Can the Falcons shock the NFC? | Breakfast Ball
With the 2024/25 NFL season just around the corner, Craig Carton, Danny Perkins and Mark Schlereth have some bold predictions for which teams in the NFC will make the playoffs, including the Atlanta Falcons as the No. 1 seed.
NFL fans watching the game between the Atlanta Falcons and the Kansas City Chiefs were outraged by the officiating's decision at the end of a play involving tight end Kyle Pitts.
Kirk Cousins led the Falcons on 15 drives that brought the offense within six yards of a touchdown. On third down and five, Cousins threw a pass to Pitts, who was being guarded by Chiefs defensive back Brian Cook.
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Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (No. 8) misses while attempting to catch a pass from Kansas City Chiefs safety Brian Cook (No. 6) during the second half of an NFL football game in Atlanta, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Bryn Anderson)
Kansas City Chiefs safety Brian Cook (No. 6) blocks a pass from Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (No. 8) in the end zone during the second half of a game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on September 22, 2024. (Dale Zanin – Imag Images)
As the ball reached the end zone, Pitts appeared to be held down while trying to catch the ball. Cook had his arms around the tight end's waist. Pitts was unable to catch the ball. No penalty was called. On the next play, Cousins threw an incomplete pass to Drake London.
The Falcons turned the ball over on downs. Atlanta had possession once more and drove the ball to the Chiefs' 13-yard line, then turned the ball over on downs.
Fans pointed to Pitts' play as the source of their distress.
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Falcons head coach Raheem Morris declined to discuss the play.
“I like my money,” Morris said. “I like the money Arthur Blank gives me. I'm wise enough to talk about the referees. They made the call or they didn't make the call. That's the reality of it. We had a chance to win the football game on the last play of the game.”
As fans were outraged, the umpires defended the no-call.
Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (No. 8) runs toward Kansas City Chiefs safety Justin Reed (No. 20) after making the catch during the first half of a game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta on September 22, 2024. (Dale Zanin – Imag Images)
“It's a real-time call that the umpire has to make, and based on the circumstances at the time, I didn't think there was a foul,” umpire Tora Blake told pool reporter D. Orlando Ledevetter.
Blake added, “Certainly, that's a real-time decision for us. We'll do everything we can to make that decision.”
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With the win, the Chiefs improve to 3-0, while the Falcons fall to 1-2.
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