For the first time in franchise history, the Kansas City Chiefs have won 14 regular-season games following a 17-14 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday afternoon. The win locks up the #1 seed and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs.
The Chiefs’ offense was caught sleeping against the Falcons defense as quarterback Patrick Mahomes completed 22 of 42 throws for 279 yards, two TDs, and an INT.
Despite ranking as one of the worst teams at defending the pass, Atlanta did a terrific job at playing man coverage on Kansas City’s receiving core and took away passing lanes. That made things difficult on Mahomes, which kept him from finding an open man. It also threw him off his rhythm and caused him to overthrow his intended receivers.
But in typical Mahomes fashion, the gunslinger found a way to deliver the game-winning pass that would translate into Kansas City’s 14th win of the 2020 season.
Tight end Travis Kelce continues to insert his name in the NFL history books, surpassing San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle for the most receiving yards in a single season by a tight end. Kelce is having the best season of his career with 105 receptions for 1,416 yards and 12 TDs. Kelce finished with 7 catches for 98 yards and a TD against Atlanta.
On the other sideline, Atlanta QB Matt Ryan threw 27 of 35 for 200 yards and two touchdowns. Ryan and the Falcons’ passing attack sliced through Kansas City’s secondary. Wide receiver Calvin Ridley was a huge target with 5 receptions for 130 yards, and tight end Hayden Hurst was also a major target that finished with five catches for 47 yards and a score.
Late in the second quarter with no score, Kansas City attempted a trick play in order to convert on 4th-down and one yard to go. WR Sammy Watkins took the snap and fired a pass intended for Mahomes, but the pass was picked off by safety Keanu Neal.
Following the interception, from their own two-yard line, Matt Ryan led a nine-play 98-yard drive that was finished with a five-yard pass to Hayden Hurst in the end zone to put Atlanta on the board first.
With the ball back in their possession, the Chiefs offense finally put together a 12-play scoring drive that traveled 78 yards and finished with a 4-yard strike from Patrick Mahomes to Travis Kelce on the goal line to close the first half with the game tied at 7 apiece.
Kansas City got the ball to start the second half. From his own 25-yard line, Patrick Mahomes led a solid offensive drive that went 63 yards in 12 plays, deep into Atlanta territory with goal to go. Mahomes’ first two pass attempts to punch one in to the end zone went incomplete. On third down, Mahomes made a terrible read while trying to throw a strike to Travis Kelce. Linebacker Foyesade Oluokun had the passing lane well-covered and was able to make the easy interception.
On the interception return, Oluokun picked up a few blocks and raced down the field, 51 yards, to the KC 48-yard line.
With the ball back and a short field to work with, Matt Ryan dropped back to pass but was brought down by defensive end Frank Clark for a nine-yard sack.
On the following play, Ryan was sacked again by defensive tackle Chris Jones for a three-yard loss to put the Falcons 22 yards behind the original line of scrimmage. On third down, Ryan completed a seven-yard pass to Hayden Hurst before punting the ball back to Kansas City.
The following drive by Kansas City’s offense began with a 13-yard completion to WR Tyreek Hill. From their own 34-yard line, Mahomes threw three consecutive incomplete passes, and the Chiefs had to punt.
Two drives later, with the game still tied, Mahomes led his offense 33 yards up the field, from his own 37, to get the Chiefs into field goal range with a chance to take the lead for the first time in the game.
From 53-yards out, kicker Harrison Butker powers enough leg into the kick to send the ball sailing through the uprights to give Kansas City a 10-7 lead going into the fourth quarter.
To start the final quarter, Atlanta’s offense traveled 57 yards down the field, in six plays, deep into Chiefs territory at the 20-yard line.
On the seventh play of the drive, Ryan dropped back and completed a short pass to WR Brandon Powell, who was immediately tackled by cornerback L’Jarius Sneed and linebacker Willie Gay. As Powell is going down, Gay forces the ball out of the receiver’s grasp for the fumble, and the ball is recovered by LB Darius Harris at the 18-yard line and returned upfield 15 yards to the 33.
After the Chiefs offense went a quick three plays and out, Atlanta got the ball back with 8 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
From their own 25-yard line, Matt Ryan led an eight-play, 85-yard drive that included a 31-yard completion from Ryan to Ridley and a 17-yard pass to running back Brian Hill, which was capped off by a 5-yard pass to WR Lequon Treadwell in the end zone to put Atlanta back in front with 4:33 remaining.
Down 14-10, Mahomes led his offense 85 yards in nine plays and found WR Demarcus Robinson in the end zone for the touchdown to put Kansas City ahead 17-14.
With time running out, the Falcons got the ball back and hurried down the field to try and force overtime. In nine plays, they reached the KC 25 and set up kicker Younghoe Koo to kick a 39-yard field goal in order to tie the game back up.
However, Koo shanked the kick wide right, dashing Atlanta’s hopes of knocking off the Champs, as Kansas City walks away with their fourteenth win of the season and home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs following the 17-14 victory.
