Failing to capitalize on a few scoring opportunities, the Atlanta Falcons fell to the Chiefs in their Sunday night home game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium, 22-17.
The Falcons opened it up with a scoring drive, as Kirk Cousins delivered the ball to a wide-open Drake London in the end zone to take a 7-0 lead.
The Chiefs nearly answered with a touchdown of their own, but Justin Simmons picked off a Patrick Mahomes pass to the end zone after a long Chiefs’ drive. That was Simmons’ sixth career interception against Mahomes, and fourth straight game he’s had a pick against him. No other player has more than two.
The Falcons failed to get anything going on offense following the turnover and gave the ball back to the Chiefs, who assembled another long drive for 79 yards and a touchdown to tie the score at 7-7.
Following a 50-yard catch by Kyle Pitts to put the Falcons at the Chiefs’ 1-yard line, Bijan Robinson punched it in to put the Falcons up 14-7.
The Chiefs got enough yards for Harrison Butker to kick a 54-yard field goal and cut the Falcons’ lead to 14-10.
After a punt from each team, the Falcons got the ball back with just under a minute left in the first half. Cousins got a wobbly pass off after getting hit by the Chiefs’ Chris Jones that fell into the hands of Chiefs’ safety Chamarri Conner.
The Chiefs managed to pick up just eight yards, but it was enough for another Butker field goal to get them within one point of the Falcons’ lead. The Falcons led 14-13 at halftime.
The Chiefs opened the second half with another long drive capped by a field goal to take the lead by two points.
The Falcons went three-and-out, punting the ball back to the Chiefs who put together another long drive, scoring on a 13-yard touchdown pass to Juju Smith-Schuster. Butker smacked the extra point off the upright, so the Chiefs came out with six points, setting their lead to 22-14.
The Falcons answered with a Younghoe Koo 54-yard field goal, cutting the Chiefs’ lead to five with about 13 minutes left.
The Chiefs went three-and-out, and the Falcons put together a big drive of their own. They fell short at the Chiefs’ 6-yard line though, going for it on fourth-and-5 and turning the ball over on downs.
Atlanta’s defense stood strong again, forcing yet another Chiefs’ three-and-out.
With one last chance to score and take the lead, the Falcons got the ball into the Chiefs’ red zone again. On fourth-down-and-inches, Robinson took the edge to try and pick up the first down – but Nick Bolton was there to wrap up Robinson’s foot and bring him down well short of the line-to-gain.
The Falcons’ efforts weren’t enough as the Chiefs’ defense stepped up to clinch the game, 22-17.
Despite some shining moments, this Falcons’ offense has yet to show they can put together consistent scoring drives. The defense played well again, but could only contain Mahomes and the Chiefs’ offense so much. Atlanta’s offense needed to score more than three points in the second half to win, and couldn’t find a way.
Atlanta hosts their in-division rival the New Orleans Saints next Sunday afternoon at 1 p.m. EST.
