In a rematch of their Week 5 thriller, the Kansas City Chiefs traveled to Las Vegas to battle the Raiders on Sunday Night Football. Trying to sweep the reigning Super Bowl champions for the first time in eight seasons, a back and forth affair all night long saw 66 points scored and over 824 yards of total offense. After taking a late lead on a one-yard touchdown pass from Derek Carr to Jason Witten, Jon Gruden’s team looked well on their way to capturing their seventh win of the season and pulling just one game behind Kansas City for the AFC West lead. However, the brilliance of Patrick Mahomes would be on display as the MVP favorite orchestrated a seven-play 75-yard drive to give his team a 35-31 victory.
First Quarter
Opening up the game first on offense, the potent Raiders’ rushing attack would enforce their will on Kansas City’s defense once again. After back to back completions by Carr to tight end Darren Waller and wide receiver Nelson Agholor, a one-yard touchdown plunge by Josh Jacobs gave Las Vegas an early 7-0 lead. Trying to answer their divisional rival with a score on their opening possession, a long drive by the world champion Chiefs would see the game become tied up at seven.
Taking over seven minutes of time off the clock, a healthy dosage of rookie Clyde Edwards-Helaire out of the backfield would set Kansas City up with first and ten on their opponent’s 13-yard line. Needing just two plays to find the end zone, a three-yard reception by Tyreek Hill tied the game at 7-7 with four minutes to go in the opening quarter. Efficient on their final drive of the opening quarter, Carr would find four different receivers to give the Raiders the ball deep in Kansas City territory in six quick plays. Looking sharp early on, the Fresno State alumn found Agholor in the end zone to retake a seven-point lead as the first quarter expired.
Second Quarter
Matching scores early on in the game, the Chiefs offense would respond once again in the early part of quarter number two. Taking advantage of strikes to receiver Demarcus Robinson and tight end Travis Kelce, a three-yard touchdown run by Edwards-Helaire knotted the game back up at 14. Motivated to knock of their divisional rival for the second time this season, the Raider’s offense would move the ball into the red zone for a third time on their next drive. Mixing up the run and the pass nicely to slow down the Chiefs defense, an 11-yard strike by Carr to Agholor would set the Raiders up with a goal to go. Ultimately becoming bogged down after an incomplete pass to rookie Bryan Edwards on third down, the team would settle for a 35-yard field goal by Daniel Carlson to take a three-point lead.
After back-to-back punts by both teams, Kansas City would look to put points on the board before the halftime break. Needing just nine plays to enter their opponent’s red zone, back-to-back Las Vegas penalties would set Kansas City up with the ball at their opponent’s 14-yard line. However, a rare mistake by Mahomes would prove costly as the 25-year-old tossed just his second interception of the season in a rare miscommunication. Kneeling out the clock after holding the Chiefs out of the end zone, the Raiders would enter the halftime break with a 17-14 lead.
Third Quarter
Beginning the final half of the game with the football, a long scoring drive by the world champion Chiefs saw the lead change once again. Using their running back tandem of Edwards-Helaire and Le’Veon Bell as both rushers and pass-catchers out of the backfield, back to back receptions by Kelce and Hill set up a 14-yard rushing score by Edwards Helaire to give his team a 21-17 advantage.
Matching Kansas City on offense like they had all game long, Carr and the Raiders were on the move once again on their opening possession of the half. Using a healthy dosage of Jacobs, the second-year back touched the ball five different times on the drive. Chewing up over six minutes of clock, a 3-yard strike from Carr to Waller gave his team the lead heading into the game’s final quarter.
Fourth Quarter
After an opening three-quarters full of scoring, both teams would trade punts to begin the final 15 minutes of play. Andy Reid‘s team would look to retake the lead on their next drive. Spreading the ball around nicely on the drive, a 19-yard catch by Kelce, followed by back to back catches by Hill, set the Chiefs up with first and goal. Needing just one play to find the end zone, a six-yard touchdown run by Bell gave the former New York Jet his first score with the team.
Refusing to go away on this night, Carr and the Raider’s offense looked like they were headed to a victory after taking a late lead. Finding four different targets on the drive, a one-yard touchdown reception by Witten gave Las Vegas a 31-28 lead with 1:43 to go in regulation. Ultimately leaving too much time on the clock for Kansas City, the Raiders would fall victim to a magical two-minute drive by Mahomes and the Chief’s offense. Needing just six plays to finish off their march to the end zone, a 22-yard strike to Kelce gave the team a 35-31 victory.
Highlights
6 plays. 75 yards. 3 minutes.
Las Vegas takes the lead. #RaiderNation
📺: #KCvsLV on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/O0IlFC03uf pic.twitter.com/Cs2IHPSRId— NFL (@NFL) November 23, 2020
BEAUTIFUL pass and catch for the @Raiders TD. @derekcarrQB ➡️ Nelson Agholor
📺: #KCvsLV on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/O0IlFC03uf pic.twitter.com/HAhpps1NGz— NFL (@NFL) November 23, 2020
MAHOMES MAGIC.@Chiefs take the lead with 34 seconds left! #ChiefsKingdom
📺: #KCvsLV on NBC
📱: NFL app // Yahoo Sports app: https://t.co/O0IlFC03uf pic.twitter.com/KkqcwyEIJs— NFL (@NFL) November 23, 2020
Looking to keep pace with the AFC leading Steelers for the elusive number one seed in the playoffs, the Chiefs will travel to Tampa Bay to battle Tom Brady and the Buccaneers next Sunday at 4:25 pm. Currently holding onto the seventh and final playoff spot in the conference, the Raiders travel to Atlanta in Week 12 to take on Matt Ryan and the Atlanta Falcons.
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