Kansas City Chiefs edge out Atlanta Falcons to improve to 3-0.

The Kansas City Chiefs are now one of four undefeated teams in the NFL after a 22-17 victory over the Atlanta Falcons on Sunday night, but the mood in their locker room was anything but celebratory.

Patrick Mahomes, in particular, sounded more like a player reflecting on a loss.

"I feel like I haven't played very well, and it’s not just about the stats," Mahomes said, despite throwing two touchdown passes and an interception in the end zone. "I’m missing opportunities and not placing the ball where I want it. I know I need to improve to help the offense."

The Chiefs held on to their lead in the fourth quarter thanks to two key defensive stops inside their own 15-yard line, with the Falcons turning the ball over on downs both times.

Coach Andy Reid struck a slightly more optimistic tone, but he highlighted a concern: the offense put the team in a tough spot by going three-and-out during one crucial drive between the defensive stops.

After the Falcons opened the game with a touchdown, the Chiefs responded with a methodical 17-play drive that seemed poised to result in points. However, the drive ended in disappointment when Mahomes threw an interception in the end zone to safety Justin Simmons, a former Bronco who now has six career picks against him—more than any other player.

"Those are the mistakes you can’t afford to make in the red zone, and it feels like I always throw to Simmons when we play," Mahomes admitted.

While the Chiefs aimed to create more big plays this season, their offense struggled, with the longest completion being a 27-yard pass to Rashee Rice in the third quarter. Mahomes attempted 39 passes but managed only 217 yards.

"It’s about me getting back to my fundamentals and putting our guys in the right positions," he said. "We need to execute better offensively. If teams force us to drive the field, we have to prove we can do it, and I expect we’ll see a lot of that next week against the Chargers."

LAS VEGAS -- Carolina Panthers quarterback Andy Dalton exuded confidence and ease as he took a moment during pregame warmups to snap a photo with his wife and friends on the sidelines at Allegiant Stadium.

That relaxed demeanor was exactly what first-year coach Dave Canales sought when he decided to bench Bryce Young in favor of the 36-year-old veteran. Dalton responded impressively, throwing three touchdown passes in the first half of the Panthers' 36-22 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders.

Canales believed this calm presence was essential for a team reeling from an 0-2 start marked by a combined 60-point deficit. He felt the squad was closer to establishing its identity than the losses suggested.

"I got to just be myself and play like I normally do," Dalton said after completing 26 of 37 passes for 319 yards and three touchdowns. "I tend to stay calm and relaxed."

"The guys were having fun," he continued. "I just wanted to ensure everyone enjoyed the moment because we put in so much hard work. It’s great to finally enjoy the fruits of that labor."

Nothing had gone right for the Panthers in their first two games, suffering a 47-10 loss to New Orleans and a 26-3 defeat to the Los Angeles Chargers. These results followed a dismal 2-15 season, and rookie quarterback Bryce Young, the top pick of the 2023 draft, struggled with historically poor numbers.

Benching Young, a player team owner David Tepper had once hailed as a future Super Bowl winner, made for what head coach Dave Canales described as a "really heavy week." However, the team's complete victory was rewarding, even if Canales maintained a subdued demeanor during his postgame press conference after securing his first win as an NFL head coach.

"I'm smiling inside," Canales said. "I'm absolutely beat. This has been an amazing week, but it’s been heavy with so many factors as we continue to push to establish our culture."

Canales emphasizes complementary football and avoids singling out individual players for praise, but it was Dalton who set the tone for the Panthers. He led the team to a touchdown on their opening drive, ending a 20-game streak of failure to do so, the longest active drought in the NFL.

Dalton's three first-half touchdowns were the most by a Carolina quarterback since Cam Newton in December 2015 during his MVP season. This marked the first time since Week 16 of 2022 that the Panthers held a lead of seven or more points in the first half, snapping a streak of seven games without any lead—a low point for the franchise.

"It was a vet presence," said wide receiver Diontae Johnson, who was acquired in the offseason to help Young improve. "Just having a quarterback back there to get us in position to score and execute plays made all the difference."

Johnson finished with a career-high 122 yards and a touchdown on eight catches, a stark contrast to his combined five catches for 34 yards in the first two games. The running game also thrived under Dalton, with Chuba Hubbard rushing for 114 yards on 21 carries and catching five passes for 55 yards, including a touchdown.

This marked the first game since Week 8 of 2022 where the Panthers had a 300-yard passer, a 100-yard rusher, and a 100-yard receiver. "That’s Panthers football, team football right there," Canales said, emphasizing the need for the team to find its identity.

For Dalton, the performance reaffirmed that he still has the ability to win games late in his career. For Young, it underscored the need for time to develop, a common challenge for rookie quarterbacks.

While Dalton and the Panthers celebrated, Young observed quietly from the sideline. His first action postgame was to hug Raiders quarterback Gardner Minshew.

"It was a heavy week, and hard on a lot of people," Dalton noted. "Bryce and I have had conversations throughout this whole thing. Those are just between us."

What began as a challenging week turned into a triumphant Sunday, with the team holding a fourth-quarter lead for the first time in 20 games, dating back to Week 18 of 2022. Dalton beamed with joy, trying to lift Canales's spirits as well.

Even wide receiver Adam Thielen, who suffered a hamstring injury during a touchdown catch, managed to smile. Dalton, set to face his former team, the Cincinnati Bengals, next week, played a pivotal role in the victory.

"Andy did a great job of communicating and leading us," Thielen said. "His message was clear—we had to start fast—and he definitely set that tone."