Josh Downs is making an impact in his Kansas City debut.
While the Chiefs had struggled to get anything going after their opening drive, they finished a two-minute drill with a touchdown on an 18-yard pass from Patrick Mahomes to Downs — his newest receiver after this week’s trade.
Kansas City had elected to settle for a field goal on fourth-and-2 with 28 seconds remaining in the half. But an offside penalty on Atlanta kept the drive going.
That’s when Mahomes moved to his left to fire a seed to Downs on the left side, which the receiver caught for an 18-yard score.
Playing limited snaps, Downs has three receptions for 51 yards.
Making his first start in place of the injured Kenneth Walker, Emmett Johnson has also made an impact with 105 yards from scrimmage in the first half. He has 50 yards on 11 carries and 55 yards on four catches, including a key 34-yard screen late in the second quarter.
Mahomes finished the first half 13-of-20 for 183 yards with two touchdowns.
The Falcons have not done much offensively, with the exception of one scoring drive. The team has just four first downs and went the entire first quarter without registering one. While the Falcons have 117 total yards, 38 of them came on the final play of the first half with the Chiefs playing a prevent defense.
Michael Penix Jr. is 8-of-15 for 85 yards.
Bijan Robinson has 42 yards on seven carries.
Kansas City guard Trey Smith has been ruled out with a concussion. Mike Caliendo has come in to replace him.
The Chiefs will receive the second-half kickoff.