The story of the 2024 Chiefs season has been considered one of shut escapes and Black Friday’s chapter is likely to be essentially the most unbelievable one but.
The Raiders pressured a punt down 19-17 with two minutes left to play and drove from their 8-yard-line to the Chiefs’ 32-yard line because the seconds ticked off the clock. Quarterback Aidan O’Connell spiked the ball to cease the clock on a second down with 15 seconds left and the Raiders lined as much as snap the ball yet another time earlier than presumably making an attempt a game-winning subject purpose.
That’s when catastrophe struck. Rookie heart Jackson Powers-Johnson snapped the ball earlier than the Raiders have been set, the ball bounced off of O’Connell’s chest and the Chiefs recovered to seal their eleventh win of the season. The win makes the Chiefs the primary group within the league to clinch a playoff berth.
Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce ought to be grilled on why O’Connell spiked the ball with a lot time left on the clock and he’ll doubtless be questioned about utilizing a timeout to attempt a 58-yard subject purpose with underneath three minutes to play. Daniel Carlson had already missed 55- and 56-yard tries and missed badly to provide the Chiefs the ball close to midfield. Unless Pierce was making an attempt to hammer dwelling his mid-week assertion that the Raiders are the worst group within the league, it’s exhausting to think about making both name and making each of them actually harm the Raiders’ possibilities of successful the sport.
The Chiefs bought out to a 16-3 lead on a Justin Watson landing catch and three Matthew Wright subject objectives, however the Raiders erased it with a pair of lengthy landing passes late within the third quarter and on the primary play of the fourth. The Chiefs regained the lead on one other Wright subject purpose that set the stage for the wild ultimate moments.
O’Connell was 23-of-35 for 340 yards in his return from a proper thumb harm. He was sacked thrice and had a few passes batted down on the line of scrimmage earlier than the ill-fated choice to attempt the 58-yard subject purpose.
Raiders tight finish Brock Bowers had 10 catches for 140 yards and a rating whereas Jakobi Myers had six catches for 97 yards and Tre Tucker reeled in a 58-yard rating. They additionally bought a superb recreation from operating again Sincere McCormick and a robust effort from their protection, so this loss will sting much more than a lot of the different ones on their rising record of defeats.
The Raiders have been formally eradicated from playoff rivalry. They will probably be in Tampa subsequent weekend.
The Chiefs struggled to guard Patrick Mahomes all recreation and moved left guard Joe Thuney to left sort out to interchange Wanya Morris down the stretch. It didn’t do a lot to assist and the group will doubtless be working extra time to get the just lately signed D.J. Humphries able to go.
Next Sunday evening brings a house date with the Chargers that may carry plenty of significance within the AFC playoff image. Given their weekly points, it’s exhausting to think about the Chiefs patching all the pieces collectively by then however indicators that it could occur can be welcome.
