The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs have made a behavior of successful video games in probably the most inconceivable of the way.
The way in which 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 successful subject purpose 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 an enormous cease in an enormous second that acquired us the win,” Mahomes stated.
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 shortly moved them throughout midfield, finally spiking the ball on the Kansas Metropolis 32 to cease the clock.
Fairly than attempt for the successful subject purpose – 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, heart 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 stated of the fateful play. “That final play there was rather a lot 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 appeared to be in no temper to have a good time.
“I imply, we simply maintain ourselves to such a excessive customary. We don’t really feel like we’re taking part in our greatest soccer,” Mahomes stated. “We have now to discover a solution to construct as much as play nice (as) a full, total staff. It’s superior that we’re discovering methods to get wins. That’s what you’re going for. However our purpose 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 compelled three incompletions – George Karlaftis and Justin Reid batted down two — to convey up fourth down.
Carlson headed onto the sphere, however his 58-yard attempt 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 stated. “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 staff, our staff. I’m happy with the struggle. We got here up quick but once more in opposition to the world champs. Twice now.”
The hapless Raiders have been capable of 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 saved 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 move 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, acquired off to a gradual begin after lacking a month with a damaged thumb. However because the Chiefs continued to kick subject targets, O’Connell discovered his rhythm, finally slinging a pair of landing passes to present Las Vegas the lead.
The primary was to Bowers, already one 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 purpose 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. This stuff are laborious to get, particularly in opposition to this crew,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid stated. “They do a pleasant job in opposition to us it appears each time we play them. It comes proper right down to the top.”
