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What happened in Falcons' Week 3 home loss to Chiefs

Here is a quarter-by-quarter breakdown that’s easy to consume and recaps all the action from Sunday's Falcons-Chiefs game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

ATLANTA — The Atlanta Falcons could not repeat a comeback victory in prime time, losing Sunday to the Kansas City Chiefs, 22-17, inside Mercedes-Benz Stadium.

Every game recap this 2024 season will be broken down by quarter for right-at-the-buzzer consumption. To get things going, Atlanta lost the coin toss (2-1 in that regard) and received the opening kickoff from Kansas City.

Game Breakdown Loss

FIRST QUARTER

Quarterback Kirk Cousins popped off in the Falcons' opening drive, completing all five of his pass attempts, including a 14-yard touchdown to wide receiver Drake London. The scoring drive consisted of seven plays for 70 yards. It could not have gone much better.

Cousins completed back-to-back passes to wide receiver Darnell Mooney, first a 9-yarder, then a 25-yarder. Running back Bijan Robinson entered the mix after that, though he lost a yard on a run play. So, the Falcons returned to passing. Cousins connected a 15-yarder to wide receiver Ray-Ray McCloud III before handing the ball back off to Robinson, who took it 5 yards into the red zone. McCloud caught a 2-yarder, putting the Falcons at the 14-yard line.

There was a clear balance between the pass and run game, which carried the Falcons consistently downfield.

NOTE: That marked the Falcons' first first-quarter touchdown of the 2024 season.

The Chiefs were then able to move the ball, compiling 17 plays for 75 net yards. They got all the way to the Falcons' 14-yard line. When Kansas City quarterback Patrick Mahomes threw a pass to tight end Noah Gray in the end zone, it did not land in his outstretched hands. Atlanta safety Justin Simmons swooped in to intercept it, cutting off Gray's route and making a diving catch to secure the pick. Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell was actually covering Gray, so Simmons was a surprise.

NOTE: That marked Simmons' first interception as a Falcon and the 31st of his career. It was also the sixth time Simmons has intercepted Mahomes, specifically.

The Falcons were unable to capitalize on Simmons' turnover, ultimately punting after five plays for 13 yards.

SCORING DRIVES

Falcons: Kirk Cousins 14-yard pass to Drake London; PAT good … 7-0, ATL

END Q1: Falcons 7, Chiefs 0

SECOND QUARTER

Kansas City scored a touchdown to tie things up on their first drive of the second quarter, mirroring the Falcons' first-quarter opening drive.

It took the Chiefs longer than it did the Falcons, and after their scoring drive, they were leading in time of possession: 14:36 to 6:39. That was mainly thanks to Kansas City's ability to keep drives alive via third-down conversions. The Chiefs had converted four of their five opportunities at this point, whereas the Falcons converted one of their two attempts.

Anywho, Kansas City obtained its touchdown via a 13-yard pass from Mahomes to wide receiver Rashee Rice. Falcons cornerback Dee Alford was trailing Rice when he caught the ball.

Atlanta answered on its following drive, again doing so rather quickly. The Falcons used just five plays for 70 net yards to score their second touchdown. The bulk of those 70 yards came courtesy of Kyle Pitts, who caught a 50-yard pass and dragged Chiefs safety Justin Reid to the 1-yard line. On the next play, Robinson broke through into the end zone on a 1-yard run. INJURY (7:56): During that drive, Falcons right tackle Kaleb McGary was helped off the field by trainers. Storm Norton took his place.

The Falcons' defense then held the Chiefs to their shortest drive at that point — seven plays for 34 yards. Kicker Harrison Butker made a 53-yard goal after Kansas City failed to convert on a third-and-2 at Atlanta's 35-yard line. Chiefs running back Samaje Perine was stuffed at the line of scrimmage by Falcons defensive tackles Grady Jarrett and David Onyemata.

Atlanta couldn't extend its lead from there, becoming the first team to go three-and-out in the game. It could have been worse, though, considering Cousins fumbled after getting hit on a second-and-8. Fortunately for the Falcons, Robinson was able to kick the ball out of bounds before anyone from the Chiefs could pounce. It cost the Falcons a 10-yard penalty but prevented a turnover.

INJURY (2:43): During the Falcons' drive, center Drew Dalman hopped off the field, putting no weight on his left leg. Ryan Neuzil took his place. … The Falcons announced it was an ankle injury for Dalman, and he was deemed questionable to return.

That gave Kansas City the ball with 1:37 left until halftime.

The Chiefs, too, went three-and-out. Mahomes' third-down pass to Rice fell incomplete and was nearly intercepted by Falcons safety Jessie Bates III.

That defensive stand by the Falcons was clutch. It prevented the Chiefs from taking a last-minute lead before heading into the locker room.

The positive momentum was short-lived, however. . A Cousins pass intended for London was tipped by Chiefs defensive tackle Tershawn Wharton, caught by safety Chamarri Conner and subsequently handed off to cornerback Jaylen Watson, who returned the ball to the Falcons' 34-yard line with 32 seconds remaining.

The Chiefs were unable to pick up more than 8 yards, but that got them close enough for Butker to make a 44-yard field goal.

The Falcons went into the locker room with just a 1-point lead.

SCORING DRIVES

Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes 13-yard pass to Rashee Rice; PAT good … 7-7, ALL
Falcons: Bijan Robinson 1-yard run; PAT good … 14-7, ATL
Chiefs: Harrison Butker 53-yard field goal … 14-10, ATL
Chiefs: Harrison Butker 44-yard field goal … 14-13, ATL

HALFTIME: Falcons 14, Chiefs 13

THIRD QUARTER

INJURY: McGary (knee) and Dalman (ankle) were downgraded to OUT, the Falcons announced before the second half began.

The Chiefs stole the lead from the Falcons for the first time on their first drive. Atlanta's defense prevented a touchdown, stopping Kansas City in the red zone, but it did allow another field goal. Butker was good from 21 yards out, pushing the Chiefs to a two-point lead.

The Falcons' response? Going three-and-out for the second time. Cousins' had a 5-yard pass to Mooney. Robinson had a 3-yard run. And then Cousins was sacked for a loss of 1 yard. A punt gave the ball back to the Chiefs, who marched again into the Falcons' red zone.

Kansas City didn't let this opportunity fall flat. Mahomes completed a 13-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, extending their lead to eight points. The extra point was missed.

The Falcons didn't have enough time to answer in this quarter. Their following offensive drive continued into the fourth and final.

SCORING PLAYS

Chiefs: Harrison Butker 21-yard field goal … 16-14, KAN
Chiefs: Patrick Mahomes 13-yard pass to JuJu Smith-Schuster; PAT no good … 22-14, ATL

END Q3: Chiefs 22, Falcons 14

FOURTH QUARTER

The Falcons continued their drive to the Chiefs' 36-yard line, where they stalled out after an incomplete third-down pass. Atlanta kicker Younghoe Koo was called upon for a 54-yard field goal, which he made. The Falcons came within one score of the Chiefs then, down by five points.

Atlanta's defense stepped up to the plate then, forcing Kansas City to go three-and-out.

Cousins and Co. cobbled together a rather lengthy drive after that, going for 83 net yards on 15 plays. Issue was, when the Falcons went for it on fourth-and-5 at the Chiefs' 6-yard line, an incomplete pass turned the ball over on downs. The score remained 22-17.

Once again, though, Atlanta's defense came through when needed, forcing Kansas City to go three-and-out for the second-straight drive.

With a little more than two minutes remaining, the Falcons really needed their offense to recapture the late-game magic it had during their Week 2 win against the Philadelphia Eagles. The unit began the drive at its own 35-yard line. It was the Falcons' last chance to pull off a comeback victory.

They were unable to do so.

Atlanta got to the Kansas City 13-yard line but could not convert a fourth-and-1. Robinson was tackled for a loss of 3 yards. The Chiefs took over, draining the 51 seconds left on the clock with no errors.

SCORING PLAYS

Falcons: Younghoe Koo 54-yard field goal ... 22-17, KAN

FINAL: Chiefs 22, Falcons 17

Get an inside look at the matchup between the Atlanta Falcons and the Kansas City Chiefs at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during Week 3, presented by Grady.

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