NW Atlanta News

The Atlanta Falcons faced a narrow defeat against the Kansas City Chiefs, losing 22-17 in a Week 3 "Sunday Night Football" game at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. The match drew a crowd of 72,441 fans.

Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice had an impressive performance, gaining 75 of his 110 yards after the catch. According to Next Gen Stats, Rice leads all NFL players this season with 200 yards after the catch. Meanwhile, the Falcons rank 31st in time of possession, averaging just over 24 minutes per game.

Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts recorded a notable play with a 50-yard reception in the second quarter, marking the second-longest reception of his career. Kicker Younghoe Koo also tied his career-long field goal with a successful 54-yard attempt in the fourth quarter.

In terms of third-down conversions, the Falcons have struggled, converting only two out of nine attempts for three consecutive games. This places them at a lowly 30th in the league.

On defense, Falcons safety Justin Simmons intercepted Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes for the sixth time in his career. No other player has intercepted Mahomes more than twice.

The game saw some standout individual performances from both teams. For the Falcons, Kirk Cousins completed 20 out of 29 passes for 230 yards with one touchdown and one interception. On the ground, Tyler Allgeier led with seven carries for 32 yards. Bijan Robinson added another touchdown despite limited yardage.

From the Chiefs' side, Carson Steele led their rushing attack with 72 yards on 17 carries. Rashee Rice was their top receiver with 12 receptions for 110 yards and a touchdown.

Post-game comments highlighted various perspectives on the match's outcome. Raheem Morris refrained from criticizing officials regarding a non-call on defensive pass interference: "I like my money that Arthur Blank gives me... We had a chance to win the football game on the last play of the game."

Kirk Cousins expressed disappointment: "You snatched defeat from the jaws of victory is kind of how it felt." Defensive tackle Grady Jarrett praised fan support: "That atmosphere was awesome... We've got to protect our home field."

Chiefs head coach Andy Reid commended Raheem Morris and his team: "My hat goes off to Raheem... They played hard, aggressive, good football on both sides of the ball." Defensive end George Karlafatis spoke highly of Falcons running back Bijan Robinson: "He's a great player... They're a great team."

Looking ahead, the Falcons (1-2) will face their first NFC South matchup against the New Orleans Saints (2-1) at home next Sunday at 1 p.m. ET. The Saints are coming off their own Week 3 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles.