The Kansas City Chiefs are discovering bizarre methods to win this season. Friday was the weirdest manner of all.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been in area aim vary with lower than 20 seconds left, they usually have been attempting to get nearer. Rookie heart Jackson Powers-Johnson then snapped to quarterback Aidan O’Connell in shotgun earlier than he was prepared, and it hit him within the chest. The Chiefs fell on the ball and after an extended convention between the officers, they dominated the Chiefs had recovered the fumble. Game over. Chiefs win 19-17.
After the sport, Powers-Johnson took the blame for the blunder, saying it was a miscommunication between he and O’Connell.
Likewise, O’Connell took accountability, saying: “it was utterly my fault. I used to be searching to proper, ensuring guys have been set and I began clapping. In my head I used to be considering sign the ball to get the ball, however once I begin clapping it tells Jackson, principally, snap the ball. Jackson did precisely what he ought to have completed and I clapped too early.”
Kansas City is doing simply sufficient to get by, they usually appear to discover a technique to win shut video games over inferior groups each week. Amazingly, that’s been ok for a 11-1 report. The Chiefs appeared unimpressive but once more on Friday, however as standard they discovered a technique to win. This time it was holding off the Las Vegas Raiders, who at the moment are 2-10.
The Chiefs at the moment are the primary crew this season to clinch a playoff spot, however their points are official. Their offensive tackles are struggling badly. The offensive skill-position expertise is sweet however doesn’t have lots of explosive velocity outdoors of Xavier Worthy, who’s an unreliable rookie. The protection this season has been good however in need of what it was final season.
And regardless of all of that, the Chiefs are 11-1. And as all of us realized final season, when the video games matter most in January, the Chiefs’ points simply appear to fade away as soon as the postseason begins they usually’re marching to a different Super Bowl. But they shouldn’t be barely beating groups just like the Raiders.
Chiefs battle early
Early on the sport gave the impression to be there for the taking for the Raiders. They simply saved blowing alternatives.
The Raiders have been in a position to transfer the ball nicely sufficient however couldn’t do sufficient on the Chiefs’ facet of the sector. Daniel Carlson missed two lengthy area targets. The Raiders, one of many worst speeding groups within the NFL over a few years, additionally bought stuffed on a fourth-and-1 handoff on the Chiefs’ 31.
Late within the third quarter, proper earlier than O’Connell took a 15-yard sack that led into Carlson lacking one other area aim, the Raiders have been outgaining the Chiefs. And they trailed 13-3.
Finally, the Raiders made a transfer. Ameer Abdullah had an extended kickoff return after which electrical rookie tight finish Brock Bowers had a terrific landing seize from 33 yards out. The Raiders trailed 16-10.
Once once more, the back-to-back champion Chiefs have been in a better sport than anybody anticipated in opposition to one of many worst groups within the NFL. Then it bought critical because the Raiders took a fourth-quarter lead.
Raiders hit a giant play
On the primary play of the fourth quarter, O’Connell threw deep down the left sideline. Tre Tucker bought behind the Chiefs secondary and caught a 58-yard landing that gave the Raiders a lead and gave everybody a jolt.
At that second, eight seconds into the fourth quarter, the Raiders had outplayed the Chiefs. At Arrowhead Stadium. With O’Connell getting back from harm to play his first sport in over a month.
The Chiefs put collectively a drive into Raiders territory, although that stalled when each tackles have been crushed on a third-and-goal play and Kansas City settled for a area aim and a 19-17 lead. Mahomes was visibly upset after that play, and on the following sequence guard Joe Thuney changed Wanya Morris at left sort out. That’s a scenario the Chiefs have to determine earlier than the playoffs.
The Raiders had a shot to take a late lead. They drove into Chiefs territory within the last minutes. But with 2:17 left, not going through a good choice on fourth-and-11, Carlson tried a 58-yard area aim and was nicely quick for his third miss of the day. Carlson has been top-of-the-line kickers within the NFL over his profession, however the Chiefs caught him on what is perhaps his worst day as a professional.
And as a result of the Chiefs couldn’t put the sport away, the Raiders had one more probability. Bowers had an enormous 25-yard catch down the center to get the Raiders near field-goal vary, after which Jakobi Meyers and Ameer Abdullah made catches to get Las Vegas even nearer. But the Raiders screwed up the shotgun snap, the Chiefs fell on it and the sport was over.
The play name got here in late, and with the play clock winding down, O’Connell began clapping virtually as quickly because the huddle broke for the snap to come back shortly. The left guard tapped Powers-Johnson, who snapped it earlier than O’Connell was prepared. It bounced off O’Connell and the Chiefs fell on it to finish the sport.
The Chiefs haven’t performed nicely for a lot of the season. But their report continues to be virtually pristine, one way or the other.
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Chiefs clinch playoff spot
With the win and bettering to an 11–1 report, the Chiefs have clinched a playoff spot.
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Final Stats
Raiders: 434 yards 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
Sincere McCormick 12 rushes, 64 yards
Chiefs: 329 yards offense
Patrick Mahomes 306 yards, 1 TD, 26-of-46 passing
* Mahomes sacked 5 instances
DeAndre Hopkins 4 catches, 90 yards
Travis Kelce 7 catches, 68 yards
Isiah Pacheco 7 carries, 44 yards
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FINAL: Chiefs 19, Raiders 17
The Raiders actually snap the ball away and the Chiefs escape with a 19–17 victory. Las Vegas wasn’t in a terrific place with no timeouts remaining, however that did not essentially have an effect on the unhealthy snap. Did Jackson Powers-Johnson rush his snap due to the clock, nonetheless?
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Raiders botch snap and switch it over
Jackson Powers-Johnson snaps the ball earlier than Aidan O’Connell is prepared and it bounces off his chest. Nick Bolton recovers the fumble for the Chiefs and that’s the dagger.
Terrible technique to finish for the Raiders.
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Raiders get to Chiefs’ 25-yard line
Brock Bowers strikes once more, catching a 25-yard move from Aidan O’Connell. The Raiders adopted up with an 11-yard move to Jakobi Meyers.
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Raiders power Chiefs to punt
Patrick Mahomes throws incomplete on a deep ball to Xavier Worthy on Third-and-2. Chiefs choose to punt from the Raiders’ 44-yard line.
Las Vegas takes over at its 8-yard line with 1:56 remaining and no timeouts.
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Carlson hits grass earlier than the ball
Replay confirmed that Daniel Carlson’s proper foot skidded on the turf earlier than hanging the ball, which is probably going why his area aim strive missed.
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Raiders stall on the 40-yard line, miss area aim
Justin Reid knocks down an Aidan O’Connell move on Third-and-11. Raiders then go for a 58-yard try by Daniel Carlson, however his kick curves left and is brief.
Chiefs take over at their 48 with 2:21 remaining.
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Brock Bowers over 100 yards receiving
A four-yard catch by Brock Bowers places him over the 100-yard mark. He has eight receptions for 101 yards and a landing.
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3-and-out for Kansas City
The Raiders’ protection forces Kansas City punt, tackling Samaje Perine three yards in need of a primary down on Third-and-8.
Matt Araiza’s punt goes 55 yards and Ameer Abdullah will get a 19-yard return. Las Vegas takes over at its 32-yard line with 5:15 remaining.
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Chiefs blitz forces fast incompletion by Aidan O’Connell
The Raiders must punt after Aidan O’Connell has to throw the ball away shortly on a Kansas City blitz up the center.
AJ Cole’s 55-yard punt pushes the Chiefs again to their 17-yard line with 6:46 remaining within the fourth quarter.
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Mahomes sacked, Chiefs must accept area aim
Wanya Morris lets K’Lavon Chaisson blow previous him and he sacks Patrick Mahomes for a nine-yard loss on Third-and-goal from the 5-yard line.
Chiefs must accept a area aim, however that provides them the lead at 19–17 with 9:35 remaining within the fourth quarter.
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Chiefs on the transfer
Pass interference on the Raiders’ Decamerion Richardson provides the Chiefs a 26-yard acquire to the Las Vegas 30-yard line.
Patrick Mahomes follows up with a 15-yard move to DeAndre Hopkins and Kansas City is on the transfer.
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TOUCHDOWN: Raiders 17, Chiefs 16
Just like that, the Raiders are on prime. After the Chiefs go 3-and out, Las Vegas turns round and scores a TD in two performs.
Aidan O’Connell connects with Tre Tucker streaking down the left sideline for a 58-yard rating to tie the sport. The Raiders take a one-point lead on the additional level.
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TOUCHDOWN: Chiefs 16, Raiders 10
The Raiders lastly break by way of with a landing. Aidan O’Connell finds Brock Bowers for a 33-yard rating, and Las Vegas is inside six after the additional level.
That adopted a 35-yard area aim from the Chiefs on the earlier possession.
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Mahomes to Hopkins for 31 yards
Kansas City is perhaps able to make the Raiders pay for getting no factors. Patrick Mahomes connects with DeAndre Hopkins for a 31-yard acquire to advance to the Las Vegas’ 24-yard line.
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Raiders threaten, however don’t rating
A really promising drive for the Raiders ends with Daniel Carlson kicking a 55-yard area aim try vast left. Las Vegas has no factors to point out for the trouble.
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Brock Bowers continues his nice season
Aidan O’Connell hits rookie tight finish Brock Bowers for a 29-yard acquire and the Raiders are shifting towards the purple zone.
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Field aim: Chiefs 13, Raiders 3
The Chiefs cannot end off their drive with a TD, settling for a area aim. But Matthew Wright’s 42-yard try is sweet and Kansas City has a 10-point lead.
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Here comes Isiah Pacheco
Kansas City shortly makes the Raiders remorse that fourth-down choice. Isiah Pacheco rips off a 34-yard run up the center to the Las Vegas’ 14-yard line.
