Chiefs defeat Raiders with late touchdown
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden reacts after the Chiefs scored the goahead touchdown with 28 seconds remaining in Las Vegas. The Raiders dropped to 64, while
LAS VEGAS — Patrick Mahomes threw a 22yard touchdown pass to Travis Kelce with 28 seconds to play, and Kansas City beat Las Vegas — the only team to defeat the Chiefs in the past 12 months — 3531 on Sunday night.
Mahomes passed for 348 yards and led two goahead scoring drives in the frantic fourth quarter for the defending Super Bowl champions, who split their season series with the Raiders ( 64) in dramatic fashion.
Kelce caught eight passes for 127 yards for the Chiefs ( 91), who are in firm control of the race for their fifth straight AFC West title — but only after another thrilling comeback led by their Super Bowl MVP, who bounced back from his second interception of the season late in the first half.
The Raiders led 2421 on Darren Waller’s TD catch on the first play of the fourth quarter, but Mahomes led a 91yard scoring drive midway through the period capped by Le’Veon Bell’s first TD for Kansas City.
Derek Carr and the Raiders replied with a crisp drive ending on Jason Witten’s 1yard TD catch with 1: 43 left.
But the Chiefs needed only 75 seconds to go 75 yards for another score, with Mahomes going 6for7 on the drive. Kelce got open across the middle for the score.
Daniel Sorensen then picked off a heave to midfield by Carr with 19 seconds left, and the Chiefs kneeled out their 18th win in their past 19 games since Nov. 10, 2019.
Carr passed for 275 yards and three touchdowns in a strong performance, but the Raiders couldn’t match their offensive excellence in their 4032 win at Kansas City last month. The Chiefs have won five straight since that defeat.
Nelson Agholor also caught a TD pass and Josh Jacobs rushed for a score for the Raiders, who dropped to 23 at Allegiant Stadium in their new hometown.
Tyreek Hill caught an early TD pass for the Chiefs, and Clyde Edwards-Helaire rushed for 69 yards and two TDs as Kansas City responded to a rare defeat with an inspired performance. These rivals’ mutual distaste was obvious throughout the night, with plenty of confrontations and yapping after whistles. Kelce and Johnathan Abram had particularly active mouths.
The Raiders capped their win in Kansas City last month with a victory lap around Arrowhead Stadium in their team buses, a swaggering gesture that annoyed the Chiefs and coach Andy Reid, who improved to 193 after his bye week with this victory.
Las Vegas’ defense hung in against the highpowered Chiefs despite having placed nine players on the reserve/ COVID19 list during the past week, essentially preventing the defense from practicing for its toughest opponent. Six of those players returned for the game, but the Raiders still played without starters Cory Littleton and Clelin Ferrell.