Falcons vs. Chiefs instant recap: A gritty effort comes up just short in Atlanta

The Atlanta Falcons have been at all times going to have a troublesome time knocking off the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs. Add in two injured offensive linemen and a protection that couldn’t get strain on Patrick Mahomes and what seemed tough quickly turned insurmountable.

To their everlasting credit score, the Falcons by no means stopped struggling and making an attempt to make a sport of it, and so they have been remarkably near succeeding at instances. This can be a more durable, extra succesful Falcons crew than it has been in a while, one able to struggling losses after which persevering with to not simply combat however really land punches. Zac Robinson was capable of, after time and a bit of little bit of a painful stretch, discover his solution to a extra profitable sport plan regardless of being down two key offensive linemen. Jimmy Lake and Raheem Morris managed to get the protection clamping down in key stretches, particularly late within the sport.

It was, sadly, not fairly sufficient. The Falcons managed to drive down the sphere with underneath two minutes to go, getting shut sufficient to offer themselves a shot, however third and fourth down brief yardage carries couldn’t get the yardage and successfully ended the sport. Atlanta’s choice earlier to not kick a discipline objective and go for the top zone on fourth down—a wonderfully logical alternative given the state of affairs and opponent—will in all probability be scrutinized this week, given {that a} discipline objective on that remaining drive plus a discipline objective earlier would’ve probably received the sport. However you go for the knockout punch towards an ideal crew each time, and the Falcons wished to land it. Their greatest late sport blow simply wasn’t sufficient to beat Kansas Metropolis.

The Falcons have, nonetheless, overwhelmed the Eagles on the highway and are available awfully near toppling the defending Tremendous Bowl champions in primetime in back-to-back weeks. Regardless of the 1-2 report, it’s not possible to not really feel like this Falcons crew is lastly heading in a greater course, and with an NFC South run developing after which a softer schedule following that, there’s loads of hope their improved play and learnings from these first three video games can add as much as one thing particular. I want they’d received, however for as soon as, I’m trying ahead as a substitute of dwelling.

Right here’s the total drive-by-drive recap, when you’re curious about re-living the sport or missed it reside.

1st Quarter

The Falcons obtained the ball first, and the opening kickoff was a touchback. A fast cross from a rolling Kirk Cousins to Darnell Mooney allowed the speedy receiver to select up nearly ten yards. On second down, Cousins obtained time within the pocket and was capable of finding Mooney downfield for twenty-four yards, with a slipping defender making it simpler for the receiver to reel in his second straight seize. Bijan Robinson then misplaced a yard on first down earlier than Cousins, once more with loads of time, discovered Ray-Ray McCloud over the center for a primary down. Robinson then picked up 5 yards on the bottom. A display screen to McCloud appeared lifeless on arrival however resulted in a few yards as a result of he fought to earn them. A large open Drake London then caught the landing from Cousins to cap off an impressively early opening drive. 7-0 Falcons.

A weak return and a holding name backed Kansas Metropolis up deep. Patrick Mahomes ran a bit and fired a low cross that Rashee Rice nonetheless nearly got here up with, however fortunately it fell to the turf. The second down fast cross to Xavier Worthy noticed him use his pace and strikes to select up a primary down, after which Worthy obtained it once more for about six yards. Carson Steele then picked up a primary down, after which Dee Alford dropped Travis Kelce for a one yard acquire. A strike to Rice then obtained 17 yards working (the place else?) over the center. An incomplete cross to JuJu Smith-Schuster adopted on first down, after which Mahomes escaped strain to select up 9 yards on the bottom. A Steele carry up the center was noticed simply shy of the primary down, and the Chiefs went for it and a Rice carry that appeared to come back up simply brief was not overturned after the Falcons challenged the primary down ruling. Mahomes then took a shot to the top zone that Mike Hughes performed brilliantly to interrupt up, after which a fast cross went for under a few yards. A fast, low cross to Rice resulted in one other first down. The Falcons then obtained hit with a too many males on the sphere penalty, after which Samaje Perine took it 4 yards. Steele then took it for one more first down. A fast cross to Steele obtained simply two yards, and an finish zone shot from Mahomes was picked off by Justin Simmons once more, including to the protection’s league-leading Mahomes interception complete. Falcons ball.

Robinson took it 4 yards on first down with a bit of shimmy to get free, after which he bullied his approach ahead for a primary down. Bijan then obtained crushed within the backfield on the subsequent carry, after which a fast cross to Mooney went for a few yards. On third down, Cousins needed to escape heavy strain and ship one within the course of Kyle Pitts, who wasn’t capable of reel it in. and a name on Jake Matthews did nothing to rescue Atlanta. Punt, and it was a Pinion boot and 11 yard return to set the Chiefs up simply previous the 20.

2nd Quarter

Six yards for the Chiefs after which a fast pickup for one more three, organising a third and 1. Sadly, Mahomes then discovered Kelce for a primary down. Steele picked up perhaps three yards on first down, after which a fast cross to Rice resulted in a primary down. Perine then picked up 9 yards on the bottom. Perine then simply obtained a primary down and extra, however a two yard acquire and a near-sack on Mahomes arrange a 3rd and lengthy. One way or the other, Mahomes obtained unfastened and threw a primary down cross to Justin Watson. Perine was hit rapidly by Ta’Quon Graham on the subsequent play, however offsetting penalties created a primary down. Mahomes then missed Steele, after which Rice took a brief cross for about seven yards. The following play was a landing cross to Rice, who obtained unfastened and into the top zone to tie it up, and a shorter than common additional level as a result of in addition they referred to as roughing the passer on Lorenzo Carter. 7-7.

Touchback. A primary down throw to Ray-Ray McCloud was knocked out of his fingers for an incompletion. Tyler Allgeier then took it for 4 yards, after which Cousins took a deep shot to London that went a bit of too far for him to get. A roughing the passer name on Chris Jones saved the drive alive, however Kaleb McGary obtained damage on the play. Bijan picked up a few yards. Cousins then fired one deep and obtained it to Kyle Pitts, who rumbled after the catch to the one yard line for a 50 yard acquire, and a defensive holding name was declined. Bijan then punched it in from a yard out. 14-7, Falcons.

Steele picked up a primary down up the center, after which one other earlier than Mahomes hit a good finish for a 13 yard acquire. A.J. Terrell then obtained Rice after about two yards, after which one other cross to Rice obtained about seven. An ill-advised carry up the center to Perine then misplaced a yard, organising a 4th and a couple of. Harrison Butker got here on and hit the lengthy discipline objective attempt. 14-10, Falcons.

A few yards on first down for Robinson, after which Cousins obtained drilled from behind whereas throwing it into the turf, and the play was dominated a fumble (it seemed like an incomplete) that Robinson appeared to intentionally kick out of bounds. That will have prevented the Chiefs from recovering it, and it resulted in lots of down and a ten yard penalty. Hassle with the snap on the subsequent play was partially negated by a heads-up Bijan carry, however the drive nonetheless ended. Punt.

A fast 5 yard cross to Perine after which an incomplete stopped the clock at 1:18 for the Chiefs, after which Mahomes threw one to Rice that he couldn’t herald and was practically picked by Jessie Bates. Punt, with a stable return from Avery Williams.

A false begin on Storm Norton backed Atlanta up. A fast cross to Drake London obtained eight yards, after which Cousins hung in powerful to throw it up whereas being hit and tossed a duck that was intercepted. Turnover.

A fast cross to Perine went for eight yards. Strain obtained house to Mahomes sufficient to make him scramble and throw it up, the place it fell harmlessly to the turf out of the again of the top zone. Mahomes then threw it out of bounds on the subsequent play. That was a pleasant cease by Atlanta, however Butker drilled the sphere objective. 14-13 Falcons.

The Falcons kneeled it out.

third Quarter

The Chiefs had the ball again, and it was a fast strike to Travis Kelce for eight yards to start out issues off. Rice then caught a brief cross and spun out of contact for a couple of 15 yard pickup. One other cross to Rice picked up one other first down, after which Mahomes discovered Kelce for one more large chunk of yardage. A productive Steele carry obtained one other first, organising a objective line collection for Kansas Metropolis, and the Falcons did cease Steele rapidly on first down. Steele then misplaced a couple of yard because of David Onyemata. Matthew Judon then obtained strain and practically took Mahomes down, forcing an incompletion out of the again of the top zone. However then Judon was damage on the play, and Butker drilled the sphere objective attempt. 16-14, Chiefs.

A stable return by Williams was adopted up by a fast cross to Darnell Mooney from Kirk Cousins, which went for 5 yards. Robinson then picked up three yards on the bottom, and on third down, Cousins tried to flee strain and didn’t get very far. Punt.

A 5 yard acquire after which a 4 yard cross to Rashee Rice obtained the Chiefs on the cusp of a primary down, after which Steele took it for a primary down. Then Mahomes hung in underneath strain to get Rice working towards Mike Hughes for an enormous acquire downfield. Xavier Worthy then caught a fast cross and picked up a few yards. Mahomes then noticed no person open and ran for about 15 yards. Steele then picked up seven yards, after which the Chiefs adopted a primary with a great acquire and an on the spot deal with of Rice on a brief cross by Terrell, with Rice trying sluggish to rise up. Sadly, that was adopted by a landing cross from Mahomes to JuJu Smith-Schuster, however Butker missed the additional level. Chiefs 22, Falcons 14.

On first down, Cousins was capable of get away and join with Mooney for a primary down, the primary one the Falcons had managed shortly. Sadly, on the subsequent play, Robinson went up the center and was hit nearly instantly for a two yard loss. A fast display screen cross to Robinson was way more profitable, although, leading to a 13 yard acquire and a primary down.

4th Quarter

A 3 yard Tyler Allgeier pickup gave solution to Cousins throwing a ball into the filth, maybe as a result of he and London weren’t on the identical web page on the place the receiver was going to be. Cousins then obtained Mooney once more for a primary down, whereas Robinson ran for 3 yards. Then Cousins needed to filth it with strain in his face roughly instantly, after which Cousins as soon as once more was underneath strain and threw it away on third down. Koo was capable of drill the 54 yarder, although, tying a profession lengthy. Chiefs 22, Falcons 17.

Steele picked up six yards after which left the sport trying a bit of injured, and Mahomes hit Perine for perhaps two yards. Then he tried to hit Kelce over the center, and Bates was capable of hit him and knock it unfastened. Punt.

Sadly, the return was a nightmare for Atlanta, as Avery Williams tried to make a transfer and appeared to fumble…however his arm was down and the Falcons retained possession deep in their very own territory. On the subsequent play, Cousins was hit as he threw for an incompletion, however an unlawful fingers to the face penalty on Storm Norton made that worse. Tyler Allgeier then took it for about 10 yards and adopted it up with one other 10 yard carry. Allgeier then picked up perhaps three yards. A fast cross to Kyle Pitts obtained one other first down. Robinson then got here in and rolled for 3 yards, after which Cousins was capable of get the ball out earlier than strain obtained house to London, who made his solution to a primary down. Nick Bolton left the sport for the Chiefs on the subsequent play. Then the Falcons ran it with Ray-Ray McCloud, who obtained good blocking and took it about 20 yards down the sideline, with a missed (and seemingly apparent) facemask the one factor between him and paydirt. A fast cross out to Robinson then went nowhere, after which one other Robinson contact picked up two yards. The Falcons tried to get the Chiefs to leap and so they did on the subsequent play, making a impartial zone infraction that gave the Falcons a extra manageable third down. A handoff to Robinson obtained perhaps a yard, organising a 4th and a couple of. Cousins then hit London over the center for a swift first down. A pitch to Bijan went for a few yards, after which Allgeier picked up one other couple of yards. Cousins then tried to slide one in to tight protection to Pitts, nevertheless it was incomplete and there was no name regardless of heavy contact on Pitts. On fourth down, Cousins tried once more for the top zone to London, nevertheless it was low and fell incomplete. Turnover on downs.

A fast, unproductive run by Steele was adopted by a Mahomes scramble that went for about seven yards. Then Mahomes dirted it on third down and the Chiefs needed to punt.

On first down, Cousins tried for Mooney on the sideline and couldn’t get it after the cross was tipped, however a penalty on the opposite aspect of the sphere made positive the Falcons obtained 10 yards and a recent set of downs. Cousins then ripped it to London for a primary down and about 12 yards, after which appeared to throw it away on a play the place he seen a cross interference name on Trent McDuffie that gave Atlanta 16 yards. On the subsequent play, Cousins missed London a bit, leading to an incompletion. A fast cross to Mooney went nowhere, however a horse collar on the Chiefs gave Atlanta one other first down. One other fast cross out to Mooney went nowhere once more, shedding two yards. Then Cousins discovered London, who fought by means of contact and was capable of get near a primary down. An Allgeier carry got here up simply brief, organising a 4th and inches for Atlanta. That fourth down carry to Robinson was dropped for a loss, ending the sport, with a superlative particular person effort by Nick Bolton guaranteeing Robinson didn’t convert.

The Chiefs then kneeled it out to win the sport.