While Bolton’s game-winning play was incredible, the decision by the Falcons was curious, to say the least. Needing only a few inches to gain a new set of downs and potentially four shots at the endzone, Atlanta outsmarted itself by calling a lateral run, which went nowhere.
However, the Falcons may have lost the game during their previous possession, which also ended on downs, this time at the Chiefs’ six-yard line. Trailing by the same score, 22-17, with 4:53 left in the fourth quarter, Atlanta passed on a field goal before turning the ball over after failing to convert on fourth-and-5.
That decision left the Falcons with no choice but to chase points on their final drive. Hindsight is 20/20, but had Atlanta simply kicked the easy field goal around the five-minute mark, it would have only needed three points to win instead of six.
A 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 riding high, having pulled off another victory, which could have just as easily been a loss.
Kansas City survived a fourth-quarter comeback in a season-opening 27-20 win over the Baltimore Ravens before rallying late to sneak past the Cincinnati Bengals in Week 2, 26-25. The Chiefs may have had luck on their side against the Falcons, but they made plays on both sides of the ball when needed.
Besides Bolton’s game-winning stop, Kansas City’s defense was solid overall. The unit forced one turnover, leading to a field goal before halftime, while holding Atlanta to only three second-half points.
Meanwhile, the Chiefs’ offense did enough to win. Quarterback Patrick Mahomes finished 26-of-39 for 217 yards with two touchdowns and an interception, while wideout Rashee Rice posted a career outing, recording 110 yards off 12 receptions (9.2 YPA).