Mahomes Chiefs victory/ Chiefs beat Falcons/ Kansas City defeats Atlanta/ Newslooks/ ATLANTA/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Patrick Mahomes threw two touchdown passes as the Kansas City Chiefs edged out the Atlanta Falcons 22-17. The Chiefs’ defense made crucial stops late in the game, preventing the Falcons from scoring on two fourth-down attempts. With the win, Kansas City remains unbeaten, improving to 3-0 this season.
Chiefs Edge Falcons 22-17: Quick Look
- Patrick Mahomes threw for 217 yards and two touchdowns, overcoming an interception.
- The Chiefs’ defense stopped the Falcons twice on fourth down in the final minutes.
- Atlanta’s Kirk Cousins threw for 230 yards and a touchdown, but late offensive struggles cost them the game.
- Kansas City kicker Harrison Butker added three field goals to help secure the win.
- The Falcons struggled with offensive line injuries, and Bijan Robinson was stopped on a critical fourth down by Nick Bolton.
Mahomes Leads Chiefs to 22-17 Win Over Falcons with 2 TDs
Deep Look
Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs continued their winning streak, holding off the Atlanta Falcons for a hard-fought 22-17 victory on Sunday night in Atlanta. Despite some challenges, Mahomes threw two crucial touchdown passes, while Kansas City’s defense came up big in the closing minutes to preserve the win.
Under pressure throughout the game, Mahomes acknowledged his need for improvement, saying, “I’ve got to get better.” However, with the Chiefs’ defense stepping up when it mattered most, Mahomes and his team are now 3-0 on the season, maintaining their unbeaten record despite some tight games. Kansas City’s three victories have come by a combined margin of 13 points.
The Falcons, coming off an emotional win over Philadelphia last week, had several opportunities to take the lead late in the game but were ultimately stopped twice on fourth-down plays deep in Kansas City territory. With just over four minutes remaining, Atlanta’s quarterback Kirk Cousins was unable to connect on two end-zone passes from the Chiefs’ 6-yard line, as the Falcons opted to go for a touchdown instead of settling for a field goal.
On Atlanta’s final possession, the Falcons again drove down the field but faced a crucial third-and-1 from the Kansas City 13-yard line. Running back Tyler Allgeier was stopped for no gain, and on fourth down, Bijan Robinson was tackled for a 3-yard loss by Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton, sealing the game for Kansas City. Bolton later revealed that he anticipated the play, saying, “I already knew where I was going.”
Mahomes finished the game with 217 passing yards, two touchdowns, and one interception, connecting with Rashee Rice and JuJu Smith-Schuster for his scoring passes. Harrison Butker contributed three field goals, including a 44-yarder just before halftime that helped close the gap to 14-13.
Kirk Cousins put up a solid performance for Atlanta, completing 20 of 29 passes for 230 yards, including a 13-yard touchdown pass to Drake London. Cousins also delivered a 50-yard pass to Kyle Pitts, which set up Robinson’s 1-yard rushing touchdown. However, the Falcons’ offensive momentum stalled as the game progressed, and their inability to finish drives in the red zone ultimately cost them the victory.
After the game, Cousins expressed frustration over missed opportunities. “I feel like we’ve left a lot of opportunities out there on the field,” Cousins said. “I look forward to getting better.”
The Falcons started strong, marching 70 yards on their opening drive to take a 7-0 lead. Cousins completed all five of his passes on the drive, culminating in a 14-yard touchdown pass to London, who found himself wide open in the end zone due to a defensive breakdown by the Chiefs.
Mahomes responded by leading Kansas City on a 79-yard drive that ended with a 13-yard touchdown pass to Rice. The Falcons reclaimed the lead on Robinson’s 1-yard plunge, which was set up by Cousins’ long pass to Pitts. But from that point on, Kansas City’s defense tightened, and Atlanta’s offensive line struggled, especially after losing key players to injuries.
Both right tackle Kaleb McGary and center Drew Dalman exited the game in the second quarter, forcing the Falcons to rely on backups. The makeshift offensive line had difficulty protecting Cousins, who was sacked twice and hit 10 times throughout the night. Despite the pressure, Cousins managed to keep the Falcons in the game until their late drives came up short.
One of Cousins’ passes under pressure led to a turnover, as a wobbly throw was intercepted by Kansas City’s Chamarri Conner, which set up Butker’s 44-yard field goal before halftime. That kick helped the Chiefs close the gap to one point, and Butker’s 21-yard field goal in the third quarter gave Kansas City the lead for good.
Mahomes added another touchdown in the second half, hitting Smith-Schuster with a 13-yard pass late in the third quarter to stretch the Chiefs’ lead to 22-14.
Tight end Travis Kelce had a relatively quiet night, catching four passes for 30 yards. Despite Kelce’s limited impact, Mahomes praised the team’s running backs, who stepped up in the absence of Isiah Pacheco, who was out with an ankle injury. Carson Steele, an undrafted rookie, led the Chiefs’ ground game with 17 carries for 72 yards, while Samaje Perine contributed six carries for 25 yards and added three receptions for 15 yards.
“I had a lot of trust there,” Mahomes said of his running backs. “You lose some of that juice that Isaiah has, but I thought the guys did a great job.”
There was some controversy during the game over a no-call on a potential pass interference play. On third-and-goal from the Kansas City 6-yard line, Cousins attempted a pass to Pitts in the end zone, but safety Bryan Cook appeared to collide with Pitts before the ball arrived. The officials did not call a penalty, and Cousins’ fourth-down attempt fell incomplete. Referee Tra Blake later defended the decision, stating, “That is a real-time call that officials have to make a judgment on.”
Injury Report:
- Chiefs: Nick Bolton briefly left the game after an awkward landing but returned to make the key stop on Robinson.
- Falcons: Kaleb McGary (knee) and Drew Dalman (ankle) both exited in the second quarter and did not return.
Up Next:
- Chiefs: Kansas City stays on the road to face the Los Angeles Chargers (2-1) next Sunday in an AFC West showdown.
- Falcons: Atlanta remains at home for a divisional matchup against the New Orleans Saints (2-1) next Sunday.
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