The Kansas City Chiefs and Atlanta Falcons open their seasons Sunday against each other, and oddsmakers are giving the Falcons a slight nod. Atlanta is a 2.5-point favorite in the game at Kansas City's Arrowhead Stadium.
Sunday will begin the Chiefs' first full season under coach Romeo Crennel, who replaced Todd Haley 13 games into last season.
It seems the key to Crennel's hopes Sunday would be in an improved run game against what was a stout rushing defense in 2011. Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles spent much of last season sidelined with an injury, and Kansas City ranked 28th in the league in yards per carry, while Atlanta gave up the sixth-fewest rushing yards in the league.
Charles is now healthy, and the Chiefs signed Peyton Hillis during the offseason to bolster their rushing attack. How Atlanta handles those two will likely determine the outcome of Sunday's game.
Oddsmakers also set the game's over/under at 42.
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