The Chiefs fend off the Raiders’ surprise attempt after Las Vegas missed a potentially game-winning field goal opportunity
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The Chiefs fend off the Raiders’ surprise attempt after Las Vegas missed a potentially game-winning field goal opportunity

Posted on by Amelia Pressman

The Kansas City Chiefs are finding strange ways to win this season. Friday was the strangest of all.

The Las Vegas Raiders were in field goal range with less than 20 seconds left and were trying to get closer. Rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson then grabbed quarterback Aidan O’Connell with the shotgun before he was ready and hit him in the chest. The Chiefs fell the ball and after a lengthy discussion between the officials, they concluded that the Chiefs had recovered the fumble. Game over. The Chiefs win 19-17.

Kansas City is doing just enough to get by, and they seem to find a way to win close games against inferior teams every week. Amazingly, that was enough for a score of 11:1. The Chiefs looked unimpressive again on Friday, but as usual, they found a way to win. This time it was about fending off the Las Vegas Raiders, who are now 2-10.

The Chiefs are now the first team this season to clinch a playoff spot, but their problems are legitimate. Their offensive tackles are in big trouble. The offensive skill position talent is good, but doesn’t have much explosive speed aside from Xavier Worthy, who is an unreliable rookie. The defense has been good this season, but not as good as last season.

And despite all that, the Chiefs are 11-1. And as we all learned last season, the Chiefs’ problems when January games matter most just seem to disappear once the postseason begins and they head toward another Super Bowl. But they shouldn’t narrowly beat teams like the Raiders.

At the beginning the game seemed within reach for the Raiders. They repeatedly missed opportunities.

The Raiders were able to move the ball well enough, but couldn’t do enough on the Chiefs’ side of the ball. Daniel Carlson missed two long field goals. The Raiders, one of the worst rushing teams in the NFL for many years, were also slowed down on a fourth-and-1 handoff on the Chiefs’ 31st.

Late in the third quarter, just before O’Connell collected a 15-yard sack that led to Carlson missing another field goal, the Raiders outnumbered the Chiefs. And they were down 13-3.

Finally, the Raiders made a move. Ameer Abdullah had a long kickoff return and then electric rookie tight end Brock Bowers had a great touchdown grab from 33 yards out. The Raiders trailed 16-10.

Once again, the back-to-back champion Chiefs played a closer game than expected against one of the worst teams in the NFL. Then things got serious as the Raiders took the lead in the fourth quarter.

On the first play of the fourth quarter, O’Connell threw deep into the left sideline. Tre Tucker got behind the Chiefs secondary and caught a 58-yard touchdown that gave the Raiders a lead and gave everyone a jolt.

At that moment, eight seconds into the fourth quarter, the Raiders had outplayed the Chiefs. At Arrowhead Stadium. O’Connell returned from injury and played his first game in over a month.

The Chiefs managed to push into Raiders territory, but failed when both tackles were beaten on a third-and-goal play and Kansas City settled for a field goal and a 19-17 lead. Mahomes was visibly upset after that play, and on the next series, guard Joe Thuney replaced Wanya Morris at left tackle. This is a situation the Chiefs need to resolve before the playoffs.

The Raiders had a chance to take the lead late. In the final minutes, they invaded Chiefs territory. But with 2:17 remaining and no viable option on fourth-and-11, Carlson attempted a 58-yard field goal and clearly missed his third miss of the day. Carlson was one of the NFL’s best kickers throughout his career, but the Chiefs caught him on perhaps his worst day as a pro.

And because the Chiefs couldn’t put the game away, the Raiders had another chance. Bowers had a huge 25-yard catch up the middle to get the Raiders close to the field goal, and then Jakobi Meyers and Ameer Abdullah made catches to bring Las Vegas even closer. But the Raiders botched the shotgun snap, the Chiefs fell on it and the game was over.

The play call came late, and when the play clock expired, O’Connell began clapping almost immediately as the huddle dispersed so the snap could occur quickly. The left guard tapped Powers-Johnson, who grabbed him before O’Connell was ready. It bounced off O’Connell and the Chiefs fell on it, ending the game.

The Chiefs haven’t played well for most of the season. But somehow their record is still almost flawless.

The live broadcast has ended37 updates

  • The Chiefs secure the playoff spot

    With the win and improving to an 11-1 record, the Chiefs secured a spot in the playoffs.

  • Final statistics

    Raiders: 434 yards of offense

    Aidan O’Connell 340 yards, 2 touchdowns, 23 of 35 passes

    Brock Bowers 10 catches, 140 yards, 1 touchdown

    Jakobi Meyers 6 catches, 97 yards

    Sincere McCormick 12 carries, 64 yards

    Chiefs: 329 yards of offense

    Patrick Mahomes 306 yards, 1 TD, 26 of 46 passes

    * Mahomes was sacked five times

    DeAndre Hopkins 4 catches, 90 yards

    Travis Kelce 7 catches, 68 yards

    Isiah Pacheco 7 carries, 44 yards

  • FINAL: Chiefs 19, Raiders 17

    The Raiders literally pound the ball away and the Chiefs escape with a 19-17 win. Las Vegas wasn’t in a good position with no timeouts left, but that didn’t necessarily affect the bad snap. However, did Jackson Powers-Johnson speed up his snap because of the clock?

  • Raiders botch snap and turn it over

    Jackson Powers-Johnson grabs the ball before Aidan O’Connell is ready and it bounces off his chest. Nick Bolton recovers the fumble for the Chiefs and that’s the dagger.

    A terrible end for the Raiders.

  • Raiders reach the Chiefs 25 yard line

    Brock Bowers struck again, catching a 25-yard pass from Aidan O’Connell. The Raiders followed with an 11-yard pass to Jakobi Meyers.

  • Robbers force Chiefs to punt

    Patrick Mahomes throws an incomplete ball to Xavier Worthy on 3rd-and-2. The Chiefs decide to punt from the Raiders’ 44-yard line.

    Las Vegas takes over at its 8-yard line with 1:56 left and no timeout.

  • Carlson hits the grass in front of the ball

    Replay showed that Daniel Carlson’s right foot slipped on the turf before striking the ball, which was likely the reason his field goal attempt failed.

  • The Raiders stall at the 40-yard line and miss the field goal

    Justin Reid deflects a pass from Aidan O’Connell on 3rd-and-11. The Raiders then go for a 58-yard attempt from Daniel Carlson, but his kick goes left and is short.

    The Chiefs take over at their 48th with 2:21 left.

  • Brock Bowers receiving over 100 yards

    A four-yard catch by Brock Bowers puts him over the 100-yard mark. He has eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown.

  • 3:3 for Kansas City

    The Raiders defense forces Kansas City to punt and tackle Samaje Perine three yards short of a first down on 3rd-and-8.

    Matt Araiza’s punt goes 55 yards and Ameer Abdullah has a 19-yard return. Las Vegas takes over at the 32-yard line with 5:15 left.

  • The Chiefs’ blitz forces a quick incompletion by Aidan O’Connell

    The Raiders have to punt after Aidan O’Connell has to throw the ball away quickly during a Kansas City blitz up the middle.

    AJ Cole’s 55-yard punt pushes the Chiefs back to their 17-yard line with 6:46 left in the fourth quarter.

  • Mahomes is sacked and the Chiefs have to settle for the field goal

    Wanya Morris lets K’Lavon Chaisson blow past her and sacks Patrick Mahomes for a nine-yard loss on 3rd-and-goal from the 5-yard line.

    The Chiefs have to settle for a field goal, but that gives them the lead 19-17 with 9:35 left in the fourth quarter.

  • Chiefs on the move

    A pass interference on the Raiders’ Decamerion Richardson gave the Chiefs a 26-yard lead to the Las Vegas 30-yard line.

    Patrick Mahomes follows with a 15-yard pass to DeAndre Hopkins and Kansas City is on the move.

  • TOUCHDOWN: Raiders 17, Chiefs 16

    Just like that, the Raiders are on top. After the Chiefs go three-and-out, Las Vegas turns around and scores a TD in two plays.

    Aidan O’Connell connects with Tre Tucker running down the left sideline for a 58-yard score that ties the game. The extra point gives the Raiders a one-point lead.

  • TOUCHDOWN: Chiefs 16, Raiders 10

    The Raiders finally break through with a touchdown. Aidan O’Connell hits Brock Bowers for a 33-yard score, and Las Vegas is within six yards after the extra point.

    That followed a 35-yard field goal by the Chiefs on the previous possession.

  • Mahomes to Hopkins for 31 yards

    Kansas City might be willing to make the Raiders pay for not scoring points. Patrick Mahomes connects with DeAndre Hopkins for a 31-yard gain to the Las Vegas 24-yard line.

  • Raiders threaten but don’t score

    A promising drive for the Raiders ends with Daniel Carlson firing a 55-yard field goal attempt wide of the left net. Las Vegas has no points to show for this bet.

  • Brock Bowers continues his great season

    Aidan O’Connell hits rookie tight end Brock Bowers for a 29-yard gain and the Raiders head toward the red zone.

  • Field Goal: Chiefs 13, Raiders 3

    The Chiefs can’t end their drive with a touchdown and settle for a field goal. But Matthew Wright’s 42-yard attempt is good and Kansas City has a 10-point lead.

  • Here comes Isiah Pacheco

    Kansas City quickly makes the Raiders regret that fourth-down decision. Isiah Pacheco ripped a 34-yard run up the middle to the Las Vegas 14-yard line.

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