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It appeared just like the Atlanta Falcons had extra magic within the fourth quarter, however Kansas Metropolis Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton put an finish to that within the 22-17 victory to start out the 2024 season undefeated.
Kirk Cousins and the Falcons had been headed for the top zone with lower than two minutes left within the recreation, they usually wanted to search out the ball after failing to take action on their earlier drive to beat the Chiefs.
After failing to transform on Third-and-1 on the Kansas Metropolis 13-yard line, the Falcons went all out once more with a run play on fourth-and-inches. Often, it is Bijan Robinson who will get that essential yard.
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Atlanta Falcons vast receiver Darnell Mooney (1) is tackled by Kansas Metropolis Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) throughout the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Brett Davis-Imagn Photos)
Nonetheless, Bolton shortly confirmed up when he noticed the play unfold and tackled Robinson for a lack of three yards, inflicting the Falcons to lose the ball on downs.
That made the sport ice chilly for the Chiefs, as Patrick Mahomes merely held the remainder of his snaps on his knees to go to 3-0. The Falcons are actually 1-2 on the season.
A pivotal second on this recreation got here on third-and-five from the Kansas Metropolis 6-yard line throughout the earlier drive, when Cousins was in search of Kyle Pitts in the midst of the top zone after initially pushing his defender off the objective line.
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As Cousins made his go, Pitts jumped into the air to make the catch, but it surely appeared Bryan Prepare dinner made contact with Pitts too early. Nonetheless, there have been no flags on the sector and the Chiefs got a break.
On 4th-and-6, the Falcons had been unable to transform a landing when Cousins’ go to Drake London, who had scored earlier within the recreation, bounced off the turf. So, trailing 22-17, the Falcons needed to give the ball again to the Chiefs after their 15-play drive.
It was a powerful begin for the Falcons, who had been recent off an exhilarating win over the Philadelphia Eagles on “Monday Evening Soccer,” as Cousins led a 70-yard drive for a landing on the crew’s opening drive of the week.
Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) drops a ball in opposition to the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs throughout the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Photos)
London, the person Cousins discovered within the closing phases of the Eagles recreation to beat a deficit in Week 2, was left vast open in the long run zone after the Chiefs thwarted him in protection. It was the simplest rating he would see within the NFL: 7-0 on a Younghoe Koo further level.
However Mahomes matched the Falcons on the scoreboard when he discovered Rashee Rice, his new favourite goal in pink and yellow each week, for the 13-yard landing.
Cousins was in a position to shortly reply to the Chiefs, nonetheless, due to an awesome catch-and-run by his gifted tight finish Kyle Pitts, which went 50 yards to the Kansas Metropolis one-yard line. Bijan Robinson would rating from one yard out to regain the lead.
The Chiefs scored twice earlier than the top of the primary half, considered one of which was a present from Cousins who threw an interception with lower than a minute to play.
Kansas Metropolis took the lead on their first drive of the second half, which resulted in a subject objective by Harrison Butker. However Mahomes scored his second landing within the third quarter to present Atlanta a 22-14 lead.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) passes the ball to the Atlanta Falcons throughout the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Photos)
The drive took simply over six minutes off the clock and ended with JuJu Smith-Schuster operating up the center of the sector and Mahomes throwing a go to him for a 13-yard landing. It was Smith-Schuster’s first of the season after returning to the crew he helped win a Tremendous Bowl two years in the past, and it proved to be the deciding rating.
The scoring confirmed Mahomes throwing for 217 yards with two touchdowns and one interception — a lethal drive because the ball entered the top zone when Justin Simmons retrieved a go to tight finish Noah Grey.
Mahomes discovered Rice 12 instances for 110 yards, as he’s the clear No. 1 choice for him within the passing recreation. Travis Kelce was the next-leading receiver with 4 catches for 30 yards, however he has but to search out the top zone this season.
And there was undrafted rookie Carson Steele who took the beginning job instead of Chiefs star Isiah Pacheco, who underwent surgical procedure to restore a fractured fibula. Steele’s audition to stay the crew’s starter with Pacheco out for weeks went effectively, as he rushed for 72 yards on 17 carries.
Kansas Metropolis Chiefs vast receiver Rashee Rice (4) scores a landing previous Atlanta Falcons cornerback Dee Alford (20) throughout the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. (Dale Zanine-Imagn Photos)
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For the Falcons, Cousins was 20-for-29 for 230 yards with one landing and one interception. London led the best way with 67 yards on six catches, however Darnell Mooney figures to be a superb goal for Cousins as he constructed on his massive day in opposition to the Eagles with eight receptions for 66 yards on this one.
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Scott Thompson is a sports activities journalist for Fox Information Digital.
