The Kansas Metropolis Chiefs would appear to have already used 5 years of excellent luck this season, however the soccer gods simply preserve delivering extra.
The Chiefs did not wait till the final play to get their success this time, however a botched snap by the Los Angeles Raiders on Friday and a restoration by the Chiefs with 11 seconds left qualifies as one other gorgeous dose.
The Raiders had been on the Kansas Metropolis 32-yard line and in place to try a go-ahead area aim when the Chiefs once more acquired late-game magic. That 19-17 escape marked Kansas Metropolis’s ninth victory by single digits this season—a brand new NFL report.
5 of Kansas Metropolis’s victories have been decided on the ultimate play of the sport: two made area targets, one speeding landing in time beyond regulation, one blocked area aim and one opponent landing overturned.
Now they get this newest win the place Raiders heart Jackson Powers-Johnson unexpectedly snapped the ball. It caromed off the higher proper arm of quarterback Aidan O’Connell, and the Chiefs’ Nick Bolton recovered it to go away Las Vegas surprised and make Kansas Metropolis (10-1) the primary crew to clinch a playoff spot.
Kansas Metropolis blew a 16-3 lead in opposition to the lowly Raiders (2-10), who scored two touchdowns to maneuver forward earlier than the Chiefs received a go-ahead area aim from Matthew Wright.
5 days earlier, the Chiefs blew a 14-point lead in opposition to the horrid Carolina Panthers earlier than needing a area aim as time expired to win.
So we’re seeing that Kansas Metropolis is not a formidable crew. Star quarterback Patrick Mahomes stated the Chiefs must get higher. I believe all of us agree with him.
To not be forgotten is that Kansas Metropolis wobbled lots final season. After their Week 10 bye, the Chiefs misplaced 4 of their subsequent six video games to fall to 9-6, and folks had been questioning what was improper.
Kansas Metropolis completed 11-6 and beat the Miami Dolphins within the wild-card spherical when the temperature was minus-4 (appears like minus-27) at kickoff. Then it gained highway video games in opposition to the Buffalo Payments and Baltimore Ravens earlier than notching an time beyond regulation victory over the San Francisco 49ers.
So after ‘what’s improper with the Chiefs?’ was the massive late December query, these guys rallied to win the entire darn factor.
That makes it tough to evaluate the present Chiefs. They’re enjoying a number of shut video games and likewise enjoying right down to the competitors.
However solely the highly effective Buffalo Payments have overwhelmed them.
As for the Raiders (2-10), they misplaced their eighth straight sport since beating the Cleveland Browns on Sept. 29.
Las Vegas has misplaced 5 video games by double digits in the course of the stretch, and the one place the place Friday’s loss helps is that it improves the possibilities of gaining the No. 1 total decide within the 2025 NFL Draft.
Quarterback Aidan O’Connell was again after breaking his proper (throwing) thumb in Week 7 in opposition to the Los Angeles Rams. He fared properly by throwing for 2 touchdowns and a career-high 340 yards.
With Gardner Minshew (collarbone) completed for the season, the Raiders want to check O’Connell the remainder of the marketing campaign to allow them to make this determination: Is he our quarterback of the longer term, or do we have to discover one?
There are definitely issues to love about O’Connell. When the Raiders had been down 13 factors, this sport might have gotten away quick. However O’Connell picked up his play and made some big-time throws.
Rookie tight finish Brock Bowers caught 10 passes for 140 yards and he’s a particular future star.
However wanting on the complete image, it is a depressing season for Las Vegas. The Raiders even misplaced at residence by 14 factors to the Panthers.
It’s important to marvel if coach Antonio Pierce will preserve his job. He did job final season by going 5-4 after taking on, however there is not a lot good to dig up this time round.
Maybe he deserves a second full season out of equity, however you understand what can occur when preserving a coach out of charity? One other double-digit loss season.
On Friday, that was a sport the Raiders had been in place to win. Then snap—it wasn’t.
