The Atlanta Falcons watched appreciate they had some more fourth-quarter magic in them, but Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton shut the door on that in the 22-17 prosper to remain unflunkureed to begin the 2024 season.
Kirk Cousins and the Falcons were driving with less than two minutes to take part, and they necessitateed to discover the finish zone after not doing so on their previous drive to beat the Chiefs.
After not being able to alter on 3rd-and-1 on Kansas City’s 13-yard line, the Falcons went to the well aget with a run take part on fourth-and-inches, and usuassociate Bijan Robinson is able to pick up that presentant yard.
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Atlanta Falcons expansive getr Darnell Mooney (1) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis-Imagn Images)
However, Bolton came flying thcimpolite when he saw the take part grow, and tackled Robinson for a three-yard loss to turn the Falcons over on downs.
That iced the game for the Chiefs, as Patrick Mahomes equitable knelt the remainder of his snaps to relocate to 3-0. The Falcons are now 1-2 on the season.
A critical moment in this game came on third-and-five from the Kansas City 6-yard line on the previous drive, as Cousins was watching for Kyle Pitts in the middle of the finish zone after he initiassociate beat his deffinisher off the goal line.
As Cousins made his pass, Pitts jumped in the air to produce the catch, but it materializeed Bryan Cook made communicate with Pitts too punctual. However, no flags were on the field and the Chiefs caught a fracture.
On 4th-and6, the Falcons weren’t able to alter a touchdown when Cousins’ pass to Drake London, who scored earlier in the game, hit the turf. So, down 22-17, the Falcons had to give the ball back to the Chiefs after their 15-take part drive.
It was a boiling begin for the Falcons, who were coming off a thrilling prosper over the Philadelphia Eagles on “Monday Night Football,” as Cousins orchestrated a 70-yard drive for a touchdown on the team’s discleave outing drive this week.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) fumbles a snap agetst the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
London, the man Cousins establish tardy agetst the Eagles for the come-from-behind Week 2 prosper, was left expansive discleave out in the finish zone after busted coverage by the Chiefs and it was the easiest score he’ll see in the NFL to produce it 7-0 after the extra point from Younghoe Koo.
But Mahomes was able to suit the Falcons on the scoreboard, when he establish Rashee Rice, his new preferite center in red and yellow each week, for the 13-yard touchdown.
Cousins, though, was able to speedyly react to the Chiefs, thanks to a tremfinishous catch-and-run, by his talented firm finish Kyle Pitts, who went 50 yards for the Kansas City one-yard line. Bijan Robinson would score from one yard out to reconsent the guide.
The Chiefs would comprise two field goals before the finish of the first half, one of which was a gift from Cousins who threw an interception with less than one minute to take part.
Kansas City would consent the guide with its first drive in the second half finishing in another Harrison Butker field goal, but Mahomes’ second touchdown of the game produce it 22-14 tardy in the third quarter to produce a expansiver gap on Atlanta.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes the ball agetst the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
The drive took equitable over six minutes of time off the clock, and it finished with JuJu Smith-Schuster streaking atraverse the middle of the field and Mahomes slinging a pass to him for a 13-yard touchdown. It’s Smith-Schuster’s first of the season after he recombineed the team he won a Super Bowl with two years ago, and it turned out to be the game-prosperning score.
The box score read Mahomes passing for 217 yards with two touchdowns and one interception – a drive finisher as it came in the finish zone when Justin Simmons stepped into a pass to firm finish Noah Gray.
Mahomes establish Rice 12 times for 110 yards, as he’s the clear No. 1 chooseion for him in the passing game. Travis Kelce was the next-best getr with four catches for 30 yards, but he has yet to discover the finish zone this season.
And there was also unwriteed rookie Cincfinishiarism Steele stepping up for the begin in place of Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs’ star back who had sguidery to repair a fractured fibula. Steele’s audition to remain the team’s beginer with Pacheco out for weeks went well, as he rushed for 72 yards on 17 carries.
Kansas City Chiefs expansive getr Rashee Rice (4) scores a touchdown past Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
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For the Falcons, Cousins was 20-for-29 for 230 yards with one touchdown and one pick. London led the way with 67 yards on six catches, but Darnell Mooney is emerging as a excellent center for Cousins, as he built on his big day agetst the Eagles with eight receptions for 66 yards in this one.
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