The Kansas City Chiefs are finding strange ways to win this season. Friday was all the weirder way.
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 hit quarterback Aidan O’Connell with a shotgun blast that hit him in the chest. The Chiefs fell on the ball and after a long meeting between the officials, they ruled that the Chiefs had recovered the fumble. game over The Chiefs won 19-17.
After the game, Powers-Johnson took the blame for the mistake, saying it was a miscommunication between him and O’Connell.
Likewise, O’Connell took responsibility, saying: “It was completely my fault. I was looking to the right, making sure the guys were set and I started clapping. In my head I was thinking I’d signal the ball to get the ball, but when I started clapping It tells Jackson, basically, that Jackson did exactly what he was supposed to do, and I applauded very quickly.”
Kansas City is doing enough to get by, and they seem to find a way to win close games over inferior teams every week. Amazingly, that’s been good enough for an 11-1 record. The Chiefs looked overwhelmed 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 to clinch a playoff spot this season, but their issues are legitimate. Their offensive tackles are struggling badly. Good offensive skill-position talent but not much explosive speed outside of Xavier Worthy, who is an unreliable rookie. The defense is good this season but less than 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 fade once the season begins and they’re on their way to another Super Bowl. But they shouldn’t barely beat a team like the Raiders.
The Chiefs struggled early
Early in the game, the Raiders seemed to take it. They just keep blowing opportunities.
The Raiders were able to move the ball well enough but couldn’t do enough on the Chiefs side of the field. Daniel Carlson missed two long field goals. The Raiders, one of the NFL’s worst teams in years, were stuffed on a fourth-and-1 handoff 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 were outscoring the Chiefs. And they trailed 13-3.
Finally, a move to the Raiders. A long kickoff return by Ameer Abdullah followed by a great touchdown grab from 33 yards out by electric rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Raiders trail 16-10.
Once again, the back-to-back champion Chiefs were in a closer-than-expected game against one of the NFL’s worst teams. Then it got serious as the Raiders took a fourth-quarter lead.
The Raiders hit a big game
On the first play of the fourth quarter, O’Connell threw deep down the left sideline. Trey Tucker got behind the Chiefs secondary and caught a 58-yard touchdown that put the Raiders ahead and shocked everyone.
At that point, eight seconds into the fourth quarter, the Raiders outscored the Chiefs. at Arrowhead Stadium. O’Connell made his first game in more than a month back from injury.
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 guard Joe Thuney replaced Wania Morris at left tackle on the next series. The Chiefs need to figure this situation out before the playoffs.
The Raiders had a shot to take a late lead. They moved into Chiefs territory in the last minute. But with 2:17 left, not facing a decent option on fourth-and-11, Carlson attempted a 58-yard field goal and was just short of his third miss of the day. Carlson was one of the best kickers in the NFL during his career, but the Chiefs took him on what might have been his worst day as a pro.
And since the Chiefs couldn’t put the game away, the Raiders had one more chance. Bowers had a huge 25-yard catch up the middle to get the Raiders closer to field-goal range, and then Jacoby Meyers and Ameer Abdullah made catches to get Las Vegas even closer. But the Raiders hit the shotgun snap, the Chiefs fall into it, and the game is over.
The play call came late, and as the game clock ticked down, O’Connell began clapping as the huddle broke up to prompt the snap. The left guard taps to Powers-Johnson, who snags it before O’Connell is ready. It bounced to O’Connell and the Chiefs pounced on it to end the game.
The Chiefs haven’t played well for much of the season. But their records are still almost pristine, somehow.
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The Chiefs clinched a playoff spot
With the win and improving to an 11-1 record, the Chiefs clinched a playoff spot.
Final statistics
Offensive: 434 yards of offense
Aidan O’Connell 340 yards, 2 TDs, 23 of 35 passing
Brock Bowers 10 catches, 140 yards, 1 TD
Jacoby Meyers 6 catches, 97 yards
Earnest 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 snapped the ball and the Chiefs ran away with a 19-17 win. Las Vegas wasn’t in a great position with no timeouts remaining, but that didn’t necessarily affect the bad snap. But did Jackson Powers-Johnson rush his snap because of the clock?
Attackers snap and overturn it
Jackson Powers-Johnson snatched the ball before Aidan O’Connell was ready and it bounced off his chest. Nick Bolton recovers the fumble for the Chiefs and that is Dagger.
Horrible way to end for the Raiders.
The 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 Jacoby Meyers.
Raiders forced the Chiefs to push
Patrick Mahomes threw a deep ball incomplete to Xavier Worthy on 3rd-and-2. The Chiefs punt from the Raiders’ 44-yard line.
Las Vegas took over at its 8-yard line with 1:56 left and no timeouts.
Carlson hit 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 knocked down Aidan O’Connell’s pass on 3rd-and-11. The Raiders then opted for Daniel Carlson’s 58-yard attempt, but his kick deflected and fell short.
The Chiefs took over at their 48 with 2:21 left.
Brock Bowers over 100 yards receiving
Brock Bowers’ four-yard catch pushed him past the 100-yard mark. He has eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown.
3-and-out for Kansas City
The Raiders defense forced a Kansas City punt, Samjay Perine, three yards short of a first down on 3rd-and-8.
Matt Arizer’s punt went 55 yards and Ameer Abdullah had a 19-yard return. Las Vegas is at its 32-yard line with 5:15 left.
By Aidan O’Connell Chiefs blitz force quickly incomplete
The Raiders must punt after Aidan O’Connell drops the ball quickly on a Kansas City blitz up the middle.
AJ Cole’s 55-yard punt returned the Chiefs to their 17-yard line with 6:46 left in the fourth quarter.
Mahomes sacked, Chiefs have to settle for field goals
Wania Morris let K’Lavon Chaisson get past him and he sacked Patrick Mahomes from the 5-yard line for a nine-yard loss on 3rd-and-goal.
The Chiefs had to settle for a field goal, but it gave them a 19-17 lead with 9:35 left in the fourth quarter.
Move over Chiefs
The Raiders’ Dekamarion Richardson pass interference gave the Chiefs a 26-yard gain at the Las Vegas 30-yard line.
Patrick Mahomes followed with a 15-yard pass to DeAndre Hopkins and Kansas City went ahead.
Touchdowns: Raiders 17, Chiefs 16
Just like that, the riders are up. After a Chiefs 3-and-out, Las Vegas turned around and scored a TD on two plays.
Aidan O’Connell connected with Trey Tucker on a streak down the left sideline for a 58-yard score to tie the game. The Raiders took 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 a 33-yard score, and Las Vegas was within six after the extra point.
It followed a 35-yard field goal from the Chiefs on the previous possession.
Mahomes to Hopkins for 31 yards
The Kansas City Raiders may be ready to pay for no points. Patrick Mahomes connected with DeAndre Hopkins for a 31-yard gain to advance to the Las Vegas 24-yard line.
Attackers threaten, but don’t score
A very promising drive for the Raiders ended with Daniel Carlson’s 55-yard field goal attempt kicked wide. 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 advance into the red zone.
Field goals: Chiefs 13, Raiders 3
The Chiefs couldn’t finish their drive with a TD, settling 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 made the Raiders regret that fourth-down decision. Isiah Pacheco ripped off a 34-yard run down the middle of the Las Vegas 14-yard line.
