This Sunday night, the Kansas City Chiefs (3-0) face the Atlanta Falcons (1-2). Atlanta looked good last week against the Philadelphia Eagles, winning the game 22-21. The Chiefs are looking to continue their 2-game winning streak to start the season, coming off back-to-back close matchups against the Cincinnati Bengals and the Baltimore Ravens the previous week.
After the infamous SNF intro song by Carrie Underwood, the match is underway. Kansas City wins the toss and defers to the second half. The Falcons start hard and fast with a 36-yard completion and gain by Mooney (1) on 2nd & Inches. A result of a communication discrepancy on the defensive side, Cousins launches a wide-open touchdown throw straight into the end zone, caught by London (5). 0-7 Atlanta.
Chiefs now with the ball, Steele barrels through the pack for a 5-yard carry and gets the 2nd first down of the drive. Mahomes (15) delivers a strike through the middle for another first down on 2nd & 8 to Rice (4). Confusion on the offensive side, the Chiefs take their first timeout of the half. A handoff to Steele on 3rd & 1 called short, it will be 4th & Inches. Handoff to Rice pushes through for a close first down, Falcons challenge, 1st down call stands. Too many men on the field penalty on the defense results in 1st & 5 for the Chiefs. Steele pushes through on 2nd & 1 for a 1st & 10 on the Chiefs 16-yard line. Touchdown pass intended for Noah Gray is intercepted by Simmons at the goal line. The Falcons receive pressure from the Chiefs defense following the interception. Cousins squeezes out of a sack and the pass falls incomplete with less than 15 seconds left in the 1st quarter. Illegal hands to the face penalty by the offense is declined resulting in 4th down. Punted; the Chiefs will start the 2nd half with the ball at the Falcons’ 21-yard line.
First 1st down of the 2nd quarter, a short pass caught by Kelce (87). Mahomes makes a quick pass to Rice for another 1st down, and the Chiefs are now at the 48-yard line. Consecutive handoffs to Perine (34). After several pump fakes, Mahomes scrambles and throws, caught by Watson (84) to gain 12 yards on 3rd & 8. Touchdown pass complete to Rice and into the end zone, and the Chiefs are on the board. Butker’s extra point is good, and we are all tied up little more than 6 minutes into the 2nd quarter.
First down pass declared incomplete after being stripped out by Conner (27). Long, arched pass falls incomplete, roughing the passer penalty called on Jones (95), results in a 1st down for the Falcons. Cousins launches a pass and the receiver slides to the 1-yard line. Defensive holding called on Chiefs’ McDuffie (22) on the play. Robinson brings it into the end zone for a 1-yard touchdown run.
Return by Hardman taken to the 31-yard line, good starting field position for the Chiefs. After two good consecutive runs by Steele, the Chiefs are stopped at the Falcons 35-yard line and bring Butker out for the field goal attempt. 10-14 Falcons.
Atlanta starts at the 30-yard line. Center Dalman comes out after the first snap with a hurt ankle. A fumble by Cousins, the ball rolls down the sideline. Players can’t recover. The ball is kicked out of bounds by Robinson (7), considered illegal. A 10-yard penalty leads to 3rd & 18 for Atlanta. Cousins juggles the ball, tumbles into the hands of Robinson, and he scrambles for 5 yards. Punt; the Chiefs will take over from their own 34-yard line.
Mahomes tries to get rid of the ball and twists to avoid the sack. A pass intended for Rice is nearly intercepted by Bates, and the Chiefs go 3 and out.
2 plays into the drive, Cousins gets hit on the arm on the release of the pass. The ball is intercepted by the Chiefs with 40 seconds left in the half. The Chiefs take their final timeout. Butker makes the field goal to finish the half. 13-14 Falcons.
The Chiefs start with the ball after the half. Pass caught by Kelce at the 19-yard line. Two consecutive runs down the middle by Steele take the Chiefs to 1st & Goal at the 3-yard line. A direct snap to Steele gains a yard on the play. Mahomes is pressured and runs to the sideline, his pass overthrown. Butker makes the field goal. 16-14 Chiefs.
Atlanta takes over from the 27-yard line after the punt. Cousins is tripped and brought down after scrambling on 3rd & 3, and the Falcons go 3 and out.
Catch by Rice for a first down, now into Atlanta territory. Mahomes sprints and slides for a first down. Handoff to Worthy (1), sprints an arch around the backside and gains 6 on the first down. Quick lateral pass by Mahomes to Rice, and he is taken down hard immediately. 3rd & 7 for the Chiefs, pass to Smith-Schuster (9), runs into the end zone. Butker’s extra point donks off the right side post. 22-14 Chiefs.
McCloud on the return, illegal block in the back penalty on the Falcons. Robinson taken back for a loss on the play by Bolton with less than 40 seconds left in the 3rd quarter. Last play of the quarter: pass is caught and called down at the 41-yard line before coming out. Pass complete by Cousins to Mooney for a first down. Pressure on Cousins on consecutive downs forces a field goal. Field goal is good. 22-17 Chiefs.
Touchback, Chiefs on their own 30-yard line. Pass to Perine brings up 3rd & short. Incomplete pass to Kelce, KC goes 3 and out.
Punt bounces near the 10-yard line, supposed fumble recovered by the Chiefs declared a completed return; Atlanta will drive. Illegal hands to the face called on Norton (77), 10-yard penalty and loss of down. Cousins, pressure, throws it quickly to London for a first down. Bolton is down on the field and goes to the bench. Quick handoff to McCloud, dances down the sideline for a first down.
Neutral zone infraction called on the defense, 5-yard penalty. Throw from Cousins caught by London for the first down. Bolton and Watson are back in. 3rd down in the red zone for the Falcons with 4:40 to go. Cousins passes incomplete to the end zone. Incomplete on 4th & 5, with 4 minutes left, it is turned back over to the Chiefs.
3 and out for the Chiefs gives the Falcons hope to come back, down 5 with 2 and a half minutes to go.
Another nailbiter 4th quarter for the Chiefs this season. McDuffie’s good defense breaks up the pass. Illegal hands to the face called on Conner (27). Pass interference called on McDuffie (22). The The Falcons are driven down to 4th & Inches with a little less than a minute left in the game. Both teams have two timeouts left. The The Chiefs hold them with 51 seconds left, Bolton leading the pack. Mahomes buys time before taking a knee on all three downs, and the Chiefs end the matchup with a 22-17 win.
