The Kansas City Chiefs, the reigning Super Bowl champions, ended Week 3 of the NFL season with pressing questions despite securing a narrow victory. Concerns linger about the durability of their backfield and how they allowed the inconsistent Atlanta Falcons to remain competitive until the last moments of the game. The future involvement of star tight end Travis Kelce in the offense is also a topic of discussion.
However, the Chiefs managed to clinch a 22-17 win in Atlanta, with significant contributions from quarterback Patrick Mahomes. He completed 26 of 39 passes for 217 yards, throwing two touchdowns and one interception. Mahomes orchestrated two impressive 11-play scoring drives in the third quarter, helping the Chiefs rally for the win.
Kansas City is now one of five undefeated teams in the league, standing alongside fellow 3-0 teams Seattle, Minnesota, and Pittsburgh, as well as the 2-0 Buffalo Bills, who are set to face the Jaguars on Monday.
On the other side, Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins had a mixed performance, completing 20 of 29 passes for 230 yards, with one touchdown and one interception early in the game. He struggled under pressure from the Chiefs’ defensive line, exacerbated by injuries to the Falcons’ center and right tackle that forced backups into play. As a result, Cousins struggled to regain stability and missed key opportunities in the fourth quarter to put his team ahead.