In return to K.C., there’s plenty for Las Vegas to regret
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Las Vegas Raiders were last seen in Kansas City taking a victory lap around Arrowhead Stadium in their team buses, and they decided it was wise to stomp on the Chiefs’ logo at midfield shortly before kickoff Sunday.
They probably regret both of those ideas.
Patrick Mahomes threw his first two touchdown passes in nearly a month, Clyde Edwards-Helaire added two more scores on the ground, and the Chiefs’ defense forced five turnovers in a 48-9 victory over the Raiders that kept Kansas City comfortably atop the AFC West.
“You don’t want people coming into your stadium and trying to disrespect things you’ve built,” Mahomes said. “So for us, there was a little more motivation to go against a really good football team that we have a rivalry against.”
Derek Gore’s 51-yard TD run with 7:19 left in the fourth quarter allowed Kansas City (9-4) to eclipse the largest margin of victory in a series that began in 1960 and has been played 126 times. The previous record was 35 points in 1964.
Tyrann Mathieu had an interception and fumble recovery, Mike Hughes forced two fumbles and returned another 23 yards for a TD, and Kansas City built a 35-0 first-half lead in its sixth consecutive win.
“I didn’t see this coming,” Raiders head coach Rich Bisaccia said. “I didn’t see the turnovers from good players.
When that happens, it’s like, ‘Geez, what’s going to happen next?’ ”
Kansas City has won eight of its past nine against the Raiders (6-7), outscoring them 89-23 in two games this season.
“I would have been upset, too, if I was them,” said Raiders linebacker K.J. Wright, adding the pregame huddle at midfield was a spur-of-the-moment idea. “They responded to their anger. We didn’t respond when they did that.”