Raiders’ disastrous fumble helps Chiefs win another nail-biter

KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs clinched a playoff berth and accomplished the first of their 2024 goals with a 19-17 win over the Las Vegas Raiders on Black Friday.

It was another ugly win, too close for comfort, for the defending Super Bowl champions, who led by 13 points in the third quarter, only to have a one-possession lead by the fourth quarter. . Leading by two points, the Raiders reached field goal position with 14 seconds left and looked in prime position to pull off the upset. However, an illegal shift penalty and a turnover by the offense cost Vegas the chance to kick the winning field goal.

Next, the Chiefs will aim for their ninth straight AFC West title. They can win the division title by defeating the Los Angeles Chargers on Dec. 8 at Arrowhead Stadium. At 11-1, the Chiefs lead the rest of the AFC in their quest for the No. 1 seed in the conference playoffs.

Describe this game in two words: Pacheco is back. Running back Isaiah Pacheco played for the first time since breaking his foot in a Week 2 game. Pacheco made a big play in the third quarter with a 34-yard run on a field goal drive.

Promising trends: The Chiefs, who had just two sacks in their previous two games, sacked Las Vegas quarterback Aidan O’Connell three times. Defensive tackle Chris Jones, held without a sack since Week 4 against the Chargers, dropped O’Connell twice.

Eye-opening statistics: According to Next Gen Stats, quarterback Patrick Mahomes’ second-quarter touchdown pass to receiver Justin Watson had a 26.6% success rate. This is his lowest touchdown pass percentage (22%) since his touchdown throw to Darrell Williams in the fourth quarter against the Raiders in Week 10 of 2021.

Predictions for next week: Cornerback Josh Williams remains in the starting lineup. He replaced Najee Johnson in the second quarter of the game against the Raiders after he was hit by a long pass. Williams, who played well at times for the Chiefs, was an upgrade over Johnson. — Adam Teicher

Next match: vs. Chargers (December 8, 8:20 p.m. ET)

Las Vegas Raiders manager Antonio Pierce raised eyebrows when he acknowledged a legend surrounding the Black Friday game, saying it was “the best team in football against the worst team in football.” However, neither team could play their part in the Chiefs’ victory. Everything is out the window in rivalry games, but there’s something about a holiday week game at Arrowhead, where the Raiders upset the Chiefs last Christmas. Practically speaking, scaring a two-time Super Bowl champion team is the definition of a moral victory for Las Vegas, while the Raiders, who are in need of rebuilding reinforcements, will be drafted higher up in the loss with the loss. He is on pace to aim for the No. 3 pick.

The most amazing performance: Kicker Daniel Carlson missed three field goals. Indeed, they had three long tries in a row from 56, 55 and 58 yards in the cold. But what made the miss so surprising was that Karlsson had made 18 consecutive field goals before narrowly missing his first and third and making his second wide left.

Promising trends: The Raiders entered the game with the worst rushing attack in the NFL, averaging 74.6 yards per game. They rushed for 116 yards against the Chiefs, who entered the day with the No. 3 rushing defense.

Predictions for next week: Deeper ball. In fact, the vertical game is in the Raiders’ DNA, so it wouldn’t be surprising to see Vegas shoot deeper next week in Tampa Bay. But with the return of Aidan O’Connell and his ability to throw the ball deeper than the injured Gardner Minshew, Interim Offensive Coordinator Scott Turner created a back-to-back defense created by interim offensive coordinator Scott Turner and assisted by his father, Norv, a speedy receiver. You can expect the atmosphere of The Future. Tre Tucker scores a 58-yard TD in Kansas City.

QB breakdown: Mr. O’Connell is who we thought he was. O’Connell, playing for the first time since fracturing his right (pass) thumb on October 20, was comfortable throwing deep in the pocket, but also showed a lack of his trademark mobility. He completed 23-of-35 passes for 340 yards, but had three sacks, one of which sent the Raiders out of field goal range.

Important plays: O’Connell wasn’t ready for Jackson Powers-Johnson’s snap at the Chiefs’ 38-yard line with 14 seconds left. As the Raiders were in position for the winning field goal, the ball bounced off his chest and was recovered by O’Connell. Chiefs LB Nick Bolton. Ball game. — Paul Gutierrez

Next match: At Buccaneers (December 8, 1:00 p.m. ET)