The Kansas City Chiefs are finding strange ways to win this season. Friday was the most special of all.
The Las Vegas Raiders were in field goal range with less than 20 seconds remaining and were trying to get closer. Rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson then jumped at quarterback Aidan O’Connell in the shotgun before he was ready, hitting him in the chest. The Chiefs fumbled the ball and after much deliberation between the officials, it was decided that the Chiefs recovered the fumble. Game over. The Chiefs won 19-17.
After the match, Powers-Johnson took the blame for the error, saying it was a miscommunication between him and O’Connell.
Similarly, O’Connell took responsibility, saying: “It was completely my fault. I looked to the right, made sure the guys were in tune and started clapping. I was thinking through the ball signal in my head to get the ball, but when I start clap and basically tell Jackson that Jackson did exactly what he was supposed to do and I clapped too soon.”
Kansas City is doing enough to hold its own and seems to find a way to win close games against worse teams every week. Surprisingly, it was enough for an 11-1 record. The Chiefs looked lackluster again on Friday, but as usual they found a way to win. This time it held 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 struggles are legitimate. Their offensive actions are bad. The offensive talent is good, but outside of Xavier Worthy, who is an unreliable rookie, he doesn’t have much explosive speed. The defense has been good this season, but not up to what it was last season.
And despite all that, the Chiefs are 11-1. And as we all learned last season, when the games matter most in January, the Chiefs’ woes seem to simply disappear once the postseason begins and they march toward another Super Bowl. But they should barely beat teams like the Raiders.
Chiefs fight early
Early in the game, it looked like he was there for the Raiders. They just kept blowing opportunities.
The Raiders were able to move the ball well enough, but they couldn’t on the Chiefs side. Daniel Carlson missed two long field goals. The Raiders, one of the worst rushing teams in the NFL in years, also stuffed themselves on fourth-and-1 at the Chiefs’ 31.
Late in the third quarter, just before O’Connell took a 15-yard sack that led to Carlson missing another field goal, the Raiders beat the Chiefs. And they were losing 13:3.
Finally, the Raiders moved. Ameer Abdullah had a long kickoff return and then electric rookie tight end Brock Bowers had a great 33-yard touchdown. The Raiders were losing 16:10.
Against one of the worst teams in the NFL, the defending champion Chiefs were once again in a tighter game than anyone expected. Then it got serious when the Raiders took the lead in the fourth quarter.
The Raiders hit a big play
On the first play of the fourth quarter, O’Connell threw deep down the left sideline. Tre Tucker got behind the Chiefs secondary and caught a 58-yard touchdown that gave the Raiders the lead and shook everyone up.
At that point, eight seconds into the fourth quarter, the Raiders outscored the Chiefs. At Arrowhead Stadium. O’Connell returns from injury to play his first game in over a month.
The Chiefs put together a drive into Raiders territory, though it stalled when both offenses 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. That’s a situation the Chiefs need to address before the playoffs.
The Raiders had a chance to take the lead. They got into Chiefs territory in the final minutes. But with 2:17 left, not facing a decent option on fourth-and-11, Carlson attempted a 58-yard field goal and missed his third pass of the day. Carlson was one of the best football players in the NFL during his career, but the Chiefs caught him on his worst day as a pro.
And with the Chiefs unable to put the game away, the Raiders had one more chance. Bowers had a huge 25-yard catch up the middle to get the Raiders close to within field goal range, and then Jakobi Meyers and Ameer Abdullah made catches to get Las Vegas even closer. But the Raiders botched the crack, the Chiefs fell on it, and the game was over.
The play call came late, and as the game clock ticked down, O’Connell began clapping almost as soon as the huddle broke for a quick buzzer. The left guard tapped Powers-Johnson, who snapped it before O’Connell was ready. It bounced off O’Connell and the Chiefs fell on it to end the game.
The Chiefs haven’t played well for much of the season. But their record is still almost intact.
LIVE IS OVER37 updates
-
The Chiefs clinched a spot in the playoffs
With the win and an 11-1 record, the Chiefs clinched a playoff spot.
-
Final statistics
Raiders: 434 yards of offense
Aidan O’Connell 340 yards, 2 TDs, 23 of 35 passing
Brock Bowers 10 catches, 140 yards, 1 TD
Jakobi Meyers 6 catches, 97 yards
Honest McCormick 12 rushes, 64 yards
Chiefs: 329 yards of offense
Patrick Mahomes 306 yards, 1 TD, 26 of 46 passing
* Mahomes sacked 5 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 ripped the ball away and the Chiefs walked away with a 19-17 victory. Las Vegas wasn’t in a great position with no timeouts remaining, but that didn’t necessarily affect the bad moment. But did Jackson Powers-Johnson rush his shot because of the clock?
-
The Raiders snap and turn it over
Jackson Powers-Johnson caught the ball before Aidan O’Connell was ready and it bounced off his chest. Nick Bolton renews desire for the Chiefs and that’s a dagger.
Horrible way to end for the Raiders.
-
The Raiders get to the Chiefs 25-yard line
Brock Bowers hits again, catching a 25-yard pass from Aidan O’Connell. The Raiders followed with an 11-yard pass to Jakobi Meyers.
-
The Raiders force the Chiefs to punt
Patrick Mahomes throws an incomplete deep ball to Xavier Worthy on 3rd and 2. The Chiefs elect to punt from the Raiders 44-yard line.
Las Vegas takes over at their own 8-yard line with 1:56 left and no timeouts.
-
Carlson hit the turf in front of the ball
Replays showed that Daniel Carlson’s right foot slipped on the turf before he hit the ball, which is likely why his attempt at goal missed.
-
The Raiders stopped at the 40-yard line, missed the field goal
Justin Reid knocked down an Aidan O’Connell pass on 3rd and 11. The Raiders then go for Daniel Carlson’s 58-yard field goal, but his kick rolls left and falls short.
The Chiefs take over at their own 48 with 2:21 left.
-
Brock Bowers has over 100 yards receiving
Brock Bowers’ four-yard catch puts him over the 100-yard mark. He has eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown.
-
3-and-out for Kansas City
The Kansas City Raiders punt defense beat Samaje Perine three yards for 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 their own 32-yard line with 5:15 left.
-
The Chiefs are quick to force a quick incompletion by Aidan O’Connell
The Raiders must punt after Aidan O’Connell had to throw the ball away quickly on a Kansas City blitz up the middle.
AJ Cole’s 55-yard punt moves the Chiefs back to their 17-yard line with 6:46 left in the fourth quarter.
-
Mahomes sack, Chiefs have to settle for field goal
Wanya Morris had K’Lavon Chaisson blow by and sacked 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 a 19-17 lead with 9:35 left in the fourth quarter.
-
Chiefs on the move
Richardson’s Dekamerion Raiders pass gives the Chiefs a 26-yard gain to the Las Vegas 30-yard line.
Patrick Mahomes follows up with a 15-yard pass to DeAndre Hopkins and Kansas City is on the move.
-
TOUCHDOWNS: Raiders 17, Chiefs 16
Just like that, the Raiders have the upper hand. With the Chiefs going 3 and out, Las Vegas turns around and scores a TD in two plays.
Aidan O’Connell connects with Tre Tucker, who hits the left sideline for a 58-yard score to tie the game. Raiders take a one-point lead on the extra point.
-
TOUCHDOWNS: Chiefs 16, Raiders 10
The Raiders finally broke through with a touchdown. Aidan O’Connell found Brock Bowers for 33 yards and Las Vegas was within six after the extra point.
That followed a 35-yard field goal by the Chiefs on the previous possession.
-
Mahomes Hopkins for 31 yards
Kansas City may be ready to make the Raiders pay for not getting any points. Patrick Mahomes connects with DeAndre Hopkins for a 31-yard gain to advance to the Las Vegas 24-yard line.
-
The Raiders threaten but don’t score
A very promising drive for the Raiders ends with Daniel Carlson kicking a 55-yard field goal down the left side. Las Vegas has nothing to show for the effort.
-
Brock Bowers continues his great season
Aidan O’Connell hits rookie Brock Bowers for a 29-yard gain and the Raiders move toward the red zone.
-
Field goal: Chiefs 13, Raiders 3
The Chiefs can’t end their drive with a TD, settling for a field goal. But Matthew Wright’s 42-yarder is good and Kansas City has a 10-point lead.
-
Here comes Isiah Pacheco
Kansas City will quickly make the Raiders regret that fourth-round decision. Isiah Pacheco ripped off a 34-yard run up the middle to the Las Vegas 14-yard line.