Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs survived their first test game of the season on Sunday night, defeating the Falcons 22-17.
Mahomes made it his third straight game with an interception to start the season, but Rashee Rice’s 110 receiving yards and a touchdown gave his team a 3-0 start.
The Falcons got the ball back with 2:26 left on the clock, but were unable to create a decisive score in front of their home crowd.
Bijan Robinson was stopped on a 4th-and-inches deep in Kansas City territory with less than a minute left on the clock, allowing Kansas City to serve out the time.
“It was a team effort, that’s how this season has been,” Mahomes said after the game on NBC. “We’ve had moments like this before.”
Rashee Rice stole the show for the Chiefs as he recorded 110 receiving yards and a TD
Kelce was the team’s second-leading receiver but looked frustrated on the sideline
It was another quiet night for Travis Kelce as the tight end had just four catches for 30 yards, which was second-most on the Chiefs.
The performance took place without girlfriend Taylor Swift in the stands, after she attended the Chiefs’ first two games of the season.
The game also saw another controversy involving the officials: safety Bryan Cook was not penalized for pass interference on a crucial 3rd-and-5 in the fourth quarter, despite having his arms around Kyle Pitts and not holding the ball in the air.
The pass was incomplete and Atlanta failed to convert a 4th-and-5 with 4:08 left, rendering their 15-play, 83-yard drive futile.
Two-time reigning champions Chiefs have now won their opening three games by a total of 13 points.
More to come