Chiefs 22-17 Falcons (September 22, 2024) Game Recap

ATLANTA — — Patrick Mahomes knows he has to improve.

Don’t worry.

Thanks to some strong performances from Kansas City’s defense, the two-time defending Super Bowl champions remain undefeated.

Mahomes overcame another interception to throw a pair of touchdown passes and the Chiefs defense stopped Atlanta twice on fourth down in the final minutes, preserving a 22-17 victory over the Falcons on Sunday night.

“It helps to have a defense that’s been in those moments before and is able to make those big plays,” Mahomes said. “It’s a team game and we’re winning games and I feel like we’re going to start getting better each week.”

The Chiefs (3-0) were far from perfect, to be sure – Mahomes points to himself more than anyone – but their record remained intact with a combined 13 points.

After a surprise victory in Philadelphia, the Falcons (1-2) had a few chances to score the decisive touchdown in the final minutes.

Kirk Cousins ​​threw a pair of incomplete throws into the end zone from the Chiefs’ 6-yard line after the Falcons passed up a field goal with just over 4 minutes remaining.

Atlanta got the ball back, drove down the field with the help of a couple of penalties and had a third-and-1 at the Kansas City 13-yard line. Tyler Allgeier was blocked for no gain and Bijan Robinson was thrown for a 3-yard loss by Nick Bolton on a fourth down with less than a minute left.

Bolton said he recognized the play the Falcons ran before throwing the ball.

“I trusted my keys, my eyes, the way we played,” he said. “I already knew where I was going.”

Mahomes threw for 217 yards, including assists to Rashee Rice and JuJu Smith-Schuster, and Harrison Butker had three field goals for the Chiefs.

Cousins ​​completed 20 of 29 passes for 230 yards with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Drake London and a 50-yard completion to Kyle Pitts that set up Robinson’s 1-yard touchdown run.

“I feel like we let a lot of opportunities go to waste on the field,” Cousins ​​said. “I’m looking forward to getting better.”

Buoyed by their stunning last-minute goal in Philadelphia, the Falcons took the opening kickoff and quickly drove 70 yards for a touchdown.

Cousins ​​completed all five passes for 66 yards, including a 14-yard TD pass to Drake London, who also caught the game-winning pass against the Eagles. London ended up all alone in the end zone on a Chiefs coverage.

Mahomes recovered from his fourth interception of the season to lead Kansas City on a 13-play, 79-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Rice.

The Falcons regained the lead on Robinson’s one-yard touchdown run, which was set up by a 50-yard pass from Cousins ​​to Kyle Pitts.

But Atlanta’s offensive line took a double hit when right tackle Kaleb McGary and center Drew Dalman both went down with injuries. With two backups in their ranks, the guys up top struggled to keep pressure on Cousins, who was tackled twice and hit 10 more times while throwing, spending much of the night recovering on the Mercedes-Benz Stadium turf.

One of those plays resulted in a lopsided pass that was intercepted by Chamarri Conner, setting up Butker’s 44-yard field goal that cut the Falcons’ lead to 14-13 at halftime.

Butker gave the Chiefs the lead with a 21-yard lob in the third quarter, and Kansas City extended the lead with a 13-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to Smith-Schuster late in the third quarter.

For the third straight game, Travis Kelce wasn’t a factor. The star tight end had four receptions for 30 yards.

Running back replacements

With Kansas City running back Isiah Pacheco sidelined with an ankle injury, the Chiefs have gotten good production from his backups.

Undrafted rookie Carson Steele led the way with 17 carries for 72 yards. Samaje Perine contributed six carries for 25 yards, along with three receptions for 15 yards.

“I had a lot of confidence in them,” Mahomes said. “You lose a little bit of the energy that Isaiah has. I mean, there’s not a lot of people that are that pumped up after every run. But I thought the guys did a great job.”

Controversial non-stop call

After a controversial pass interference penalty on fourth-and-long set up their win over Cincinnati the previous week, the Chiefs might have gotten away with one against the Falcons.

On third down and goal from the Kansas City six-yard line, Cousins ​​looked toward Pitts in the back of the end zone. With his back to the quarterback, safety Bryan Cook appeared to collide with Pitts just before the ball arrived.

But the referees didn’t throw a flag, and Cousins’ pass on fourth down also fell incomplete.

“It’s a real-time decision that the officials have to make,” referee Tra Blake told a reporter. “We’re doing our best to make that decision.”

Injury Report

Chiefs: Bolton limped off the field early in the fourth quarter after an awkward landing, but he came back to make the big stop on Robinson.

Falcons: McGary and Dalman were both taken out in the second quarter. McGary was helped off the field with a knee injury and replaced by Storm Norton. Dalman was replaced by Ryan Neuzil after being sidelined with an ankle issue.

To be continued

Chiefs: Stay on the road for another week when they travel to Los Angeles next Sunday to face the Chargers (2-1) in an AFC West matchup.

Falcons: Play the second of three straight home games when their NFC South rivals, the New Orleans Saints (2-1), visit Atlanta next Sunday.

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