Yahoo Sports Staff
Chiefs vs. Falcons score: Chiefs hold on for another thrilling win, this time over the Falcons
Another nail-biter for the Chiefs and the Falcons on Sunday Night Football
Updated
The Chiefs are living dangerously, but loving nonetheless. Another one score game, and another one score win with a 22-17 victory over Atlanta. In Week 1 it was Isaiah Likely's foot being just out of bounds and in Week 2 it was Harrison Butker's foot kicking it through the uprights. In Week 3, it was the Kansas City defense coming up with two 4th down stops inside the 25-yard-line in the final minutes to win the game.
Patrick Mahomes had a couple of touchdown passes and the Chiefs rushed for 128 yards in the win without lead running back Isiah Pacheco, who's out six to eight weeks with a broken leg. Rashee Rice caught 12 passes for 110 yards and a score for Kansas City who improved to 3-0.
The Falcons fell to 1-2 with the loss. Kirk Cousins was efficient — 20-of-29 — for 230 yards and did throw a touchdown pass. Atlanta hosts New Orleans next week and Kansas City heads to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers.
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Another W under our wings. pic.twitter.com/f2bdZGo8Ph
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Falcons come up short on 4th down again
This time its Nick Bolton making a play on Bijan Robinson in the backfield, knifing through the line to knock Robinson down in the backfield. Eight tackles on the day for Bolton including three TFLs. And Kansas City will be able to run out the clock
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Another Chiefs penalty adds 15 more for Atlanta
This time, a horse collar and Atlanta is just outside the red zone
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Two Chiefs penalties on the first two plays of the Falcons series have Atlanta in business.
A hands to the face penalty, a Drake London 12-yard catch, and a pass interference call have Atlanta at the K.C. 36-yard-line at the two-minute warning. The Falcons won a game in a similar position against the Eagles last week, and the Chiefs survived a late Baltimore rally in Week 1 to win on opening night.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Falcons force another BIG 3-and-out to get the ball back with just over two minutes to go
A Patrick Mahomes misfire on third down, looking for Xavier Worthy led to the end of the series. and the Falcons take over with 2:26 to play.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Falcons turn the ball over on downs with 4:04 to go
The Falcons opted to pass on a field goal attempt, down five and came up with an incomplete pass in the end zone on a 4th and 5 at the six yard line. The Falcons still have three timeouts, and Kansas City would need to go the length of the field to get another score. While the Chiefs have dominated time of possession for most of the game, Atlanta forced a 3-and-out on the last K.C. offensive series.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Ray-Ray McCloud with some tough running to set the Falcons up in scoring position
Bijan on the lead block 💪
📺: #KCvsATL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/i9OltPLJOk— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Falcons force massive 3-and-out
The Falcons couldnt have needed it more, as Jessie Bates III knocked a sure completion out of Travis Kelce's hands, and the Falcons have it back with just over 11 minutes to play. They also dodged a bullet with a near-fumble on the return, but Avery Williams was ruled down by contact before the ball — which was recovered by Kansas City — popped out.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Falcons get back on the board with Koo field goal
Steve Spagnuolo dialed up some pressure on the the patchwork Falcons offensive line to stall out an Atlanta drive that showed some promise. Kansas City now leads 22-17, and has a nearly 2-to-1 advantage in time of possession and offensive snaps and has a more than 2-to-1 advantage (22-10) in first downs. The Falcons sprinted out to that 7-0 lead and got the big play from Kyle Pitts in the second quarter, but haven't been able to get out of first gear since the offensive line injuries.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Chiefs lead 22-14 after three quarters
The Chiefs have just chewed up the clock in this game. They've had the ball for 30:58 of the first 45 minutes and have 22 first downs to the Falcons' nine.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Mahomes finds JuJu Smith-Schuster for his second Touchdown pass of the game
Smith-Schuster's second reception of the night goes for six — and it stays at six after Harrison Butker misses the PAT to give Kansas City a 22-14 lead.
JuJu! @Chiefs extend their lead to 22-14.
📺: #KCvsATL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/gk72osb85i— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Rashee Rice slow to get up
After his 12th catch of the game — a new career best — Rice was taken down by Falcons' cornerback A.J. Terrell. The Chiefs' training staff came on the field to help him to the sideline.
Rashee Rice is down on this play, 🙏 pic.twitter.com/dbm43OUXcD
— SM Highlights (@SMHighlights1) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Big play to Rashee Rice for 27 yards
His 11th catch of the night put him over 100 receiving yards for the game.
Dart delivered 🎯 @PatrickMahomes
📺: #KCvsATL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/5hy1MmlIoZ— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Chiefs march down the field again with 10-play drive that ends in another FG
Travis Kelce and Rashee Rice had a couple of receptions on the drive that stalled inside the 5-yard-line, and Harrison Butker is now 3-for-3 and the Chiefs lead for the first time, 16-14.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Falcons lead 14-13 at halftime
Patrick Mahomes threw the ball 27 times in the first half, but only for 128 yards. That's 4.7 yards per attempt. The Chiefs have sustained a couple of long drives and converted four of their first five 3rd down attempts — they converted the 4th down attempt after that miss — but are 0-for-3 on their last three attempts, as the Atlanta defense clamped down late in the first half.
Atlanta will still have to deal with missing two starting offensive linemen. After they went out, the Falcons line gave up a sack-fumble that was kicked out of bounds by Bijan Robinson, Cousins' arm was hit on a throw that resulted in a late second quarter interception.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Butker nails another field goal, Falcons lead 14-13
A good hold by the Falcons' defense in sudden change late in the first half. While Kansas City did get points, the quick 3-and-out was important because the Chiefs get the ball to start the second half.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Chiefs come up with with late first half INT
The pass rush created this one as Kirk Cousins arm was hit was he released the ball, resulting in the wobbly throw that was picked off by Chamarri Connor.
He handed it off after the INT 😂
📺: #KCvsATL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/6Mt9JS9zXT— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Joey Chestnut doing Joey Chestnut things 🌭
During commercial break Joey Chestnut is eating hot dogs and raising money for his section . Things I never thought I’d tweet at a Falcons game lol #RiseUp pic.twitter.com/lyzBEzDyV1
— Alison Mastrangelo (@AlisonWSB) September 23, 2024
Joey Chestnut just chowed down on fistfuls of hot dogs and won free Publix subs for an entire section here. Section 221 is a winner no matter how the game ends up.
— Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Falcons offensive line injuries mounting.
First, right tackle Kaleb McGary went down in the first half with a knee injury. He was listed as questionable heading into halftime. LAter in the second quarter, center Drew Dalman went down, and backup Ryan Neuzil checked into the game. It'll be worth monitoring if the Falcons can keep their continuity in the zone run game and also keep Kirk Cousins upright — He hadn't been sacked before the two injuries in nine pass attempts.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Butker connects from 53 to get K.C. within four
Kansas City's third drive of the night stalls, and Butker gets on the board with three. Under three minutes to go in the first half and the Falcons lead 14-10.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Rashee Rice is having a huge first half
Rice already has seven receptions for 62 yards with just over three minutes to go in the first half.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Bijan Robinson finishes it off for the Falcons who lead 14-7
Bijan is in for the goal line TD!
📺: #KCvsATL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/XLVCKPuYUe— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Kyle Pitts picks up 50 for ATL
How's that for a shot in the arm after a penalty?
Pitts goes 50 yards down to the one-yard line!
📺: #KCvsATL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/uGTy8vfHMH— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Chris Jones flagged for roughing the passer keeps Falcons drive alive
The 15-yard penalty came on a 3rd and 6 where Kirk Cousins tried to hit Drake London, but the pass fell incomplete. The Falcons offense hasn't been able to maintain the same rhythm as it had on the first drive of the game, but this penalty and first down could be a shot in the arm.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Mahomes to Rice for a Chiefs touchdown
Another long Chiefs drive, this one goes for a score. Rice hauls in his second touchdown pass of the year. The Chiefs have had the ball for more than 14 minutes to just over 6:30 for the Falcons.
Mahomes to Rashee Rice to even the score!
📺: #KCvsATL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/nobx4qvEJ7— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Falcons drive stalls after one first down following interception
Bijan Robinson picked up that first down with a seven-yard run and five-yard run, and the Atlanta punt ends the first quarter. Atlanta's drive to open the game was an early haymaker, and while Kansas City did turn the ball over in the red zone, the Chiefs' first drive of the night was the definition of s sustained march, taking 17 plays and more than eight minutes off the clock
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Justin Simmons intercepts Mahomes in the Endzone
Its the fourth straight game Justin Simmons has played in against the Chiefs where he's intercepted Mahomes. Simmons spent the first eight years of his career with the Denver Broncos, in the AFC Wes That was the 17th (SEVENTEEN!) play of Kansas City's opening drive that comes up empty.
Justin Simmons intercepts Mahomes in the end zone!
📺: #KCvsATL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/cSNbVDGTzt— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Chiefs pick up another first down on first drive
Kansas City has been moving the ball through the air. Mahomes has been sharp and the Chiefs have rotated in both Carson Steele and Samaje Perine in the backfield.
- Yahoo Sports Staff
In a stadium with a heavy Chiefs contingent -- Atlanta's a big bandwagon town -- Falcons march 70 yards in 7 plays to take an early 7-0 lead. Cousins looked more comfortable in those 7 plays than the entirety of Week 1.
— Jay Busbee (@jaybusbee) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Kirk Cousins lit up the Chiefs on the opening drive for a Falcons touchdown
Cousins was 5/5 for 66 yards, and it looked easy for the Falcons, marching down the field to grab the early lead on a Drake London touchdown catch.
I see London wide open!
📺: #KCvsATL on NBC/Peacock
📱: Stream on #NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/dsBWBLL1Jz— NFL (@NFL) September 23, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
No bleep needed.
What do Falcons do?! pic.twitter.com/5TKKHtJ1zp
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 22, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Falcons owner Arthur Blank will go into the team's Ring of Honor tonight
As part of the celebrations, the Falcons are offering free soda, chips and hot dogs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium tonight. And if there are going to be free hot dogs, who better to have in the building than the Hot Dog king, Joey Chestnut.
Here is some info for the food giveaway tonight:
All fans will receive a souvenir cup upon entry that can be filled at any of the freestanding Coke Stations all game long.
Fans can also receive free hot dogs and chips through the end of the third quarter at concession stands… pic.twitter.com/JEurTn1odZ— Mercedes-Benz Stadium (@MBStadium) September 22, 2024
Here to decimate free hot dogs 🌭 @joeyjaws pic.twitter.com/T1xJUoLall
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 22, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
The roof is open tonight in Atlanta
Warm and nice weather expected tonight in Atlanta and the roof will be open for Sunday Night Football
Tonight’s view 🏟️ pic.twitter.com/rP606DJflK
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 22, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Inactives for the Chiefs and Falcons
Here's a look at our inactives for Sunday Night Football against the Falcons ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/d39wu4AkNW
— Kansas City Chiefs (@Chiefs) September 22, 2024
Full list of inactives for Week 3
— Atlanta Falcons (@AtlantaFalcons) September 22, 2024
- Yahoo Sports Staff
Sam Jackson is in the house in ATL tonight
.@SamuelLJackson has been waiting all day for Sunday Night in ATL pic.twitter.com/oNcnFPbLd1
— NFL (@NFL) September 22, 2024