Falcons head coach Raheem Morris declined to comment after the game, saying he likes his money.

This play may have been the reason for Atlanta's victory, as the Falcons would have advanced to the one-yard line with a flag. Instead, the ball went back to Kansas City, which scored a three-pointer. From that point on, Atlanta could have put the game away.

Last time out, Kansas City benefited from a pass interference call on a 4th-and-16 against the Cincinnati Bengals, which helped the team score a last-second field goal win.

Young receivers shine under the lights

The QB play between Mahomes and Cousins ​​wasn't always optimal, but both stars received important help from their young wideouts.

For Kansas City, second-year player Rashee Rice was the option. Rice had 12 catches for 110 yards and a touchdown, his second 100-yard game of the season. Travis Kelce continued to fly under the radar with just four catches for 30 yards.

Atlanta received solid production from Drake London as the third-year wideout continued to thrive. London recorded six catches for 67 yards and a touchdown, continuing his good performance in Philadelphia. Darnell Mooney also came up big with eight catches for 66 yards, but Atlanta will be disappointed with Bijan Robinson and Tyler Allgeier struggling on the ground. Robinson, in particular, averaged just 1.9 yards per carry en route to 31 rushing yards.

Carson Steele steps in as RB1

With Isiah Pacheco sidelined for a while due to injury, the Chiefs turned to two faces to handle the running load. Those two were senior Samaje Perine and freshman fullback Carson Steele.

Perine recorded six carries for 25 yards and three catches for 15 yards, but Steele provided the better impact. The undrafted free agent rushed for 72 yards on 17 carries, for a 4.2 average and a long of nine. It may not have been a headline-grabbing breakout game, but he may have gained the trust of Andy Reid and Co. to score more transfers in the future.

Rookie wideout Xavier Worthy recorded three carries for 13 yards.

The Falcons are entering the decisive phase

With the Falcons now 1-2, their next three games could prove crucial down the line. With the Pittsburgh Steelers, Eagles and Chiefs out of the way, three division games are next. The first is Derek Carr and the New Orleans Saints at home, as Carr came back down to earth after a hot first two games in Week 3 against Philly.

Then Atlanta is back at home against Baker Mayfield and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, who also got off to a solid start. The three-game stretch ends with the Carolina Panthers, who are a slightly different team for now and have Andy Dalton under center in place of Bryce Young.

If Atlanta wants to compete seriously this season, it should be 3-0 and making some noise as its next four games come against the Seattle Seahawks, in Tampa Bay, home of the Dallas Cowboys, and in New Orleans.

How long will Kansas City stay undefeated?

Last season, a vulnerable Chiefs team lost more than a handful of regular-season games. This year they have already faced three strong teams, the Baltimore Ravens, Bengals and Falcons, and came out unscathed despite being weak in the last two games.

How long can the Chiefs stay error-free? They next face the Los Angeles Chargers, who are uncertain due to Justin Herbert's injury. Then there is a home game against Carr and the Saints, which on paper should be a win.

The next game is a Super Bowl rematch on the road against the San Francisco 49ers, but Kyle Shanahan's team is dealing with several serious injuries that may take some of the excitement out of the atmosphere. Then it's off to the Las Vegas Raiders and home to the Buccaneers and Denver Broncos before a Week 8 clash with the Buffalo Bills.

If Kansas City can stay healthy, a 7-0 start before moving into Josh Allen territory is certainly possible.

Patrick Mahomes is making his 99th career start in Week 3 of the 2024 NFL season and is poised to break several NFL records on his own.