Tyler Thigpen the starting quarterback for Sunday's game earlier this week. It will be his first professional start.
Thigpen was a running back in high school but was recruited to Costal Carolina as a quarterback. He started 39 games and threw for 6,598 yards and 53 touchdowns (25 interceptions) on his way to becoming the first player drafted from the school. He landed in Kansas City after the Minnesota Vikings waived him after his first training camp.
"For what we're trying to do, I think he can do a good job of it," Edwards said. "He'll be limited in some things but we want to take a look at him."
The first look wasn't that great.
Thigpen replaced Damon Huard last week, completing 14 of 33 passes for 151 yards, a touchdown and an interception.
Fans could see some jitters Sunday, especially as Thigpen takes snap behind an offensive line that includes a rookie left tackle (Brandon Albert). But the Falcons are looking for the signal-caller's best.
"We go into every game and approach it the same regardless of who's going to be at a position," linebacker Michael Boley said. "Obviously they wouldn't be in the league if they weren't good. We just have to prepare for them like a normal starting quarterback.
"They do a lot of different stuff. They like to mix it up with the run and the pass. This is a game where we as a defense to be on our P's and Q's."
To give Thigpen a chance in the passing game, Kansas City must first contain Pro Bowl defensive end John Abraham.
The Falcons sack leader (four) said his eyes lit up when he learned a young quarterback would be starting on the other side of the field but he doesn't expect too many one-on-one opportunities. With that in mind, Smith will look for production from other players like Jamaal Anderson, Kroy Biermann and Jonathan Babineaux, who recorded his first sack of the season last week at Tampa Bay.
"I watched all the games last year in evaluating our roster and (Sunday) was by far his most productive game," Smith said of Babineaux. "He had an outstanding rush when he recorded his first sack of the season."
SHUFFLING THE CARDS: The Birds added a few more names to the Saint Joseph's Injury Report this week but every player was able to practice.
Defensive tackle Grady Jackson -- and his 33.5 career sacks -- expects to play Sunday after missing last week with swelling in his knee.
"I don't know what it was but I'm healthy," he said. "Everything is fine now. I'm going this week."
THE SKINNY: Several Falcons players traced problems in last week's slow start to a lack of precision -- little things that busted plays.
"We got off to a slow start throwing the ball and we figure we can come out and get a fast start this week," Jenkins said when asked about nine-straight incompletions to open the Tampa Bay game."We're always going to be on the attack. We want to set the tempo on the defense."
When playing a fast defense like the Buccaneers, a split second in reaction time makes the difference between success and failure.
"We just learned about working on the details," fullback Ovie Mughelli said. "Everything we did wrong -- taking nothing away from Tampa Bay's defense -- was us not sticking to our game plan. It was us not thinking about the details... If we can fix that I feel like we can get a win this weekend.
NUMBERS, NOTES AND COLORS: Some numerals, news and colors to get you ready for Sunday's game against the Chiefs...
- Atlanta will wear red jerseys this weekend against the Kansas City Chiefs.
- The Chiefs lead the all-time series with the Falcons 5-1.
- In their last five meetings with the AFC West the Falcons are 4-1 (the one loss came to the Chiefs in 2005).
- Kansas City set an NFL record with eight rushing touchdowns the last time these teams met.
- Michael Turner (2) and Jerious Norwood (23) rank among the top 25 rushers in the NFL through the first two weeks.
- In Week 1, 10 Falcons started their first NFL game.
- Douglas owns the second-longest run this season (33 yards).
- Falcons offensive coordinator Mike Mularkey and Chiefs offensive coordinator Chan Gailey coached together with the Pittsburgh Steelers from 1996-97.
- Chiefs head coach Herm Edward played for the Falcons for one season (1986).
MORE FALCONS-CHIEFS COVERAGE:
- FALCONCAST: J. Mike and Matt preview the Chiefs game | Fantasy Podcast
- BLOG: Abraham Takes the Lead | J. Mike's Missives
- NFL FILMS: Take a look at the Falcons-Chiefs preview
- NFL NETWORK: Playbook | J. Mike on Falcons Team Cam
- ASK THE COACH: Gerald Brown and Ovie Mughelli talk about the running game
- NOTEBOOK: Offense looks to get back on track
- INJURY REPORT: Injury news from the Falcons and Chiefs
- VIDEO: Head Coach Mike Smith | Turner | Mughelli | Ryan | Milloy | Babineaux | Lofton
- COMMUNITY: Falcons rookies get sneak peak at "The Express"
- COMMUNITY: Falcons, Verizon Wireless team up to stop domestic violence
- NEWS: Falcons release tight end Milner | Tight end Rader returns to The Branch
- NEWS: Team looks to correct mistakes from Tampa Bay
- MILLOY: Smith address Milloy address | Veteran Speaks with the Media
