It looked like the Atlanta Falcons had more magic in the fourth quarter, but Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton put an end to that in the 22-17 victory to start the 2024 season undefeated.

Kirk Cousins ​​and the Falcons were headed for the end zone with less than two minutes left in the game, and they needed to find the ball after failing to do so on their previous drive to beat the Chiefs.

After failing to convert on 3rd-and-1 at the Kansas City 13-yard line, the Falcons went all out again with a run play on fourth-and-inches. Usually, it’s Bijan Robinson who gets that crucial yard.

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Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Darnell Mooney (1) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis-Imagn Images)

However, Bolton quickly showed up when he saw the play unfold and tackled Robinson for a loss of three yards, causing the Falcons to lose the ball on downs.

That made the game ice cold for the Chiefs, as Patrick Mahomes simply held the rest of his snaps on his knees to go to 3-0. The Falcons are now 1-2 on the season.

A pivotal moment in this game came on third-and-five from the Kansas City 6-yard line during the previous drive, when Cousins ​​was looking for Kyle Pitts in the middle of the end zone after initially pushing his defender off the goal line.

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As Cousins ​​made his pass, Pitts jumped into the air to make the catch, but it appeared Bryan Cook made contact with Pitts too early. However, there were no flags on the field and the Chiefs were given a break.

On 4th-and-6, the Falcons were unable to convert a touchdown when Cousins’ pass to Drake London, who had scored earlier in the game, bounced off the turf. So, trailing 22-17, the Falcons had to give the ball back to the Chiefs after their 15-play drive.

It was a strong start for the Falcons, who were fresh off a thrilling win over the Philadelphia Eagles on “Monday Night Football,” as Cousins ​​led a 70-yard drive for a touchdown on the team’s opening drive of the week.

Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins ​​​​(18) drops a ball against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)

London, the man Cousins ​​found in the closing stages of the Eagles game to overcome a deficit in Week 2, was left wide open in the end zone after the Chiefs thwarted him in coverage. It was the easiest score he would see in the NFL: 7-0 on a Younghoe Koo extra point.

But Mahomes matched the Falcons on the scoreboard when he found Rashee Rice, his new favorite target in red and yellow every week, for the 13-yard touchdown.

Cousins ​​was able to quickly respond to the Chiefs, however, thanks to a great catch-and-run by his talented tight end Kyle Pitts, which went 50 yards to the Kansas City one-yard line. Bijan Robinson would score from one yard out to regain the lead.

The Chiefs scored twice before the end of the first half, one of which was a gift from Cousins ​​who threw an interception with less than a minute to play.

Kansas City took the lead on their first drive of the second half, which resulted in a field goal by Harrison Butker. But Mahomes scored his second touchdown in the third quarter to give Atlanta a 22-14 lead.

Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes the ball to the Atlanta Falcons during the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Images)

The drive took just over six minutes off the clock and ended with JuJu Smith-Schuster running up the middle of the field and Mahomes throwing a pass to him for a 13-yard touchdown. It was Smith-Schuster’s first of the season after returning to the team he helped win a Super Bowl two years ago, and it proved to be the deciding score.

The scoring showed Mahomes throwing for 217 yards with two touchdowns and one interception — a deadly drive as the ball entered the end zone when Justin Simmons retrieved a pass to tight end Noah Gray.

Mahomes found Rice 12 times for 110 yards, as he is the clear No. 1 option for him in the passing game. Travis Kelce was the next-leading receiver with four catches for 30 yards, but he has yet to find the end zone this season.

And there was undrafted rookie Carson Steele who took the starting job in place of Chiefs star Isiah Pacheco, who underwent surgery to repair a fractured fibula. Steele’s audition to remain the team’s starter with Pacheco out for weeks went well, as he rushed for 72 yards on 17 carries.

Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver 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 interception. London led the way with 67 yards on six catches, but Darnell Mooney figures to be a good target for Cousins ​​as he built on his big day against the Eagles with eight receptions for 66 yards in this one.

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