Raiders score on final play of game to beat Chiefs
OAKLAND — Wins have been so hard to come by for the Oakland Raiders that it took three tries at the final play for them finally to pull this one out and possibly save their season.
Derek Carr threw a 2-yard touchdown pass to Michael Crabtree on the final play after the game was extended by two straight defensive holding calls and the Raiders snapped a four-game losing streak with a 31-30 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Thursday night.
“We didn’t give up,” Crabtree said. “We got a team full of fighters. We believe . ... No matter how hard the game was, we believed. We came out with the W and I’m excited. It’s a good way to win, a great way to win.”
With their season on the line following the recent slump, Carr led an 85yard touchdown drive in the final 2:25 to give the Raiders (3-4) the thrilling
comeback in a game they trailed by nine points heading into the fourth quarter.
Carr finished 29 for 52 for 417 yards and three touchdowns, with Amari Cooper catching 11 passes for 210 yards and two of the scores. The Raiders had struggled to get the ball downfield while being held to 17 or fewer points in four straight games but Carr repeatedly beat the Chiefs with deep passes.
“No. 4 kept making plays,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “This is a special, special win.”
Alex Smith threw for 342 yards and three touchdowns but it wasn’t enough for the Chiefs (5-2). They lost consecutive games for the first time since Oct. 11-18, 2015, and had their 12-game winning streak in the AFC West snapped in a thrilling finish.
“I’ve never been part of a game that came down so dramatic,” linebacker Derrick Johnson said. “But, still had a chance to win. Period. Just have to make a play. One play. One play.”
The Raiders had an apparent go-ahead touchdown pass to Jared Cook with 18 seconds left overturned when replay ruled he was down at the 1. An offensive pass interference on Crabtree wiped out another touchdown on the next play.