The Las Vegas Raiders find a way to lose to give the Chiefs another big win

It’s great to win, and the Kansas City Chiefs, who have won three Super Bowls in the last five seasons, know that. But it also ends up in the win column when the other team does stupid things to lose the game – and That’s exactly what the Las Vegas Raiders did on Friday.

The Raiders lost to the Chiefs on Friday.

It was embarrassing.

Bizarre.

Embarrassing, almost.

KANSAS CITY – Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce watches during the second half of the game against the Kansas City Chiefs on November 29, 2024 at GEHA Field in Arrowhead Stadium. Photo: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Raiders lose it – again

“We came up short again,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said afterwards. “These are the world champions. That’s twice now. I thought that we played very hard against them this season and had the chance to win there proud, that means playing for each other, there is no head down.

“I don’t know what to say after defeats, do I? We have to keep fighting the way they compete.

And what you just read is a coach telling you that he hasn’t lost the locker room and believes he deserves to keep his job despite the poor record. That’s Pierce’s argument.

But this loss doesn’t help. Because if you thought the Chicago Bears managed the strangest way to lose an NFL game in recent days, then I present to you the Raiders and their poorly timed center snap that catches the quarterback off guard.

KANSAS CITY – Las Vegas Raiders tight end Brock Bowers (89) runs with the ball against Kansas City Chiefs safety Nazeeh Johnson (13) during the first half at GEHA Field in Arrowhead Stadium on November 29, 2024. Photo: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

The Chiefs fought to win

The Raiders lost 19:17 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Well, that and three missed field goals from kicker Daniel Carlson.

We say “lost” because the Raiders apparently did more to lose this game than the Chiefs did to win. No, Chiefs fans might not see it that way. But Chiefs fans aren’t writing this column so they can chase their three-peat celebrations, and I’ll chase the facts.

The fact is, the Chiefs know they haven’t played well.

“We just have such high expectations of ourselves that we don’t feel like we’re playing our best football together,” quarterback Patrick Mahomes said. “We have to find a way to build ourselves up so we can play great as a complete team… at the end of the day that’s what we’re aiming for.”

But in the meantime, we present the Raiders. And their 2-10 options.

KANSAS CITY – Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell (12) is sacked by Kansas City Chiefs defensive tackle Chris Jones (95) in the first half at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 29, 2024. Photo: Denny Medley-Imagn Images

Raiders wanted to waste 4 seconds

Trailing by two points within two minutes, the Raiders drove from their own 8-yard line to the Kansas City 32 and had 15 seconds left to set up for a game-winning field goal.

And with 15 seconds left to play, the Raiders lined up for one final play from scrimmage before giving Carlson one more chance for a kick – this one to win the game.

“We were just going to throw the ball out of bounds to kill another four or five seconds and then kick a 49-yard field goal,” Pierce said.

But center Andre James snapped the football to quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who apparently wasn’t ready for the snap. The surprise snap hit O’Connell in the chest, ricocheted and was kicked by a Las Vegas offensive lineman.

The muff was eventually recovered by Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton. It gave the Chiefs the ball.

There were 11 seconds left on the clock, but yeah, game over.

Mahomes knelt. The Chiefs won again.

KANSAS CITY – Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes (15) battles Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) in the first half at GEHA Field in Arrowhead Stadium on Nov. 29, 2024. Photo: Jay Biggerstaff-Imagn Images

Bosses have problems

They have won 14 consecutive games by one possession, breaking the NFL record previously set by the New England Patriots in 2003–2004.

They are now 63-1 when leading by 13 or more points in the second half.

And all of this happens in the midst of difficulties. problems.

Both of Kansas City’s offensive tackles have been bad this year and were in this game. Right tackle Jawaan Taylor was flagged multiple times for illegal formation in the backfield. Left tackle Wanya Morris is just a mediocre player playing because Kingsley Suamatala is a young player who hasn’t fully developed yet and recently added DJ Humphries isn’t ready yet.

Morris allowed a sack in a crucial red zone situation. And he was benched in the fourth quarter and replaced by left guard Joe Thuney.

“Vanya struggled a little bit,” Chiefs coach Andy Reid said. “Pat took a few hits there, so we struggled at times.”

Mahomes was sacked five times, marking the second straight game in which he was sacked at least five times.

KANSAS CITY – Aidan O’Connell #12 of the Las Vegas Raiders congratulates Patrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs after the game at GEHA Field at Arrowhead Stadium on November 29, 2024. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)

Mahomes: “There’s still a long way to go”

Did I mention the Chiefs only scored one touchdown? One.

“At the end of the day, there were too many mistakes,” Mahomes said. “I thought there were moments where we moved the ball offensively. We didn’t execute in the red zone. We didn’t execute enough on the third down. Too many mistakes. We have to clean that up if we want to get where we want to go.”

The Chiefs defense struggled before the fateful muff against O’Connell. O’Connell had not played in recent weeks because of a finger injury, but was forced into the lineup when Gardner Minshew broke his collarbone.

And although O’Connell hasn’t played recently, he led the Chiefs to 340 yards and two touchdowns with one interception.

Despite the odds, the Chiefs’ win secured them a spot in the playoffs.

“If you secure your spot in the playoffs, that’s the first goal that gives you a chance to get to the Super Bowl,” Mahomes said. “But we know we still have a long way to go. We have to continue to work on getting better and being a better football team going into the playoffs.”

In fact, the Chiefs are the first team to secure a playoff spot this season. It obviously helps to win. And it also helps when the other team does things to lose.