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

Sure, it takes a lot to win football matches, but Bolton had the best of the best during their prime-time victory on Football on Sunday eveningincluding the game-winning play on 4th-and-inches to get the ball back to KC so Patrick Mahomes could finish the game on his knees.

The Chiefs had us all on the edge of our seats once again as the game neared its end, but Bolton were great in that moment. At the start of the half, Bolton had actually left the game and was being checked on the sidelines after suffering what appeared to be a right hip/lower back injury.

That didn’t stop Bolton from coming back into the game and capping it off with a stoppage of Bijan Robinson on the Falcons’ final play. Had Robinson made that counterattack, the Falcons could have scored a touchdown, and then Mahomes and the offense would have been under pressure to break down the field and at least score a field goal.

Bolton was showered with flowers on social media following the win. Former Chiefs offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz noted that he had spoken negatively about the second-round pick this season, but said he was taking back those comments after this performance.

Matt Derrick pointed out that Robinson only had 31 rushing yards and that Bolton was to blame. “That’s how you stall the engine” is a perfect way to put it.

Bolton is in the fourth and final year of his rookie contract, and up until this point, fans may have been clamoring for the team to try to keep Trey Smith and keep the offensive line intact. Well, Bolton showed with his performance in this game that he deserves a long-term contract.

If the Chiefs decide not to re-sign Bolton, then he will have outlined to the other 31 teams in the league what he can do for them if they sign him. But let’s not focus on that right now. Let’s just enjoy the win.