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The Kansas City Chiefs have made a behavior of profitable video games in essentially the most inconceivable of the way.
The best way they beat the Raiders on Friday nonetheless had Patrick Mahomes and co shaking their heads in disbelief.
The 2-time MVP watched from the sideline as Las Vegas drove inside vary of a profitable subject objective with 15 seconds left, solely to botch the snap on its closing offensive play, permitting the Chiefs to flee with a 19-17 victory that additionally secured their tenth consecutive playoff berth – the second-longest streak in NFL historical past.
“Clearly a giant cease in a giant second that acquired us the win,” Mahomes mentioned.
The Raiders (2-10) had taken over at their very own eight-yard line with slightly below two minutes to go, and quarterback Aidan O’Connell rapidly moved them throughout midfield, ultimately spiking the ball on the Kansas Metropolis 32 to cease the clock.
Relatively than strive for the profitable subject objective – Daniel Carlson had missed three from 50-plus – the Raiders lined as much as run a play, hoping to achieve just a few yards with a throw to the sideline earlier than time expired. However amid the roar of Arrowhead Stadium, middle Andre James snapped the ball when O’Connell wasn’t anticipating it, and it bounced off the QB’s shoulder. Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton pounced on it, and the restoration stood when a flag on the play turned out to be an unlawful shift by the Raiders.
“I really didn’t watch,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce mentioned of the fateful play. “That final play there was loads happening, from the officiating to the flags to the ball being snapped.”
Mahomes completed with 306 yards passing and a landing, and fill-in kicker Matt Wright made 4 subject objectives for the two-time defending Tremendous Bowl champion Chiefs (11-1), who received their NFL record-extending 14th consecutive one-possession sport.
Like a lot of them, together with final week’s last-second win over Carolina, the Chiefs appeared to be in no temper to have a good time.
“I imply, we simply maintain ourselves to such a excessive commonplace. We don’t really feel like we’re taking part in our greatest soccer,” Mahomes mentioned. “We’ve to discover a solution to construct as much as play nice (as) a full, complete group. It’s superior that we’re discovering methods to get wins. That’s what you’re going for. However our objective is to get to the Tremendous Bowl.”
The Raiders had an opportunity to take the lead earlier within the fourth quarter, too, when O’Connell drove them throughout midfield. However the Chiefs pressured three incompletions – George Karlaftis and Justin Reid batted down two — to convey up fourth down.
Carlson headed onto the sector, however his 58-yard strive with 2:21 remaining by no means acquired close to the uprights.
O’Connell completed with 340 yards passing and two touchdowns for the Raiders, who’ve misplaced eight of 9 to their bitter AFC West rivals. Brock Bowers had 10 catches for 140 yards and one of many scores.
“These guys battled till the very finish, till the clock hit zero,” Pierce mentioned. “They believed we had been going to win and fought their (butts) off to the very finish. All phases contributed to assist us get in that place, however Aiden did hell of a job. He stayed within the pocket, made big-time throws for us, pushed the ball down the sector. The numbers say what they’re going to say. I’m pleased with my group, our group. I’m pleased with the battle. We got here up quick but once more towards the world champs. Twice now.”
The hapless Raiders had been in a position to grasp round because of the identical issues which have plagued the Chiefs a lot of the season: Their offensive tackles had been unable to provide Mahomes time to throw, their secondary stored breaking down and so they dedicated too many penalties – three on one offensive possession alone.
In reality, Mahomes was beneath excessive duress when he discovered Justin Watson from six yards out late within the first half. The cross not solely gave the Chiefs a 10-3 lead however despatched the two-time MVP previous Len Dawson along with his franchise-record 328th TD throw.
O’Connell, thrust again onto the sector when Gardner Minshew broke his collarbone final weekend, acquired off to a gradual begin after lacking a month with a damaged thumb. However because the Chiefs continued to kick subject objectives, O’Connell discovered his rhythm, ultimately slinging a pair of landing passes to provide Las Vegas the lead.
The primary was to Bowers, already some of the productive rookies in NFL historical past, with 1:40 left within the third quarter. Then, after the Chiefs went three-and-out, O’Connell hit Tre Tucker with 58-yard strike on the primary play of the fourth quarter.
The Chiefs answered with Wright’s fourth subject objective to take a 19-17 lead with about 10 minutes to go.
An entire lot was nonetheless to transpire earlier than that was the ultimate rating.
“The win was a constructive right here. This stuff are onerous to get, particularly towards this crew,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned. “They do a pleasant job towards us it appears each time we play them. It comes proper right down to the top.”
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