Kansas City notches first road win in tight game in Atlanta

ATLANTA, Ga. (KMIZ)

The Kansas City Chiefs managed to stay unbeaten to start the 2024 season with a 22-17 win over the Falcons on Sunday night. KC's first road game of the year was a tight one from start to finish, as Atlanta had a chance to take the lead with just minutes left in the game, but head coach Andy Reid and company managed to outlast the home team.

The Chiefs didn't actually have a lead at Mercedes-Benz Stadium until the third quarter. Atlanta started quickly, as first-year Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins connected with Drake London on a 14-yard touchdown pass to take a 7-0 lead just minutes into the action. Later, in the second quarter, Kansas City managed to tie it up at seven, but Bijan Robinson responded with another touchdown from one yard out to regain a one-score advantage.

KC took a 14-13 deficit into halftime, but finally had a breakthrough after halftime. Kicker Harrison Butker drilled a 21-yard field goal to give his team its first lead of the football game, 16-14.

Quarterback Patrick Mahomes put a little cushion on that lead, later in the third quarter, with a 13-yard touchdown pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster to give the Chiefs an eight-point advantage.

However, Kansas City had fans holding their breath in the fourth quarter.

Cousins and his offense drove 49 yards in 10 plays to get kicker Younghoe Koo in range for a 54-yard field goal to put the Falcons within five.

In the final minute, the Falcons were on Kansas City's 15-yard-line with a chance to upset the reigning Super Bowl champs. However, on fourth and inches, Mizzou alum Nick Bolton made a massive stop to save the game.

Bolton finished second on the team in tackles with eight, along with three tackles for loss in the win.

Mahomes had a solid night, overall. He completed 66 percent of his passes for 217 yards and a couple of touchdowns but did throw one interception. His top target was, once again, wide receiver Rashee Rice, who ended with 110 yards on 12 receptions and one touchdown.

In the first game since the Chiefs placed running back Isiah Pacheco on injured reserve due to a fractured fibula, fullback Carson Steele led the charge on the ground for KC. He ran for 72 yards on 17 carries, averaging about four yards per play.

Up next - Kansas City will travel to Los Angeles to take on the Chargers on Sunday, Sept. 29 at 3:25 p.m.