Chiefs escape NFL Black Friday game with win over Raiders: Live ...
The Chiefs pulled off yet another dramatic win by the skin of their teeth, beating the Raiders 19-17 on Black Friday.
Las Vegas had the ball at the Kansas City 32-yard line with 14 seconds left, well within field goal range, but a mistimed snap by rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson was recovered by Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton to secure the Kansas City win and break the Raiders' hearts.
Las Vegas actually outgained Kansas City by over 100 yards in this game, 434-329. Brock Bowers was the standout performer, reeling in 10 catches for 140 yards and a touchdown. Tre Tucker also caught a 58-yard TD pass from Aidan O'Connell.
Patrick Mahomes threw for 306 yards and a TD as the Chiefs improved to 11-1, keeping themselves in the driver's seat for the top seed in the AFC. The Raiders lost their eighth straight game to fall to 2-10. They remain firmly in the hunt for the No. 1 overall draft pick, along with the Giants and the Jaguars.
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Chiefs survive at Arrowhead on Black Friday after critical Raiders botched snap: Takeaways
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Here's what some of you had to say about that stunning ending that handed the Chiefs another improbable win and the Raiders a heartbreaking loss.
Soualexandrerocha: The Chiefs should be renamed Houdinis.
Mark M: The Chiefs are the new Patriots.
Rob R: Better to be lucky than good. Best to be lucky AND good.
Martin S: This year the Raiders should just be playing the young guys to evaluate what you got for next year. Jackson Powers-Johnson and DJ Glaze are going to commit penalties and mistakes, let them learn.
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"I am proud of my team ... We came up short again. The record is what it is, but this team is prideful. ... I don't know what to keep saying after losses," Pierce said postgame.
The Raiders fell to 2-10 with the loss.
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Both quarterbacks shined on Black Friday, with Aidan O'Connell surprisingly out producing Patrick Mahomes.
The Raiders signal caller finished the game 23-35 for 340 yards and two touchdowns. Mahomes finished 26-46 for 306 yards and a touchdown.
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O'Connell takes full blame, said he clapped too early and that's a clear sign to hike the ball.
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It's not the result he wanted, but star Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby continued putting himself in rarified air on Sunday, playing every Las Vegas defensive snap for a record sixth straight game, per NFL's Next Gen Stats.
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Sure, the normally reliable Daniel Carlson had missed three field goals. But the Raiders were set up at the Chiefs' 32-yard line, putting Carlson in line for a 49-yard attempt — a shorter distance than any of his three misses — before rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson's early snap caused a fumble that the Chiefs recovered.
It's a brutal way to end a game in which the Raiders more than held their own against the Chiefs all afternoon long. Las Vegas outgained Kansas City by more than 100 yards (434 to 329), had more first downs (20 to 18), recorded more sacks and did not commit a turnover until that final play.
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Antonio Pierce said the plan was to throw the ball away to kill some more time before the Raiders attempted a field goal.
The Athletic
If the season were to end today, the AFC West would have three playoff teams for the first time since 2013.
With the victory, Kansas City maintains the No. 1 seed in the AFC over Buffalo. It is worth noting that the Bills hold the tiebreaker after beating the Chiefs in Week 11.
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Raiders center Jackson Powers-Johnson said it was a miscommunication on the final offensive play. He thought O'Connell was calling for the snap, but he wasn't. He shouldered the blame.
"We didn't come up short," Powers-Johnson said, "I came up short."
The Athletic
With another chaotic victory over a lesser team, Kansas City is now 3.5 games clear of the Chargers in the AFC West. The two teams will face off on Sunday Night Football next week at Arrowhead Stadium.
This week, Los Angeles will face the Falcons in Atlanta and the Broncos will host the Cleveland Browns on Monday Night Football.
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The Kansas City Chiefs have now won 14 straight one-possession games (including playoffs), passing the 2003-04 New England Patriots — the last team to win back-to-back Super Bowls before the Chiefs did — for the longest such streak in NFL history.
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Chiefs 19, Raiders 17
Total Yards
Raiders: 434Chiefs: 329Rush yards
Raiders: 116Chiefs: 63Passing leaders
Aidan O'Connell, LV: 23-for-35, 340 yards, 2 TD, 116.4 passer ratingPatrick Mahomes, KC: 26-for-46, 306 yards, 1 TD, 84.1 passer ratingReceiving leaders
Brock Bowers, LV: 14 targets, 10 receptions, 140 yards, TDDeandre Hopkins, KC: 9 targets, 4 receptions, 90 yards
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The two-time defending Super Bowl champions will have another AFC West divisional matchup on national TV.
The 11-1 Chiefs will host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday Night Football at Arrowhead Stadium. Kickoff for that one will be at 8:20 p.m. ET on NBC and streaming on Peacock.
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The Raiders will head to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers at 1 p.m. ET next Sunday. The game will be televised regionally on CBS.
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A Chiefs loss would have left Kansas City vulnerable to lose the No. 1 seed in the AFC if the Buffalo Bills had defeated the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday night. Instead, Kansas City has clinched a playoff spot before the calendar has even flipped to December and remains in the driver's seat in the AFC even with a Bills victory.
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The Raiders may have quarterback issues, but whoever is under center in Las Vegas next season (and beyond) will be throwing to someone who looks well on his way to fulfilling the Pro Bowl potential that made him a first-round pick in this year's draft.
Bowers is up to 884 receiving yards this season — leading all NFL rookies by a wide margin — after another spectacular showing. He had 140 yards and a touchdown on 10 catches to help the Raiders to their biggest win of his young career.
End of Q4 Raiders 17, Chiefs 19
WOW! O'Connell fires a strike to Bowers for a gain of 25 yards to reach midfield.
After two more completions, the Raiders have the ball at the Chiefs 32-yard line when disaster strikes. Center Jackson Powers-Johnson snaps the ball prematurely, catching O'Connell off guard and the loose ball is recovered by the Chiefs.
Kansas City takes a knee and this one is over. Unbelievable.
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Q4 1:56 Raiders 17, Chiefs 19
The Raiders are still alive! On third-and-2, a first down would've just about sealed the game for Kansas City. Mahomes runs play action and gets blasted as he lets the ball go, barely overthrowing Worthy deep downfield.
The Chiefs consider going for it on fourth down but choose to punt. The Raiders will begin this drive at their own 8-yard line, needing a field goal for the win!
