There were times in this game the Raiders seemed like they might keep pace with the Chiefs. But each time, they would fall flat.
After the Chiefs opened the game with a touchdown drive, the Raiders responded with a touchdown drive of their own to tie it back up at 7-7. Then the RAiders added a field goal to take a 10-7 lead. But you knew it wouldn’t last.
It was still 10-7 at the two-minute warning of the second quarter. Then the Chiefs scored their second touchdown, this time on a pass over the middle to Travis Kelce to take re-take the lead at 14-10.
The Raiders response this time was not a touchdown. It wasn’t even a first down. It was a quick three-and-out to give the Chiefs a chance to score again before the half. The Chiefs said thank you very much, and drove into field goal range to take a 17-10 lead at the half.
A 60-yard AJ Cole along with a holding on the return, put the Chiefs deep in their own territory. Consecutive holding penalties ensured they would punt out of their own end zone. DJ Turner fielded it and returned it to the 43. With a late hit out of bounds tacked on, the Raiders were already in field goal range.
Despite getting two first downs – on on a Chiefs holding penalty, the Raiders couldn’t punch it in and settled for a field goal to make it a 17-13 game.
On the ensuing possession, the Patrick Mahomes had his pass tipped by John Jenkins and intercepted by Tre’von Moehrig who returned it to the three-yard-line in first and goal.
The Raiders’ series was indicative of much of their day. An Alexander Mattison run for two yards, a Mattison run for no gain, Mattison run for a loss of two, and on fourth and goal, Gardner Minshew was sacked for a turnover on downs.
Early in the fourth quarter, the Chiefs went on a long drive, but the Raiders would keep it a one-score game by stopping them short of the touchdown. They converted on a field goal to make it a 20-13 game.
On the ensuing Raiders possession, they would lose Andre James and then Minshew would lose the football. The Chiefs would even the turnover ratio for the game taking over in scoring range.
While the Raiders were unable to take advantage of their takeaway from the KC three-yard line, the Chiefs took advantage of theirs from the Vegas 38. They drove to a touchdown, with Mahomes finding Xavier Worth for the score from the nine-yard line to go up by two scores 27-13 with five minutes left, thus essentially putting the game away.
The Raiders drove for a touchdown on the next drive, but with no timeouts they would need to kick and recover an onside kick. Kick it they did, but recover it they did not. The Chiefs were able kneel out the clock and secure the 27-20 victory.
Running the ball was not happening in this game for the Raiders. The finished with 33 net rushing yards on 21 carries (2.75 yards per carry), with the running backs picking up just 16 yards on 17 carries. That’s right, they had fewer than one yard per carry.
The Chiefs remain undefeated at 7-0 while the Raiders fall to 2-6 on the season.
