The Atlanta Falcons were in primetime action for the second week running as they hosted the reigning Super Bowl champions Kansas City Chiefs at the Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday Night Football.
The home team was 1-1 entering the game, while the visitors were a perfect 2-0. The Falcons pulled off a surprise win over the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday Night Football in Week 2, while the Chiefs labored to victories over the Baltimore Ravens and the Cincinnati Bengals in their first two outings of the campaign.
Kansas City was the heavy favorite coming into the game but Atlanta has already showcased they can pull off an upset win in a primetime game. Here's how the game unfolded:
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Atlanta Falcons vs. Kansas City Chiefs Box Score
Falcons' box score
Quarterback:
Receiving and Rushing:
Defense:
Kicking:
Chiefs' box score
Quarterback:
Receiving and Rushing:
Defense:
Kicking:
Atlanta Falcons vs. Kansas City Chiefs summary
The Falcons got off to a stellar start as they went 56 yards in eight plays before quarterback Kirk Cousins connected with wide receiver Drake London for a 14-yard touchdown pass to give the home team a 7-0 lead.
Unlike their opponents, the Chiefs' opening drive was a slow burner as they went 69 yards in 18 plays after starting at their own 11-yard line and were primed to respond immediately to Atlanta's touchdown with one of their own. However, an ill-advised pass from Patrick Mahomes to Noah Gray in the endzone was picked off by Justin Simmons, preserving the Falcons' advantage.
The home team's subsequent drive lasted only six plays and the Chiefs' offense was back on the field. They embarked on another slow drive and went 66 yards in 14 plays before Mahomes and Rashee Rice combined for a game-tying touchdown.
On the subsequent drive, a roughing the passer penalty and a 50-yard catch from tight end Kyle Pitts gave the Falcons 1st-and-goal from the one-yard line, and running back Bijan Robinson punched the ball in to help his team restore their seven-point cushion.
The Chiefs responded with a field goal before the two teams exchanged punts, leaving less than a minute on the clock. The Falcons opted to play aggressively rather than trying to run out the clock and paid a heavy price. A deep pass from Cousins was picked off by Chamarri Conner, who, with the help of Jaylen Watson, gave Mahomes and the offense a short field to work with.
However, the Chiefs' offense couldn't do much damage in the 32 seconds left on the clock and settled for a 44-yard field goal to go into the halftime break trailing 14-13.
Kansas City opened the second half with another lengthy drive, as they took 12 plays to go 80 yards before being stalled by Atlanta's defense. They opted not to go for it on a 4th-and-goal from the three-yard line and let kicker Harrison Butker attempt a 21-yard field goal, which he converted with ease.
After trailing for the first time in the game, the Falcons were hoping for a quick response, but their drive lasted only five plays and went only seven yards before they punted it back to the Chiefs.
Mahomes and the offense burnt massive chunks of time off the clock with another methodical drive. They took 11 plays to go 67 yards before Mahomes combined with JuJu Smith-Schuster for a 13-yard touchdown pass that saw the Chiefs' lead balloon to eight points.
After the Falcons opened the fourth quarter opened the fourth quarter with a field goal, both offenses stalled and the defenses took over. The Chiefs' first drive of the fourth quarter lasted only five plays and they punted the ball back to Atlanta with a chance to take the lead.
They started at their own 11-yard line and went 83 yards in 17 plays before turning the ball over on downs on the Chiefs' six-yard line after a controversial no-call from the referees.
The Falcons' defense forced a quick three-and-out, giving Cousins the chance to embark on a game-winning drive for the second time in six days. They made it to the Chiefs' 13-yard where they faced a 4th-and-inches and opted to entrust Robinson with the responsibility of extending the drive. However, the running lost three yards on the play and the Falcons turned the ball over on downs again.
Mahomes and the offense lined up in victory formation and kneeled thrice to win the game and improve to 3-0.
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