The Kansas City Chiefs are 3-0 and the team has linebacker Nick Bolton to thank for their close win over the Atlanta Falcons in Week 3.

Sure, a lot goes into winning football games, but Bolton had clutch play after clutch play during the primetime win on Sunday Night Football, including the game-sealing stuff on 4th-and-inches to get KC the ball back so Patrick Mahomes could kneel out the game.

The Chiefs once again had all of us on the edge of our seats as the game was winding down but Bolton came up big in that moment. Earlier in the half, Bolton had actually left the game and was being checked on the sideline after sustaining what looked to be an injury to his right hip/lower back area.

That didn’t stop Bolton from coming back into the game and putting a bow on the game with the stop of Bijan Robinson on the Falcons’ final play. Had Robinson gotten that conversion, the Falcons very well could have gone on to score a touchdown and then the pressure would have been on Mahomes and the offense to get down the field and at least get a field goal.

Nick Bolton was the hero the Chiefs needed in Week 3

Social media was giving Bolton his flowers following the win. Former Chiefs offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz noted that he’s been negative on the second-round pick this season but said he takes those comments back after this performance.

Matt Derrick pointed out that Robinson only had 31 rushing yards and how Bolton was responsible for that. “That’s how you kill the engine” is a perfect way to phrase that.

Bolton is in the fourth and final year of his rookie deal and up to this point, fans might have been clamoring for the team to try and keep Trey Smith and keep the o-line intact. Well, Bolton stated his case for deserving a long-term deal with his performance in this game.

If the Chiefs opt not to re-sign Bolton, then he made his case to the other 31 teams in the league about what he can do for them if they sign him. Let’s not focus on that right now though. Let’s just enjoy the win.