Whereas Bolton’s game-winning play was unimaginable, the choice by the Falcons was curious, to say the least. Needing only some inches to realize a brand new set of downs and doubtlessly 4 photographs on the endzone, Atlanta outsmarted itself by calling a lateral run, which went nowhere.
Nonetheless, the Falcons could have misplaced the sport throughout their earlier possession, which additionally ended on downs, this time on the Chiefs’ six-yard line. Trailing by the identical rating, 22-17, with 4:53 left within the fourth quarter, Atlanta handed on a area aim earlier than turning the ball over after failing to transform on fourth-and-5.
That call left the Falcons with no selection however to chase factors on their remaining drive. Hindsight is 20/20, however had Atlanta merely kicked the straightforward area aim across the five-minute mark, it will have solely wanted three factors to win as an alternative of six.
Per week after recording a miraculous late-game win in Week 2 over the Philadelphia Eagles, the Falcons returned to earth, falling to 1-2. Conversely, the Chiefs are using excessive, having pulled off one other victory, which may have simply as simply been a loss.
Kansas Metropolis survived a fourth-quarter comeback in a season-opening 27-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens earlier than rallying late to sneak previous the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2, 26-25. The Chiefs could have had luck on their facet in opposition to the Falcons, however they made performs on either side of the ball when wanted.
Moreover Bolton’s game-winning cease, Kansas Metropolis’s protection was strong total. The unit pressured one turnover, resulting in a area aim earlier than halftime, whereas holding Atlanta to solely three second-half factors.
In the meantime, the Chiefs’ offense did sufficient to win. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 26-of-39 for 217 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, whereas wideout Rashee Rice posted a profession outing, recording 110 yards off 12 receptions (9.2 YPA).
