Raiders stun Chiefs as Carr shines
Seven years of misery at Arrowhead Stadium ended for the Las Vegas Raiders with a 40-32 win.
Seven years of misery at Arrowhead Stadium ended for the Las Vegas Raiders with a 40-32 win over the unbeaten defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
It was the signature win for quarterback Derek Carr, who was 0- 6 at Kansas City, as well as the biggest win in the second tenure of coach Jon Gruden.
Carr had touchdown passes of 59 yards to Nelson Agholor, 5 yards to Darren Waller and 72 yards to rookie Henry Ruggs III, with Josh Jacobs (23 carries, 77 yards) adding touchdown runs of 7 and 2 yards. He completed 22 of 31 passes for 347 yards, shaking off an early interception that led to a Chiefs touchdown.
It was a Carr quarterback sneak on fourth-and-1 with less than two-minutes to play at the Chiefs 45 to seal the win.
Daniel Carlson had field goals of 38 and 43 yards for the Raiders, who improved to 3-2 heading in to their bye week.
Kansas City, which matched the Raiders point for point in a 2424 first half, stalled as the Raiders much-maligned defense came out of nowhere to force three straight punts and get a huge interception and 48-yard return from safety Jeff Heath.
For the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes had a 3-run run and touchdown passes of 10 yards to Tyreek Hill and eight yards to Sammy Watkins. Harrison Butker also kicked a 32-yard field goal. Mahomes threw a third touchdown pass to Travis Kelce with remaining to and also hit Darryl Williams for a two-point conversion to cut the lead to 40-32.
Mahomes was 22 of 43 for 340 yards.
Highs, lows and all you need to know:
HEATH STEALS IT >> With the defense having forced three straight punts, the Chiefs were forced to go for a first down on fourthand-7 and Mahomes threw an interception to reserve safety Jeff Heath. Heath returned it 48 yards to the 2-yard line, where Jacobs finished it off with a 2-yard run
and a 40-24 lead with 5:26 remaining.
It was Mahomes’ second interception of the season. THIRD-AND-18 ... YES, REALLY >> Carlson’s 43-yard field goal for a 33-24 lead came on a drive where the big play was a 42yard hookup from Carr to Hunter Renfrow on thirdand-18.
On the previous play, a dubious tight end screen from Carr to Jason Witten netted two yards.
JACOBS BRINGS IT HOME >> After a third quarter in which the Raiders had the ball for more than 10 minutes, Jacobs finished off a 13-play, 71-yard touchdown drive with a seven run. The bad news? Carlson missed the extra point, with the Raiders leading 30-24 with 14:14 to play. Head converted his previous 15 point-after-touchdowns.
The touchdown drive took eight minutes off the clock.
THIRD- QUARTER SHIFT >> The Raiders ended the third quarter with Carr sneaking for a first down behind Rodney Hudson on fourth-and-1 with the ball on the Chiefs 14-yard line.
Neither team scored in the quarter — not what anybody figured after the fireworks in the first half. TYING ONE ON >> Butker’s 32-yard field goal with 28 seconds left in the half tied the score 24-24.
The Chiefs had a 4-yard touchdown pass from Mahomes to 4-yard to Edwards- Helaire nullified by an offensive pass interference penalty on Travis Kelce.
Carr finished the first half 11 of 13 for 246 yards, three touchdowns and an interceptions. Mahomes was 14 of 27 for 237 yards and a touchdown.
THE MAD BOMBER >> On third-and-2 from the 28yard line, Carr channeled his inner Daryle Lamonica with a 72-yard touchdown sstrike to Ruggs with 2:39 left in the half. It turned a 21- deficit to a 24-21 lead.
At that point, Carr was 9 of 11 for 235 yards and two touchdowns. It was Ruggs’ second catch for 118 yards. The m ver tost yards Carr had ever thrown for at Arrowhead in a game is 222 (twice).
BOOKER BREAKS OUT >> A 43-yard run by Booker was the big play in a 75-yard, five play Raiders drive to pull within 21-17 with 6:25 left in the half.
Carr also completed a 23-yard swing pass to his right for 23 yards to fullback Alec Ingold and threw the 5- yard dar t to Waller for the touchdown.
MAHOMES MAGIC >>
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Chiefs went up 21-10 with 9:04 left in the half when Mahomes escaped backside pressure from Maxx Crosby, rolled to his right and threw a bullet to Watkins for an 8-yard touchdown.
It was a seven-play, 75yard drive taking just 2:44 off the clock in answer to the Raiders’ touchdown pass from Carr to Agholor.
Mahomes also had a 37-yard pass to HIll over Trayvon Mullen to the Raiders’ 9-yard line.
THE BOUNCEBACK >> Carr’s 46-yard touchdown strike to Agholor brought the Raiders within 14-10 with 11:48 to play. Coming as it did after a bad intercepetion to set up a Kansas City touchdown, the Raiders did something they seldom do in Kansas City. Answered a score with a score.
Devontae Booker carried three times for 11 yards, including a shortyardage first down, and caught a 5-yard pass on the 75-yard, five-play drive. CARR VS. ARROWHEAD >> The Raiders got bold on third-and-1 from their own 37 late in the first quarter, with Carr play-faking and throwing a mediumdeep pass to Waller. The ball sailed over Waller’s head and in to the arms of Bashaud Breeland, who 28 yards to the Raiders’ 28yard line.
It was Carr’s first interception of the season and first since Week 13 last season — in Kansas City, of course.
The turnover set the Chiefs up for a short-field drive with Hill sweeping right from the 10 for the touchdown and a 14-3 lead 14:29 left in the half. LITTLETON CAN’T KEEP UP >> The Chiefs opening drive featured a 32-yard Mahomes to Kelce completion on third-and-7 to the Raiders’ 3-yard line. Kelce was isolated on linebacker Cory Littleton, whose job description upon signing a three-year, $36 million free agent deal was to provide pass coverage against the running backs and tight ends — such as Kelce — that have tortured the Raiders for years.
Mahomes then scrambled to his left for the 3- yard run to put the Chiefs up 7- 3 with 2:06 left in the first quarter. The drive covered 88 yards in nine plays.
THE RUGGS FACTOR >> On the R a iders opening drive, Ruggs went up and grabbed a 46-yard, thirdand-10 snag against Rashad Fenton to the Chiefs’ 24-yard line. Carr missed Rico Gafford in a a subseqent shot at the end zone, and consecutive false starts from Kolton Miller and Brown led to setting for Carlson’s 38-yard field goal.