The Atlanta Falcons seeed 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 triumph to remain unflunkureed to commence the 2024 season.
Kirk Cousins and the Falcons were driving with less than two minutes to take part, and they needed 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 aacquire with a run take part on fourth-and-inches, and usuassociate Bijan Robinson is able to pick up that vital yard.
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Atlanta Falcons expansive acquirer 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 seeing 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 originate 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 commence for the Falcons, who were coming off a thrilling triumph over the Philadelphia Eagles on “Monday Night Football,” as Cousins orchestrated a 70-yard drive for a touchdown on the team’s uncovering drive this week.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) fumbles a snap aacquirest the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)
London, the man Cousins set up tardy aacquirest the Eagles for the come-from-behind Week 2 triumph, was left expansive uncover in the finish zone after busted coverage by the Chiefs and it was the easiest score he’ll see in the NFL to originate it 7-0 after the extra point from Younghoe Koo.
But Mahomes was able to align the Falcons on the scoreboard, when he set up Rashee Rice, his novel likeite aim in red and yellow each week, for the 13-yard touchdown.
Cousins, though, was able to rapidly 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 reacquire the direct.
The Chiefs would insert 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 acquire the direct with its first drive in the second half finishing in another Harrison Butker field goal, but Mahomes’ second touchdown of the game originate it 22-14 tardy in the third quarter to originate a expansiver gap on Atlanta.
Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes the ball aacquirest 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 apass 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 rejoined the team he won a Super Bowl with two years ago, and it turned out to be the game-triumphning 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 set up Rice 12 times for 110 yards, as he’s the evident No. 1 selection for him in the passing game. Travis Kelce was the next-best acquirer with four catches for 30 yards, but he has yet to discover the finish zone this season.
And there was also unwriteed rookie Cfire-setting Steele stepping up for the commence in place of Isiah Pacheco, the Chiefs’ star back who had sinspirery to repair a fractured fibula. Steele’s audition to remain the team’s commenceer with Pacheco out for weeks went well, as he rushed for 72 yards on 17 carries.
Kansas City Chiefs expansive acquirer 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 aim for Cousins, as he built on his huge day aacquirest the Eagles with eight receptions for 66 yards in this one.
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