The story writes itself, doesn't it? Eric Berry, cancer survivior, professional footballer, Atlanta native, returns to his hometown, a city he last visited to undergo chemotherapy, and single-handedly steals a win for his team in the most dramatic, unpredictable fashion.
Berry's game-changing pick-six and win-sealing pick-two against the Falcons topped Week 13's Top "Performance Moments of the Week", presented by Bridgestone.
On a stacked Kansas City defense -- with Dee Ford, Justin Houston and Tamba Hali up front and Marcus Peters locking wideouts down on the outside -- Berry is the lynchpin. The emotional leader and quarterback of the Chiefs' opportunistic unit, Berry acts as a barometer for the team's play; as he goes, they go. And so it was that K.C.'s chances of winning in Atlanta and shutting down Matt Ryan's big-play offense rode on Berry's ability to read the quarterback and goad him into costly errors.
The safety's first interception of the afternoon came at an inconspicuous point in the game. With time winding down in the first half, following a Chiefs score, the Falcons were just trying to move into field-goal range before the clock hit zero. In doing so, Ryan got lax with his reads, tossing a softball toward Taylor Gabriel on a crossing pattern, completely unaware of the charging Berry. The Chiefs safety jumped the route, broke a tackle by De'Vonta Freeman and charged down the far sideline for a late score, giving K.C. a brief seven-point lead.
Berry's second pick-six of the season and fifth of his career proved crucial, as Atlanta battled back in the second half, eventually taking a one-point lead with 4:53 to go on a Ryan touchdown pass. To extend their lead to three points, the Falcons attempted a two-point conversion, but again forgot to watch for the ball-hawk in the background.Â
Looking for tight end Austin Hooper in the flat, Ryan tossed a dart leading the rookie toward the pylon. Berry, standing pat near the goal line, was waiting. The safety intercepted the route easily and sped off untouched toward the opposite end zone. The result? Two points, a one-point Chiefs lead and Kansas City's ball with the ability to run out the clock. The Chiefs did and flew out of Atlanta on the sails of Berry's eight points responsible for.
Also on the countdown: Lockett up! The Seahawks swiss-army man closes out a blowout of the Panthers early. ... Black and Gold, meet Golden Tate. The Lions receiver goes untouched through the Bayou secondary for six. ... More Chiefs magic! Albert Wilson sneaks into the end zone from 55 yards away on a fake punt.
