Beating Chiefs is signature win for Carr
Gruden also enjoys biggest moment of his second tenure
Seven years of misery at Arrowhead Stadium ended for the Raiders with a 40-32 win over the unbeaten defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday.
It was a 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 seven and two yards. Carr 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-yard line that sealed 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 after facing four straight opponents that were in the playoffs in 2019.
K a nsa s Cit y, which matched the Raiders point for point in a 24-24 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.
Gruden did his best to be under control on what was
his most significant Sunday since he won the Super Bowl against the Raiders against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers following the 2003 season.
“We’re getting better,” Gruden said. “We’re finding ways to move the ball. We got some stops when we needed them, but we still have a long way to go.”
For the Chiefs, Patrick Mahomes (22 of 43, 340 yards) had a 3-yard touchdown run and scoring passes of 10 yards to Tyreek Hill and 8 yards to Sammy Watkins. Harrison Butker also kicked a 32-yard field goal. Mahomes threw a third touchdown pass to Travis Kelce and hit Darryl Williams for a two-point conversion to cut the Raiders’ lead to 40-32 with 3:57 left. They never got the ball back.
During the seven game losing streak at Arrowhead, the Raiders had never scored more than 17 points in a game. They scored 21 in the second quarter alone.
Highs, lows and all you need to know:
HEATH STEALS IT AND SEALS IT >> After the Raiders forced three straight punts, the Chiefs had to go for a first down on fourth- and-7 in their own territory 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 4024 lead with 5:26 remaining.
It was Mahomes’ first interception of the season and highlighted a defensive effort that saw the Raiders force three straight punts before Heath’s play. 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 42-yard hookup from Carr to Hunter Renfrow on third-and-18.
On the previous play, a dubious tight end screen from Carr to Jason Witten netted 2 yards.
FOURTH-AND-1 GAMBLES >> Twice in the second half Gruden went for first downs on fourth-and-1, with Carr converting on quarterback sneaks.
“We just did not want to give Mahomes another crack at it,” Gruden said.
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, but it ended up not being a factor.
The touchdown drive took eight minutes off the clock. The Raiders, who went from a high-f lying downfield passing team in a 24-24 first half, seized momentum in the second half with a 20:30 to 9:30 advantage in time of possession.
“The thing about going score for score and having a shootout is, I mean look the guys they have. They have Patrick Mahomes. It’s a never a game you want to play with him,” Jacobs said. “To see the defense come up and make plays is awesome.”
RUGGS UPSTAGES HILL >> With receptions of 46 yards to set up Carlson’s first field goal and 72 yards on a strike from Carr to put the Raiders up for the first time at 24-21, Ruggs upstaged the Chiefs’ Hill. Ruggs was drafted by the Raiders with giving the offense the kind of lift Hill gives the Chiefs.
“I definitely admire Tyreek,” Ruggs, the Raiders’ first-round pick, said. “I really don’t compare myself to anyone, but I know I have a role in this offense. I came here to do what coach wants me to do. When my number’s called I’ll do what I have to do to make plays.”
Said Gruden: “We didn’t bring him here to run hitch routes.”
THE MAD BOMBER >> On third- and-2 from the 28yard line, Carr channeled his inner Daryle Lamonica with a 72-yard touchdown strike to Ruggs with 2:39 left in the half. It turned a 21-17 deficit to a 24-21 lead.
BOOKER BREAKS OUT >> A 43-yard run by Devontae Booker was the big play in a 75-yard, five-play scoring drive to pull the Raiders 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 dart to Waller for the touchdown.
Booker finished with 62 yards on seven carries.
BALANCING ACT >> The Raiders remained balanced in terms of play selection even as they were putting up big numbers in the first half and then taking control physically in the second half. The Raiders ran the ball 14 times and passed it 13 in the first half, and ended the game with 35 runs (for 144 yards) and 31 passes (for 347). MAHOMES MAGIC >> T he 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. Most of Mahomes’ damage came on unscripted plays where he broke free and made plays.
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 37yard pass to HIll over Trayvon Mullen to the Raiders’ 9-yard line.