Mahomes and Bolton Lead 3-0 Chiefs to Victory Over Falcons

On September 23, 2023, linebacker Nick Bolton made a critical play by stopping running back Bijan Robinson in the backfield on a crucial fourth down, helping the Kansas City Chiefs secure a 22-17 comeback victory over the Atlanta Falcons. With just 51 seconds left on the clock, Bolton’s performance was instrumental in halting the Falcons’ drive in the red zone and pushed the Chiefs to a perfect 3-0 record.

Bolton, who had a total of eight tackles, including three for a loss, attributed his success to a well-thought-out strategy from the coaching staff. “Coach had a great call,” Bolton explained to reporters. “He put the big defensive linemen in there. Those guys got vertical, and I just shot my gun.”

The Chiefs initially trailed 14-7 midway through the second quarter. However, they quickly turned the momentum as they scored 15 consecutive points, regaining control of the game. Despite being outgained by the Falcons in the first half, Kansas City managed to finish with 345 total yards compared to Atlanta’s 311. The Chiefs also dominated on the ground, rushing for 128 yards to the Falcons’ 82.

Patrick Mahomes, the Chiefs’ quarterback, completed 26 of 39 passes for 217 yards, scoring two touchdowns but also throwing one interception. Wide receiver Rashee Rice had a standout game, recording a career-high 12 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. Despite his team’s lack of cohesion in the initial weeks, Mahomes remained optimistic. “We haven’t played good, really in all three games,” he noted. “We’ve been able to win, and that speaks to the character of the team and our grit.”

For Atlanta, Robinson struggled to find openings, finishing the game with 31 rushing yards on 16 carries. Quarterback Kirk Cousins had a solid outing, completing 20 of 29 passes for 230 yards, with one touchdown but also one interception. Following the loss, Cousins expressed his disappointment. “You feel like you snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, was kind of how it felt,” he said.

Cousins had connected with wide receiver Drake London for a 14-yard touchdown on Atlanta’s opening drive, giving the Falcons an early lead. The Chiefs responded when Mahomes delivered a 13-yard touchdown pass to Rice early in the second quarter, tying the game. Robinson then gave the Falcons another lead with a 1-yard touchdown run, but kicker Harrison Butker helped the Chiefs close the gap with two field goals, making it a 14-13 game at halftime.

After halftime, Butker kicked a 21-yard field goal to give the Chiefs their first lead of the game. Mahomes added a touchdown pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster later in the third quarter, extending the lead to 22-14. In the fourth quarter, Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo made a 54-yard field goal, providing the Falcons with their final points of the game.

The Falcons forced a Chiefs punt but subsequently could not convert on a crucial fourth-and-one situation. After giving the ball back to the Chiefs, Cousins managed to advance the Falcons to the Chiefs’ 16-yard line. On a critical fourth-down play, Bolton charged through the offensive line and tackled Robinson, clinching the victory for Kansas City.

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid praised his defense’s performance, especially in the later stages of the game. “I was proud of our defense and how they stepped up in the third and fourth quarter,” he said. The Chiefs will face the Los Angeles Chargers next Sunday, while the Falcons are set to host the New Orleans Saints.

Source: UPI