1 of 5 | Quarterback Patrick Mahomes of the Kansas City Chiefs drops back during a game against the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday at Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta. Photo by Mike Zarrilli/UPI |
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Sept. 23 (UPI) -- Linebacker Nick Bolton shot through a gap and stopped Bijan Robinson in the backfield on fourth down, halting an Atlanta Falcons drive in the red zone and sealing a comeback victory for the 3-0 Kansas City Chiefs.
Bolton's key stop came with just 51 seconds remaining in the 22-17 win Sunday in Atlanta. The fourth-year defender totaled eight tackles, including three for a loss. The Chiefs trailed 14-7 midway through the second quarter, but reeled off 15-consecutive points to snatch momentum from the Falcons' talons.
"Coach had a great call," Bolton told reporters. "He put the big defensive linemen in there. Those guys got vertical and I just shot my gun."
The Chiefs, who didn't hold a lead until the second half, out-gained the Falcons 345-311 in total yards, including 128-82 in rushing. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 26 of 39 passes for 217 yards, two scores and an interception. Wide receiver Rashee Rice caught a career-high 12 passes for 110 yards and a score.
"We haven't played good, really in all three games," Mahomes said of the Chiefs. "We've been able to win. That speaks to the character of the team, the grit and how we've been in these situations before."
The Chiefs held Robinson to just 31 yards on 16 carries (1.9 yards per attempt). Quarterback Kirk Cousins completed 20 of 29 passes for 230 yards, a touchdown and an interception for the Falcons.
"Disappointing night," Cousins said. "You feel like you snatched defeat from the jaws of victory, was kind of how it felt."
Cousins connected with wide receiver Drake London for a 14-yard score on the first drive of the game, giving the Falcons the initial advantage. The Chiefs tied the game when Mahomes threw a 13-yard touchdown toss to Rice 3:15 into the second quarter.
Robinson proceeded to end the next drive with a 1-yard touchdown run. Kicker Harrison Butker ended the Chiefs' next two drives with field goals to make the score 14-13 at halftime.
Butker then hit a 21-yard attempt on the first drive of the second half to give the Chiefs their first advantage. Mahomes extended the Chiefs surge with a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster later in the third quarter for a 22-14 Chiefs edge.
Falcons kicker Younghoe Koo made a 54-yard field goal 2:09 into the fourth quarter for the final points of the game. The Falcons then forced a Chiefs punt, but their offense failed to convert on a fourth-down opportunity with 4:04 remaining. The Chiefs then punted once again, giving the Falcons a final opportunity to rally.
Cousins marched the offense to the 16-yard line. He then handed off to Robinson on a 4th-and-1 play, but Bolton ripped through the offensive line and met Robinson in the backfield to secure the victory.
"I was proud of our defense and how they stepped up in the third and fourth quarter and second half," Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. "They really did a nice job."
The Chiefs (3-0) will take on the Los Angeles Chargers at 4:25 p.m. EDT Sunday in Inglewood, Calif. The Falcons (1-2) will host the New Orleans Saints (2-1) at 1 p.m. Sunday at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
