September 22, 2024; Atlanta, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins (18) is tackled by Kansas City Chiefs defensive end Felix during the first half at Mercedes-Benz Stadium ·Anudike Uzoma (97) hit and dropped the ball. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-Imagn Images ATLANTA — Patrick Mahomes completed 26 of 39 passes for 217 yards, two touchdowns and an interception as the Kansas City Chiefs beat the Atlanta Falcons 22-17 on Sunday night.
Carson Steele ran for 72 yards to help the Chiefs (3-0) win their third single game to start the season. Rashee Rice had 12 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.
Kirk Cousins completed 20 of 29 passes for 230 yards and a touchdown for Atlanta (1-2). He was also intercepted once. Drake London caught six passes for a team-high 67 yards and a touchdown.
After trailing 13-14 at halftime, the Chiefs pushed toward the Falcons 1-yard line on the opening possession of the second half, but were forced to accept a 21-yard field goal attempt by Harrison Butker with 9:40 left in the third quarter.
Mahomes then capped an 11-play, 80-yard drive with a 13-yard score to JuJu Smith-Schuster with 1:16 left in the third quarter. Extending Kansas City's lead to 22-14. Butker missed the ensuing extra point attempt.
Younghoe Koo's 54-yard field goal on the next possession cut Atlanta's deficit to 22-17 with 12:52 left.
The Falcons went on a 15-play, 83-yard drive after a Kansas City punt, but after two consecutive incompletions at the Chiefs 6-yard line, they failed to reach the end zone and turned the ball over on downhill.
Atlanta held Kansas City within 13 points on its final drive of the game when Bijan Robinson was stuffed for a loss of 3 yards on fourth-and-1 with 10 seconds left in the game. The ball was given back to the Chiefs at 51 seconds.
Cousins found London for a 14-yard score with 11:07 left in the first quarter, and Kansas City didn't respond until 8:45 left in the second quarter, capping the score on a 13-yard touchdown reception from Rice. Tied at 7.
With 6 minutes and 37 seconds left in the first half, Robinson rushed into the end zone from 1 yard out to help the Falcons lead 14-7.
In the final 2 minutes and 43 seconds of the half, Butker's two field goals of 53 and 44 yards gave the visiting team a 14-13 lead at the break.
—Jack Batten, Field Level Media