The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have made a behavior of profitable video games in probably the most inconceivable of how.
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 last 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 obtained 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.
Slightly 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 a couple of 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 truly didn’t watch,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce mentioned of the fateful play. “That final play there was quite a bit occurring, 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 targets for the two-time defending Tremendous Bowl champion Chiefs (11-1), who gained their NFL record-extending 14th consecutive one-possession sport.
Like lots of them, together with final week’s last-second win over Carolina, the Chiefs gave the impression 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 enjoying our greatest soccer,” Mahomes mentioned. “Now we have to discover a strategy to construct as much as play nice (as) a full, whole 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 sphere, however his 58-yard strive with 2:21 remaining by no means obtained 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 have 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 sphere. The numbers say what they’re going to say. I’m happy with my group, our group. I’m happy with the combat. We got here up quick but once more in opposition to the world champs. Twice now.”
The hapless Raiders have been in a position to dangle round due to the identical issues which have plagued the Chiefs a lot of the season: Their offensive tackles have been unable to present Mahomes time to throw, their secondary stored breaking down and so they dedicated too many penalties – three on one offensive possession alone.
Actually, 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 together with his franchise-record 328th TD throw.
O’Connell, thrust again onto the sphere when Gardner Minshew broke his collarbone final weekend, obtained off to a sluggish begin after lacking a month with a damaged thumb. However because the Chiefs continued to kick subject targets, O’Connell discovered his rhythm, ultimately slinging a pair of landing passes to present 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 optimistic right here. These items are arduous to get, particularly in opposition to this crew,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid mentioned. “They do a pleasant job in opposition to us it appears each time we play them. It comes proper all the way down to the top.”
