The Kansas City Chiefs extended their unbeaten run to 3-0 with a gritty 22-17 win over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night, thanks to a couple of crucial defensive stands in the game’s final minutes. While Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs offense have not reached their peak performance early in the 2024 season, their defense stepped up when it mattered most, preserving a hard-fought victory over the resilient Falcons.
Mahomes threw two touchdown passes but also had to shake off another interception, adding to a growing list of early-season miscues. Despite his ups and downs, he found Rashee Rice and JuJu Smith-Schuster for scores and relied on the consistent leg of Harrison Butker, who connected on three field goals. Mahomes finished the night with 217 passing yards, leading Kansas City’s offense in a game where every point mattered.
The Falcons, coming off an upset win over the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2, gave Kansas City all they could handle. Kirk Cousins, Atlanta’s new signal-caller, had a solid performance, completing 20 of 29 passes for 230 yards. His 50-yard bomb to tight end Kyle Pitts set up rookie running back Bijan Robinson’s 1-yard touchdown run in the third quarter, which helped Atlanta keep pace with the Chiefs throughout the game. Cousins also connected with Drake London for a 13-yard touchdown, further showcasing his chemistry with the young receiver.
However, despite having opportunities to steal a win on the road, Atlanta faltered when it mattered most. Trailing by five points late in the fourth quarter, the Falcons had two golden chances to take the lead. The first came with just over four minutes remaining when they opted to go for it on fourth down from Kansas City’s 6-yard line, but Cousins’ two passes to the end zone fell incomplete, as Kansas City’s secondary held firm.
The Falcons managed to get the ball back after forcing a Kansas City punt, marching down the field with the aid of two costly Chiefs penalties. Atlanta faced a critical third-and-1 at the Kansas City 13, but Tyler Allgeier was stuffed for no gain. Then, on fourth down, Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton made a game-saving play, blowing up a run by Robinson for a 3-yard loss, securing Kansas City’s win with less than a minute remaining.
This victory wasn’t Kansas City’s most dominant, but it kept the defending two-time Super Bowl champions unbeaten. “We’ve been far from perfect,” Mahomes admitted after the game, taking responsibility for the offensive struggles. “I’ve got to play better, but our defense really picked us up tonight.”
Kansas City’s defense, led by Bolton and Chris Jones, has proven to be an early-season strength, especially with the offense still finding its groove. The Chiefs have won their first three games by a combined 13 points, showing their ability to win close games despite inconsistent play.
For the Falcons (1-2), the loss was a missed opportunity to build on their momentum from last week’s upset win. Cousins showed command of the offense, and Pitts and Robinson had standout performances, but Atlanta will rue its missed chances late in the game.
The Chiefs will look to keep their perfect record intact next week, while the Falcons hope to bounce back and avoid falling into a deeper hole.
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