The Kansas City Chiefs are finding weird ways to win this season. Friday was the weirdest way of all.
The Las Vegas Raiders were in field goal range with less than 20 seconds left, and they were trying to get closer. Rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson then snapped to quarterback Aidan O’Connell in shotgun before he was ready, and it hit him in the chest. The Chiefs fell on the ball and after a long conference between the officials, they ruled the Chiefs had recovered the fumble. Game over. Chiefs win 19-17.
After the game, Powers-Johnson took the blame for the blunder, saying it was a miscommunication between he and O’Connell.
#Raiders C Jackson Powers-Johnson said it was a miscommunication on the final offensive play. He thought O’Connell was calling for the snap, but he wasn’t. He shouldered the blame.
“We didn’t come up short,” Powers-Johnson said, “I came up short.”
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) November 29, 2024
Kansas City is doing just enough to get by, and they seem to find a way to win close games over inferior teams every week. Amazingly, that’s been good enough for a 11-1 record. The Chiefs looked unimpressive yet again on Friday, but as usual they found a way to win. This time it was holding off the Las Vegas Raiders, who are now 2-10.
The Chiefs are now the first team this season to clinch a playoff spot, but their issues are legitimate. Their offensive tackles are struggling badly. The offensive skill-position talent is good but doesn’t have a lot of explosive speed outside of Xavier Worthy, who is an unreliable rookie. The defense this season has been good but short of what it was last season.
And despite all of that, the Chiefs are 11-1. And as we all learned last season, when the games matter most in January, the Chiefs’ issues just seem to fade away once the postseason starts and they’re marching to another Super Bowl. But they shouldn’t be barely beating teams like the Raiders.
Chiefs struggle early
Early on the game seemed to be there for the taking for the Raiders. They just kept blowing opportunities.
The Raiders were able to move the ball well enough but couldn’t do enough on the Chiefs’ side of the field. Daniel Carlson missed two long field goals. The Raiders, one of the worst rushing teams in the NFL over many years, also got stuffed on a fourth-and-1 handoff at the Chiefs’ 31.
Late in the third quarter, right before O’Connell took a 15-yard sack that led into Carlson missing another field goal, the Raiders were outgaining the Chiefs. And they trailed 13-3.
Finally, the Raiders made a move. Ameer Abdullah had a long kickoff return and then electric rookie tight end Brock Bowers had a great touchdown grab from 33 yards out. The Raiders trailed 16-10.
Once again, the back-to-back champion Chiefs were in a closer game than anyone expected against one of the worst teams in the NFL. Then it got serious as the Raiders took a fourth-quarter lead.
Raiders hit a big play
On the first play of the fourth quarter, O’Connell threw deep down the left sideline. Tre Tucker got behind the Chiefs secondary and caught a 58-yard touchdown that gave the Raiders a lead and gave everyone a jolt.
At that moment, eight seconds into the fourth quarter, the Raiders had outplayed the Chiefs. At Arrowhead Stadium. With O’Connell returning from injury to play his first game in over a month.
The Chiefs put together a drive into Raiders territory, though that stalled when both tackles were beaten on a third-and-goal play and Kansas City settled for a field goal and a 19-17 lead. Mahomes was visibly upset after that play, and on the next series guard Joe Thuney replaced Wanya Morris at left tackle. That’s a situation the Chiefs have to figure out before the playoffs.
The Raiders had a shot to take a late lead. They drove into Chiefs territory in the final minutes. But with 2:17 left, not facing a decent option on fourth-and-11, Carlson tried a 58-yard field goal and was well short for his third miss of the day. Carlson has been one of the best kickers in the NFL over his career, but the Chiefs caught him on what might be his worst day as a pro.
And because the Chiefs couldn’t put the game away, the Raiders had yet another chance. Bowers had a huge 25-yard catch down the middle to get the Raiders close to field-goal range, and then Jakobi Meyers and Ameer Abdullah made catches to get Las Vegas even closer. But the Raiders screwed up the shotgun snap, the Chiefs fell on it and the game was over.
The play call came in late, and with the play clock winding down, O’Connell started clapping almost as soon as the huddle broke for the snap to come quickly. The left guard tapped Powers-Johnson, who snapped it before O’Connell was ready. It bounced off O’Connell and the Chiefs fell on it to end the game.
The Chiefs haven’t played well for much of the season. But their record is still almost pristine, somehow.
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Chiefs clinch playoff spot
With the win and improving to an 11–1 record, the Chiefs have clinched a playoff spot.
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Final Stats
Raiders: 434 yards offense
Aidan O’Connell 340 yards, 2 TDs, 23-of-35 passing
Brock Bowers 10 catches, 140 yards, 1 TD
Jakobi Meyers 6 catches, 97 yards
Sincere McCormick 12 rushes, 64 yards
Chiefs: 329 yards offense
Patrick Mahomes 306 yards, 1 TD, 26-of-46 passing
* Mahomes sacked 5 times
DeAndre Hopkins 4 catches, 90 yards
Travis Kelce 7 catches, 68 yards
Isiah Pacheco 7 carries, 44 yards
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FINAL: Chiefs 19, Raiders 17
The Raiders literally snap the ball away and the Chiefs escape with a 19–17 victory. Las Vegas wasn’t in a great position with no timeouts remaining, but that didn’t necessarily affect the bad snap. Did Jackson Powers-Johnson rush his snap because of the clock, however?
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Raiders botch snap and turn it over
Jackson Powers-Johnson snaps the ball before Aidan O’Connell is ready and it bounces off his chest. Nick Bolton recovers the fumble for the Chiefs and that is the dagger.
Terrible way to end for the Raiders.
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Raiders get to Chiefs’ 25-yard line
Brock Bowers strikes again, catching a 25-yard pass from Aidan O’Connell. The Raiders followed up with an 11-yard pass to Jakobi Meyers.
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Raiders force Chiefs to punt
Patrick Mahomes throws incomplete on a deep ball to Xavier Worthy on 3rd-and-2. Chiefs opt to punt from the Raiders’ 44-yard line.
Las Vegas takes over at its 8-yard line with 1:56 remaining and no timeouts.
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Carlson hits grass before the ball
Replay showed that Daniel Carlson’s right foot skidded on the turf before striking the ball, which is likely why his field goal try missed.
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Raiders stall at the 40-yard line, miss field goal
Justin Reid knocks down an Aidan O’Connell pass on 3rd-and-11. Raiders then opt for a 58-yard attempt by Daniel Carlson, but his kick curves left and is short.
Chiefs take over at their 48 with 2:21 remaining.
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Brock Bowers over 100 yards receiving
A four-yard catch by Brock Bowers puts him over the 100-yard mark. He has eight receptions for 101 yards and a touchdown.
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3-and-out for Kansas City
The Raiders’ defense forces Kansas City punt, tackling Samaje Perine three yards short of a first down on 3rd-and-8.
Matt Araiza’s punt goes 55 yards and Ameer Abdullah gets a 19-yard return. Las Vegas takes over at its 32-yard line with 5:15 remaining.
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Chiefs blitz forces quick incompletion by Aidan O’Connell
The Raiders have to punt after Aidan O’Connell has to throw the ball away quickly on a Kansas City blitz up the middle.
AJ Cole’s 55-yard punt pushes the Chiefs back to their 17-yard line with 6:46 remaining in the fourth quarter.
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Mahomes sacked, Chiefs have to settle for field goal
Wanya Morris lets K’Lavon Chaisson blow past him and he sacks Patrick Mahomes for a nine-yard loss on 3rd-and-goal from the 5-yard line.
Chiefs have to settle for a field goal, but that gives them the lead at 19–17 with 9:35 remaining in the fourth quarter.
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Chiefs on the move
Pass interference on the Raiders’ Decamerion Richardson gives the Chiefs a 26-yard gain to the Las Vegas 30-yard line.
Patrick Mahomes follows up with a 15-yard pass to DeAndre Hopkins and Kansas City is on the move.
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TOUCHDOWN: Raiders 17, Chiefs 16
Just like that, the Raiders are on top. After the Chiefs go 3-and out, Las Vegas turns around and scores a TD in two plays.
Aidan O’Connell connects with Tre Tucker streaking down the left sideline for a 58-yard score to tie the game. The Raiders take a one-point lead on the extra point.
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TOUCHDOWN: Chiefs 16, Raiders 10
The Raiders finally break through with a touchdown. Aidan O’Connell finds Brock Bowers for a 33-yard score, and Las Vegas is within six after the extra point.
That followed a 35-yard field goal from the Chiefs on the previous possession.
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Mahomes to Hopkins for 31 yards
Kansas City might be ready to make the Raiders pay for getting no points. Patrick Mahomes connects with DeAndre Hopkins for a 31-yard gain to advance to the Las Vegas’ 24-yard line.
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Raiders threaten, but do not score
A very promising drive for the Raiders ends with Daniel Carlson kicking a 55-yard field goal attempt wide left. Las Vegas has no points to show for the effort.
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Brock Bowers continues his great season
Aidan O’Connell hits rookie tight end Brock Bowers for a 29-yard gain and the Raiders are moving toward the red zone.
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The Chiefs can’t finish off their drive with a TD, settling for a field goal. But Matthew Wright‘s 42-yard attempt is good and Kansas City has a 10-point lead.
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Here comes Isiah Pacheco
Kansas City quickly makes the Raiders regret that fourth-down decision. Isiah Pacheco rips off a 34-yard run up the middle to the Las Vegas’ 14-yard line.
