The Atlanta Falcons looked to have more magic in the fourth quarter, but Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton closed the door on that in a 22-17 win to remain undefeated entering the 2024 season.
Kirk Cousins and the Falcons were driving with less than two minutes left, needing to find the end zone after failing to do so on their previous drive to beat the Chiefs.
After failing to convert on 3rd-and-1 at the Kansas City 13, the Falcons again went with a running play on fourth-and-inches, and Bijan Robinson is usually able to get that crucial yardage.
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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (1) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Images by Brett Davis-Imagn)
However, Bolton quickly stepped up when he saw the play developing and brought down Robinson for a three-yard loss and put the Falcons on fourth down.
That sealed the game for the Chiefs, as Patrick Mahomes simply took a knee on the rest of his plays to move to 3-0. The Falcons are now 1-2 on the season.
A critical moment in this game came on third-and-5 from the Kansas City 6-yard line on the previous drive, when Cousins was looking for Kyle Pitts in the middle of the end zone after he initially outran his defender at the goal line.
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As Cousins made his pass, Pitts leapt into the air to catch the ball, but it appeared Bryan Cook made contact with Pitts too soon. However, there were no flags on the field and the Chiefs got lucky.
On fourth-and-six, the Falcons were unable to convert a touchdown when Cousins' pass to Drake London, who scored earlier in the game, hit the turf. So, trailing 22-17, the Falcons had to give the ball back to the Chiefs after their 15-play drive.
It was a strong start for the Falcons, who were coming off a thrilling win over the Philadelphia Eagles on “Monday Night Football,” when Cousins orchestrated a 70-yard touchdown drive on the team's opening series this week.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) fumbles against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Images by Dale Zanine-Imagn)
London, the man Cousins found late in the game against the Eagles for the Week 2 win, was left all alone in the end zone after poor coverage by the Chiefs and it was the easiest touchdown you'll see in the NFL to make it 7-0 after Younghoe Koo's extra point.
But Mahomes was able to tie the Falcons on the scoreboard when he found Rashee Rice, his new favorite target in red and yellow each week, for the 13-yard touchdown.
However, Cousins was able to quickly answer the Chiefs thanks to a tremendous catch and run by his talented tight end Kyle Pitts, who ran 50 yards to the Kansas City one-yard line. Bijan Robinson would score from the one-yard line to regain the lead.
The Chiefs would add two field goals before the end of the first half, one of which was a gift from Cousins, who threw an interception with less than a minute to play.
Kansas City would take the lead on their first drive of the second half that ended with another Harrison Butker field goal, but Mahomes' second touchdown of the game made it 22-14 late in the third quarter to create a wider gap over Atlanta.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes the ball against the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Images by Dale Zanine-Imagn)
The drive lasted just over six minutes and ended with JuJu Smith-Schuster running down the middle of the field and Mahomes throwing him a 13-yard touchdown pass. It's Smith-Schuster's first of the season after he rejoined the team with which he won a Super Bowl two years ago and it turned out to be the game-winning touchdown.
The box score shows Mahomes threw for 217 yards with two touchdowns and one interception, a series-killer since it came in the end zone when Justin Simmons caught a pass from tight end Noah Gray.
Mahomes found Rice 12 times for 110 yards, as he is clearly his No. 1 option in the passing game. Travis Kelce was the next-best receiver with four catches for 30 yards, but he has yet to find the end zone this season.
And then there was undrafted rookie Carson Steele, who stepped up to take the place of Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs' star running back who underwent surgery to repair a fractured fibula. Steele's audition to remain the team's starter with Pacheco out for weeks went well, as he rushed for 72 yards on 17 carries.
Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) scores a touchdown against Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Images by Dale Zanine-Imagn)
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For the Falcons, Cousins completed 20 of 29 passes for 230 yards, with one touchdown and one interception. London led the way with 67 yards on six receptions, but Darnell Mooney is becoming a nice target for Cousins, as he built on his big day against the Eagles with eight receptions for 66 yards in this game.
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