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Chiefs reject Raiders upset bid after Las Vegas squanders potential game-winner

Chiefs reject Raiders upset bid after Las Vegas squanders potential game-winner

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

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

After the game, Powers-Johnson took the blame for the blunder, saying there was a miscommunication between him and O’Connell.

O’Connell also took responsibility, saying: “It was completely my fault. I was looking to the right, making sure the guys were ready and started clapping. In my head I was thinking of flagging the ball to get the ball but when I start clapping he basically tells Jackson to shoot the ball Jackson did exactly what he was supposed to do and I clapped too soon.

Kansas City is doing just enough to get by and they seem to find a way to win close games against the lower teams every week. Amazingly, that was good enough for an 11-1 record. The Chiefs looked unimpressive again on Friday, but as usual, they found a way to win. This time he stopped 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 issues are legitimate. Their offensive tackles struggle badly. The offensive talent at the skill position is good, but he lacks explosive speed outside of Xavier Worthy, who is a shaky rookie. The defense this season has been good, but less so than last season.

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

Early in the game it appeared to be there for the taking for the Raiders. They continued to blow opportunities.

The Raiders were able to move the ball well enough, but couldn’t do enough in the Chiefs’ field. Daniel Carlson missed two long goals. The Raiders, one of the NFL’s worst rushing teams in years, were also saddled with a fourth-and-1 at the Chiefs’ 31.

Late in the third quarter, just before O’Connell took a 15-yard sack that caused Carlson to miss another field goal, the Raiders outscored the Chiefs. And they went 13-3.

Finally, the Raiders made a move. Ameer Abdullah had a long kickoff return, and then electric rookie tight end Brock Bowers had an excellent 33-yard touchdown. The Raiders went up 16-10.

Once again, the defending champion Chiefs found themselves in a tighter game than anyone expected against one of the worst teams in the NFL. Then it got serious as the Raiders took a lead in the fourth quarter.

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 gave everyone a jolt.

At that point, eight seconds into the fourth quarter, the Raiders outscored the Chiefs. At Arrowhead Stadium. With O’Connell returning 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 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 address before the playoffs.

The Raiders had a chance to take the lead late. They drove into Chiefs territory in the final minutes. But with 2:17 left and not facing a decent option on fourth-and-11, Carlson attempted a 58-yard field goal and came up short for his third miss of the day. Carlson has been one of the best players in the NFL throughout his career, but the Chiefs got him on what might be 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 within field distance, and then Jakobi Meyers and Ameer Abdullah made catches to pull Las Vegas even closer. But the Raiders destroyed the hatch of the rifle, the Chiefs fell on it, and the game was over.

The play call came late, and with the game clock winding down, O’Connell began cheering almost as soon as the huddle broke for the snap to come quickly. The left guard hit Powers-Johnson, who broke it before O’Connell was ready. He bounced O’Connell and the Chiefs fell on him to end the game.

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

LIVE COVERAGE HAS ENDED37 updates

  • Chiefs clinch playoff spot

    With the win and improving to 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

    Frank McCormick 12 rushes, 64 yards

    Chiefs: 329 yards of offense

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

    * Mahomes was sacked 5 times

    DeAndre Hopkins 4 catches, 90 yards

    Travis Kelce 7 catches, 68 yards

    Isiah Pacheco 7 carry, 44 yards

  • FINAL: Chiefs 19, Raiders 17

    The Raiders literally snap the ball and the Chiefs escape 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 snap. Did Jackson Powers-Johnson rush his shot because of the clock, though?

  • The Raiders break and turn it over

    Jackson Powers-Johnson shoots 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.

    Terrible way to end for the Raiders.

  • Raiders drive to the Chiefs 25 yard line

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

  • Raiders force Chiefs to punt

    Patrick Mahomes throws incomplete on a deep ball to Xavier Worthy on 3rd-and-2. The Chiefs punt at the Raiders 44-yard line.

    Las Vegas takes over at the 8-yard line with 1:56 remaining and no timeouts.

  • Carlson hits the grass before the ball

    Replays showed that Daniel Carlson’s right foot skidded on the turf before hitting the ball, causing his field goal attempt to miss.

  • Raiders stall at 40 yard line, miss field goal

    Justin Reid drops a pass by Aidan O’Connell on 3rd-and-11. The Raiders then go for a 58-yard attempt by Daniel Carlson, but his kick veers left and falls short.

    Chiefs take over at 48 with 2:21 left.

  • Brock Bowers over 100 yards receiving

    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-and-out for Kansas City

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

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

  • Chiefs blitz forces quick incompletions by Aidan O’Connell

    The Raiders must punt after Aidan O’Connell must punt the ball on a Kansas City blitz up the middle.

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

  • Mahomes sacked, Chiefs have to settle for field goal

    Wanya Morris lets K’Lavon Chaisson run over him 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 at 19–17 with 9:35 left in the fourth quarter.

  • Heads on the move

    Pass interference on the Raiders’ Decamerion Richardson gives the Chiefs a 26-yard gain from the Las Vegas 30-yard line.

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

  • TACKLE: Raiders 17, Chiefs 16

    Likewise, the Raiders are on top. After the Chiefs go 3rd and out, Las Vegas comes back and scores a TD in two plays.

    Aidan O’Connell connects with Tre Tucker who breaks down the left sideline for a 58-yard score to tie the game. The Raiders have a one-point lead on the extra point.

  • TACKLE: Chiefs 16, Raiders 10

    The Raiders finally come through for a touchdown. Aidan O’Connell finds Brock Bowers for a 33-yard score and Las Vegas is within six 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 could 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.

  • Raiders threaten but don’t score

    A very promising drive for the Raiders ends with Daniel Carlson hitting a 55-yard field goal attempt to the left. Las Vegas has no points to show for the effort.

  • Brock Bowers continues his great season

    Aidan O’Connell hits rookie tight end Brock Bowers for a 29-yard gain and the Raiders head into 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 WrightHis 42-yarder is good and Kansas City has a 10-point lead.

  • Here comes Isiah Pacheco

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