On Friday afternoon, the Kansas City Chiefs turned the primary NFL workforce to clich a 2024 playoff spot with a 19-17 victory over the Las Vegas Raiders on GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium. The win sealed a 2024 sweep over the Raiders — and eradicated Las Vegas from the postseason.
First quarter
The Raiders received the opening coin toss, placing the Chiefs in place to begin the sport with the ball. The Kansas City offense started on the 27-yard line after a return from the aim line.
Wide receiver Xavier Worthy and Travis Kelce acquired the Chiefs going, shifting the chains one time every with completions. Kelce’s transformed third down, catching a cross from quarterback Patrick Mahomes benefiting from a free play. Running again Isiah Pacheco returned to the Chiefs with authority, reducing the shoulder on third and quick to maintain the drive alive in Raiders’ territory.
A shot in direction of the entrance pylon to extensive receiver DeAndre Hopkins was practically an unimaginable one-handed catch, however the incompletion was adopted by a name for defensive cross interference. That set the Chiefs up contained in the 10-yard line, however one other contested throw to Hopkins a number of snaps later fell incomplete. The unit settled for a discipline aim, giving the Chiefs a 3-0 lead simply 5 minutes into the sport.
The Chiefs’ protection went to work on the Raiders, permitting one first down earlier than forcing third and lengthy after a holding penalty. The Chiefs’ again finish swarmed to all accomplished passes, included the play on third down that ended effectively in need of the sticks. The Raiders punted again to Kansas City.
Mahomes saved his rhythm within the cross recreation, utilizing Kelce, Worthy, and extensive receiver Juju Smith-Schuster to get first downs and transfer into Raiders’ territory. Then, penalties on the offensive line set the Chiefs again: proper guard Trey Smith drew a flag for holding, then left sort out false began on third down.
Looking to beat the errors, Mahomes missed open targets in Worthy and tight finish Noah Gray. The Chiefs determined to punt quite than try a discipline aim of roughly 53 yards.
Raiders’ extensive receiver Jakobi Meyers continued to chip away on the Chiefs’ protection, digging Las Vegas out of the sphere possession gap with a catch and run to maneuver the chains. The Chiefs did drive third down a number of snaps later after linebacker Nick Bolton stuffed a run. That led into the top of the primary quarter.
Second quarter
The Raiders transformed the third down with a deep cross to Meyers, who got here free because of miscommunication within the Chiefs’ again finish that began with cornerback Nazeeh Johnson. On the following play, cornerback Trent McDuffie blanketed Meyers, however a well-placed cross nonetheless acquired by means of for 25 yards.
The huge performs put Las Vegas in scoring place, however the Chiefs settled in from there. The line of defense turned it up, and defensive sort out Chris Jones ended the menace by incomes a sack. It compelled the Raiders right into a discipline aim, which tied the sport at 3-3.
The Raiders’ protection made an announcement on the following drive, beginning with defensive finish Maxx Crosby blowing up the opening play for a five-yard loss. Two performs later, Wanya Morris was cleanly beat by a reserve edge rusher, and Mahomes was sacked to finish the possession.
With a brief discipline, the Raiders chipped away on the Chiefs’ protection in a number of other ways. One play featured tight finish Brock Bowers changing third down on a jet sweep. However, Nick Bolton denied a third-down cross that arrange a discipline aim, and the lengthy kick fell quick. That gave the Chiefs possession close to midfield.
Mahomes wasted no time stepping into scoring place, utilizing a drawn-out dropback to finally discover Noah Gray for a giant achieve to the Raiders’ 27-yard line. The Chiefs have been labored into third down, however operating again Samaje Perine ran previous the marker after a pitch again from Kelce down the sphere.
Now contained in the 10-yard line, the Chiefs confronted third and 4. The strain acquired on Mahomes, however he lofted a cross to the nook of the top zone earlier than it acquired dwelling. Wide receiver Justin Watson got here down with the cross, giving the Chiefs a 10-3 lead with simply over two minutes remaining within the first half.
The Raiders appeared to reply within the two-minute drill, shifting the chains as soon as on a profitable finish round. However, the Chiefs tightened up, then Jones got here round the precise edge and wrapped up O’Connell to finish the possession. It gave Mahomes one minute to earn one other rating earlier than the intermission.
The Chiefs’ offense couldn’t get far sufficient down the sphere to attain, even with extensive receiver DeAndre Hopkins getting open down the sideline for a giant achieve. An extended discipline aim try simply earlier than halftime fell quick, conserving the Chiefs’ lead at 10-3.
Third quarter
The Raiders began with possession, shifting the chains shortly with an out of doors run by operating again Ameer Abdullah. A cross breakup by security Justin Reid gave the Chiefs power, but it surely was instantly deflated when security Bryan Cook missed an open-field sort out on a 24-yard catch and run. It took the Raiders to the Chiefs’ 40-yard line.
Chiefs defenders locked in for that subsequent set of downs, forcing fourth down after stopping a draw play simply in need of the sticks. On the short-yardage handoff, linebacker Nick Bolton and defensive finish Charles Omenihu mixed to make the cease.
With the primary drive of the second half, Mahomes acquired into Raiders’ territory straight away after a 21-yard catch and run by Noah Gray. Then, Pacheco introduced his return to the Chiefs’ lineup with a 34-yard burst into the crimson zone.
The drive stalled from there, notably as a result of Mahomes misplaced 21 yards on a sack as he tried to evade strain. The sturdy begin to the possession was wasted, however a discipline aim nonetheless prolonged the Chiefs’ result in 13-3.
The Chiefs’ protection gave strategy to yards and chunk good points on the following possession, together with a 29-yard completion to tight finish Brock Bowers; he caught it one handed with Trent McDuffie in protection.
That put the Raiders on the 22-yard line, however the Chiefs stepped up from there. On third down, defensive finish George Karlaftis acquired by means of and earned an extended sack. The ensuing discipline aim was missed, and Kansas City had possession simply earlier than midfield.
The Chiefs practically wasted the great discipline place, however Hopkins bailed the offense out of third and lengthy with an superior catch to complete a back-shoulder throw. The 31-yard achieve helped arrange a red-zone possession, however the Chiefs couldn’t convert the following third down. An try to Kelce in the long run zone fell incomplete, and the Chiefs settled for an additional discipline aim to push the result in 16-3.
An extended kick return put the Raiders in prime place, and the underdogs didn’t waste the chance. After establishing on the Chiefs’ 26-yard line, O’Connell discovered Bowers on a downfield cross to attain a landing. The fast strike tightened Kansas City’s result in 16-10.
The Chiefs’ offense fell into a 3rd down to begin the following drive. Looking to transform it, Mahomes slipped off strain and located Hopkins open over the center — however the ball bounced off his chest. The deflating incompletion set the Raiders up with possession because the third quarter ended.
Fourth quarter
On a first-down shot play, the Raiders struck gold. Wide receiver Tre Tucker outran Chiefs’ security Justin Reid downfield in one-on-one protection, scoring a 58-yard landing that put the Raiders in entrance 17-16.
Needing a rating, the Chiefs went to work by means of the cross recreation. A catch to Kelce moved the chains as soon as, then Hopkins helped get one other first down by drawing cross interference on a downfield cross. That pushed the Chiefs into Las Vegas territory.
Worthy took a cross and ran contained in the 10-yard line, placing the Chiefs into the crimson zone as soon as once more. The offense couldn’t punch it in by means of the primary two performs of this one, and one other whiff by Morris led to Mahomes sacked on third down. A bittersweet discipline aim gave the Chiefs a 19-17 lead.
Now defending a slender lead, the Chiefs’ protection went to work. A display cross was corralled within the backfield by Justin Reid and linebacker Drue Tranquill, then strain acquired the perfect of a dropback on third down. The Raiders punted again to the Chiefs with lower than seven minutes on the clock.
The Chiefs did not create any momentum on offense, even after inserting left guard Joe Thuney in at left sort out. Reserve guard Mike Caliendo stuffed in Thuney’s unique spot. The offensive line nonetheless gave strategy to sufficient strain to stall the Chiefs, who punted after a 3 and out.
Looking to search out vary for a game-winning discipline aim, the Raiders used the premier playmaker of the day to cross midfield. Bowers was inexplicably open on one cross that gained 14 yards, however the Chiefs’ protection didn’t permit a lot after.
Two consecutive passes have been batted down by Karlaftis and Reid, and the following discipline aim try was in need of the posts. The miss gave the Chiefs possession with simply over two minutes left at their very own 48-yard line.
Looking for the kill shot, the Chiefs referred to as a play-action shot on third down simply earlier than the two-minute drill. The cross was a bit of too far for Worthy, who was open and will have streaked into the top zone with a catch. That gave the Raiders one other likelihood to win the sport, ranging from the eight-yard line with slightly below two minutes to go.
The Raiders discovered room to work downfield, highlighted by a 25-yard completion to Bowers over the center. That went to the 50-yard line then Meyers adopted it up with one other 11-yard achieve.
The Chiefs’ protection giving strategy to a game-winning discipline aim try — however an errant snap resulting in that time was muffed. The ball on the bottom was recovered by the Chiefs, sealing the 19-17 victory after one kneeldown from Mahomes.
Injuries
Linebacker Nick Bolton was helped to the sideline after a play to finish the primary quarter. He got here again shortly after.
Special Teams
Kicker Matthew Wright hit a 25-yard discipline aim to cap the opening drive, his first kick as a member of the Chiefs (because the 2022 season). He additionally made a point-after try within the second quarter. Wright did miss a 59-yard kick proper earlier than halftime.
Wright made a 42-yard discipline aim to punctuate the Chiefs’ first drive of the second half. On the following drive, Wright made a 35-yard kick. In the fourth quarter, Wright was profitable on a 32-yard discipline aim that gave the Chiefs a lead.
Punter Matt Araiza pinned the Raiders at their very own eight-yard line on a punt within the first quarter. He had 4 different punts, together with one in direction of the top of the sport to pin the Raiders deep.
Running again Samaje Perine gained 27 yards on the opening kickoff return from the aim line.
