Chiefs fans’ takeover of Falcons stadium caught attention of NBC broadcaster

Broadcaster Mike Tirico has worked enough games at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium through the years that he knows what to expect before kickoff of a Chiefs game.

Tirico, the lead play-by-play voice for NBC Sports, has called the Chiefs in the past two NFL Kickoff Games and many other “Sunday Night Football” contests.

That included the Chiefs’ 22-17 win at Atlanta on Sunday.

Tirico noted during the broadcast that there were a large number of Chiefs fans at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, a fact he gleaned from the performance of the national anthem.

In Kansas City, whether you’re at a Chiefs or Royals game, it always ends the same: “... the home of the CHIEFS!”

And that was the case Sunday in Atlanta. People on social media shared the vocal Chiefs fans during the national anthem at the Falcons’ home.

KC fans have taken over stadiums in Las Vegas and Los Angeles, but the Chiefs had not played in Atlanta since 2016, so it was remarkable to see this kind of turnout.

Ratings bonanza

NBC Sports said Sunday’s game averaged 25.1 million viewers on the network and Peacock, which made it the highest rated Week 3 “Sunday Night Football” game.

Kansas City led the way nationally with a 45.5 rating and an 81 share. The latter means more than 80% of televisions in use Sunday night in KC were tuned to the Chiefs game.