The Kansas City Chiefs have built a reputation for thriving in chaos, and Friday’s Black Friday showdown against the Las Vegas Raiders only added to their legend. In a game that had Patrick Mahomes and his teammates shaking their heads in disbelief, the Chiefs secured a dramatic 19-17 victory at Arrowhead Stadium, clinching their 10th consecutive playoff berth—an NFL milestone surpassed only by the New England Patriots’ 11-season streak (2009-2019).
With 15 seconds remaining, the Raiders, sitting at 2-10, had a chance to topple their AFC West nemesis. Rookie quarterback Aidan O’Connell had orchestrated a near-perfect two-minute drill, taking Las Vegas from their own 8-yard line to the Kansas City 32-yard line. But with the clock ticking and the roar of Arrowhead reaching a deafening crescendo, disaster struck.
Rather than attempt a long field goal—Daniel Carlson had missed three tries from beyond 50 yards—the Raiders opted to run one more play to gain a few extra yards. Rookie center Jackson Powers-Johnson misread the count and snapped the ball unexpectedly. It ricocheted off O’Connell’s shoulder and bounced freely on the turf before Chiefs linebacker Nick Bolton pounced on it. A flag for an illegal shift on the Raiders nullified any hope of retaining possession, sealing Kansas City’s improbable win.
Despite the chaotic finish, Mahomes turned in another historic performance. He threw for 306 yards and a touchdown, surpassing Len Dawson for the franchise record with his 328th career touchdown pass. His lone TD came on a 6-yard strike to Justin Watson late in the first half, giving the Chiefs a 10-3 lead at the break.
Yet, the Chiefs’ offense struggled to capitalize on opportunities, settling for four field goals from fill-in kicker Matt Wright. Wright’s final kick, a 42-yarder, provided the game-winning points with 10 minutes remaining in the fourth quarter.
O’Connell, starting in place of the injured Gardner Minshew, showed flashes of brilliance despite the heartbreaking loss. After a slow start, he found rookie tight end Brock Bowers for a 12-yard touchdown late in the third quarter, pulling the Raiders within three. Moments later, O’Connell unleashed a 58-yard bomb to Tre Tucker, giving Las Vegas a 17-16 lead early in the fourth.
Bowers, continuing his remarkable rookie campaign, hauled in 10 catches for 140 yards. Despite O’Connell’s 340-yard, two-touchdown effort, the Raiders couldn’t overcome their costly mistakes, extending their losing streak against Kansas City to eight games.
Kansas City’s defense, led by Nick Bolton and George Karlaftis, played a pivotal role down the stretch. Karlaftis and safety Justin Reid swatted away key O’Connell passes, forcing a 58-yard field goal attempt by Carlson with just over two minutes left. Carlson’s miss gave the Chiefs just enough time to position Wright for his decisive fourth field goal.
For the Chiefs (11-1), the victory marked their NFL record-extending 14th consecutive one-possession win. However, their struggles remain evident: shaky pass protection, inconsistent secondary play, and costly penalties that could haunt them in the postseason.
The Raiders, despite their woeful record, showed grit. With young stars like O’Connell and Bowers, the future in Las Vegas looks promising, even if 2024 continues to be a season of growing pains.
The Raiders head to Tampa Bay on Dec. 8 to face the Buccaneers, while the Chiefs prepare for another divisional battle, hosting the Los Angeles Chargers that same night.
In the ever-unpredictable NFL, one thing is clear: When it comes to Kansas City, expect the unexpected.
