The Raiders might not have even had a chance if it weren’t for O’Connell, who completed five of seven passes for 55 yards during a seamless two-minute drill that began at their own 8-yard line. And while the potential field goal attempt from the Chiefs’ 32-yard line wasn’t a sure thing, O’Connell’s faux pas was the lasting stain.

“There was a lot going on last game,” head coach Antonio Pierce said. “From the referee to the flag to snapping the ball. I was allowed to watch the film.”

The flag on the play was for an illegal trade to the Raiders, which was rejected. Patrick Mahomes put the Chiefs in the winning formation on the last play of the game and secured a 19:17 victory. This made it the first team to secure a spot in the 2024 playoffs.

The Raiders, meanwhile, became the first AFC team to be eliminated from the playoffs after Friday’s loss, but they were certainly ready to play against their longtime rivals.

O’Connell was instrumental in the Black Friday scare in Kansas City. Playing in his first game back from a broken thumb he suffered in Week 7, the Raiders’ second-year quarterback roused a stagnant offense with several splash plays through the air late in the third quarter. A 33-yard touchdown to Brock Bowers and a 58-yard TD strike to Tre Tucker gave the Raiders a 1-point lead early in the fourth quarter.

Mahomes and Co. had their own problems, thanks to a Raiders defense that consistently pursued the Chiefs’ star QB and was resilient in the red zone. After Kansas City converted an FG chip shot to take the lead in the final frame, Las Vegas attempted a 58-yarder with just over two minutes to play, but Daniel Carlson’s kicking foot hit the turf on the go-ahead attempt and made it Ball out well short. Carlson also missed a 55-yarder in the third quarter.

The Raiders persevered and got the ball back, thanks to the help of a hopeless Chiefs offense who tried to secure the victory with a first down. O’Connell almost made them pay, but dropped the ball on his final snap.

“Proud of them – just proud of my team, proud of our team, proud to fight,” Pierce said. “We came up short again. This is the world title. This is the second time we have played very hard against them this season. We had chances there to win it and put ourselves in a position to win it. The balance sheet is what it is, but.” This is a team that is proud and plays for each other. There is no end.

“…I don’t know what you keep saying after defeats, do you? We just have to keep fighting. They’ll have some time off and we’ll regroup, but one thing I won’t take away from them is the effort, the pride and the way they compete.”

The Raiders will get a few extra days to regroup before facing the Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-6) in Week 14.