Miscues and late stops by the Chiefs lead to another Falcons loss

ATLANTA (AP) — On a night when the defending Super Bowl champion Chiefs struggled offensively, the Atlanta Falcons had ample opportunity to hand Kansas City its first loss Sunday.

Injuries to the offensive line hurt at the end as the Falcons failed to convert on fourth-and-1, allowing the Chiefs to escape with a 22-17 win.

The Falcons and quarterback Kirk Cousins had the Chiefs on the ropes with about a minute left. They had third-and-1 on the Kansas City 13, knowing a touchdown would put Atlanta (1-2) ahead.

But they couldn't gain a single yard.

Tyler Allgeier was stuffed for no gain on a third-down run. On fourth down, Cousins handed off to Bijan Robinson, who tried to rush around the left side of the Chiefs' defense but was thrown for a 3-yard loss, sealing a win for the Chiefs (3-0).

“I don't feel good (about the play calling now), they didn't work,” Falcons coach Raheem Morris said. “You run one up the middle with Tyler Allgeier, you don't get it. You get no yards on that play. You get one on fourth down with Bijan, you get no yards on that play. You don't like the calls, you don't like the results, but that was our plan. We were decisive, we called them. We were very aggressive.”

In the first half, Atlanta lost starting center Drew Dalmon to an ankle injury and starting right tackle Kaleb McGary was sidelined with a knee injury. Their absence was noticeable as Cousins was sacked twice and hit 10 more times after delivering the pass.

“We won't make excuses about that,” Morris said. “I got a 69-man roster. I love the guys I got and the guys that went up there and they fought for us against whoever. I'll go out and battle with whoever we got on our football team.”

For the third week in a row, Atlanta was 2 of 9 on third-down conversions.

“We (have to) go out there and get better,” Morris said. “In order to keep (Chiefs quarterback) Patrick Mahomes off the field, you'd like to be able to convert some of those. That'll affect time of possession and some of the plays we run on defense. That can also affect the scoreboard.”

In the end, the scoreboard didn't go Atlanta's way.

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Atlanta Falcons safety Jessie Bates III (3) breaks up a pass intended for Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice (4) during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons head coach Raheem Morris speaks during a news conference after an NFL football game against the Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Atlanta. The Kansas City Chiefs 22-17. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons running back Bijan Robinson (7) runs against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) loses his helmet against the Kansas City Chiefs during the first half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) runs against Kansas City Chiefs cornerback Jaylen Watson (35) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) misses the catch in the end zone against Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons tight end Kyle Pitts (8) misses the catch against Kansas City Chiefs safety Bryan Cook (6) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

Atlanta Falcons wide receiver Drake London (5) loses the ball but recovers against Kansas City Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton (32) during the second half of an NFL football game, Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024, in Atlanta. (AP Photo/Brynn Anderson)

UNIONDALE, N.Y. (AP) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, continuing a multiday U.S. visit, addressed a cultural celebration on Long Island Sunday, where he praised the United States' return of nearly 300 antiquities to India and relayed news of his country's dual win at the Chess Olympiad in Budapest, Hungary, to an enthusiastic crowd.

“I just got some very good news," Modi told an estimated 13,000 people inside Nassau Veterans Coliseum for an event billed as a celebration of cultural ties between India and the United States. “In the Chess Olympiad, in both the men’s and women’s tournament, India has won gold medals,” he said to applause in a speech that was translated into English for an online audience.

Modi was reelected in June following a marathon election in which more than 640 million votes were cast over a span of six weeks in the world’s largest democratic exercise.

“This year, 2024, is a very important one for the entire world,” he said. “On the one hand, there are conflicts raging between several countries in the world, there is tension. And on the other, democracy is being celebrated in several countries of the world. India and America are also together in this celebration of democracy.”

Modi's appearance in New York came a day after he attended a summit hosted by President Joe Biden in Wilmington, Delaware, for leaders of the so-called Quad that also included Prime Minister Anthony Albanese of Australia and Prime Minister Fumio Kishida of Japan.

Also Saturday, Modi accepted the return of 297 antiquities spanning thousands of years that had been stolen or trafficked from India. The U.S. has returned nearly 600 such cultural artifacts to India since 2016, according to India's Ministry of External Affairs.

On Monday, the prime minister is expected to attend a United Nations summit in advance of this week's General Assembly.

Sunday's event was sponsored by the not-for-profit Indo American Community of USA.

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi speaks at an event in Uniondale, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi speaks at an event in Uniondale, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, waves to the crowd after speaking at an event in Uniondale, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, speaks at an event in Uniondale, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, speaks at an event in Uniondale, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, top left, waves to the crowd after speaking at an event in Uniondale, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, speaks at an event in Uniondale, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of India, speaks at an event in Uniondale, N.Y., Sunday, Sept. 22, 2024. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)