Chiefs vs. Falcons game recap: Everything we know

A totally unexpected nail-biter against the Atlanta Falcons this week was a roller coaster ride for Kansas City. The win cemented them among the handful of teams to have ever had one loss in Week 16 with a 14-1 record. Nobody expected this game to be as close as it was, but for all the ups and downs, it was entertaining down to the last play.

The win today clinched Kansas City the first seed in the AFC playoffs and has the Chiefs in position to make a play on another Super Bowl ring. A historic season in every regard, the team is special and despite playing down to its competition this week, they’re still the cream of the crop in the league this year.

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Far more competitive than most thought it would be, this matchup was the definition of a “trap game” for Kansas City. With low offensive production and stout defense keeping it interesting, it was an uncharacteristic game for the Chiefs, especially against a team with 10 losses.

This was a low-scoring grudge match that effectively served as Atlanta’s Super Bowl. They showed good fight all day and kept Chiefs fans on the edge of their seats until the final drive. A couple of lucky breaks could’ve made this the season’s best upset.

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With the game in the balance late, Kansas City managed to put the dagger in and take the lead late in the fourth quarter. Down four and in Atlanta territory, Patrick Mahomes found Demarcus Robinson for the 25-yard touchdown in the decisive moment of the game. Their ability to get the six points when they needed it most proved crucial in a low scoring game that truly could’ve gone either way.

Bend don’t break defense

Despite losing the time of possession battle, this game felt firmly in the Chiefs’ hands for most of the game. Giving up just 14 points in the victory, the defense helped negate that possession discrepancy by only allowing Atlanta into field goal range four times and only allowed two scores. With points at a premium all day, this bend-don’t-break approach kept Kansas City in the drivers’ seat despite the close outcome.

Special Teams perfection

Harrison Butker seemed to have lost his mojo in the midseason, but in a game that the Chiefs needed to clinch the No. 1 seed, the kicking duo of he and Tommy Townsend was one of the bright spots in a close game. Butker was perfect on all his field goal attempts, Townsend kept the Falcons pinned back, and between both of them, the special teams unit was the most consistent of the game for either team.

AP Photo/Jeff Roberson

This one came down to the two-minute warning, and a bad challenge by Falcons head coach Raheem Morris was the decision that cost Atlanta the game. A would-be interception in the end zone was dropped by defensive back A.J. Terrell on a bang-bang play that Morris thought was closer than it ended up being. On the next play, Patrick Mahomes found Demarcus Robinson on a seam route for a touchdown with 1:55 left in the fourth quarter after the challenge failed to trigger the two-minute warning, making Matt Ryan’s job near impossible on the last drive.

Despite all odds, Ryan marched the Falcons offense downfield setting up a chip shot field goal attempt to send the game to overtime. With about 20 seconds remaining, Pro Bowl kicker Younghoe Koo shanked the attempt to seal Atlanta’s fate and deliver the Chiefs a clinch of the first-round bye.

AP Photo/Charlie Riedel

Willie Gay Jr.

Possibly the fans’ favorite rookie on the Chiefs’ roster, Willie Gay finally had the breakout game everyone saw coming. The leading tackler and instigator of a fumble play that swung momentum in the middle quarters, Gay was all over the field. He proved he could be a centerpiece of Kansas City’s defense during a game where they needed some big defensive performances.

Tommy Townsend

Few games this year have come down to the Chiefs’ ability to play for field position, but Townsend came through when the team needed him most. With a whole 75-percent of his punts landing inside the 20 yard line, including a couple that were inside the ten, his contribution in keeping Atlanta deep in their own territory was crucial in sealing the win. Fans desperately wanted a worthy replacement for Dustin Colquitt, and it seems they’ve got their man.

Travis Kelce

A season worthy of Offensive Player of the Year honors has yielded several records for Kelce, who many consider being the best player to ever play the tight end position. He led the Chiefs in receiving this week and became the first tight end to amass 1,200 yards in consecutive seasons as well as the first to eclipse 1,400 yards in a single season. The early touchdown he caught to get the scoring started kept Kansas City on pace for the win, and without his expert play, they would’ve been incapable of the win.

AP Photo/Kyusung Gong

The last trick will be turned next week against the Chargers in Kansas City to conclude the regular season. Today’s win clinched the first-round bye in the AFC regardless of the outcome against Los Angeles, so there is a good chance the Chiefs’ starters will sit. The team will look to lick its wounds before the playoff push. The Chargers will likely be a tough opponent with their promising rookie quarterback Justin Herbert playing to cement his spot in the rookie of the year competition.