THE Kansas City Chiefs became the first side to clinch their place in the playoffs, after a dramatic 19-17 Black Friday victory over their AFC West divisional rivals – the Las Vegas Raiders.
The win moves the defending Super Bowl champions to an 11-1 record this season, while the two-win Raiders will be buoyed by running their opponents so close.
The AFC West leaders had led 16-3 early in the third quarter, before Raiders quarterback Aidan O’Connell found rookie Brock Bowers in the end-zone, while also delivering a a 58-yard touchdown pass to Tre Tucker.
That briefly put the Raiders in front but a Matthew Wright field goal was enough to seal the Chiefs’ victory, and their progression to the off-season for the 10th straight year.
Despite their excellent record, it was another game where quarterback Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs failed to impress, and it will be a concern that they failed to see off a struggling team in more convincing fashion.
The divisional match-up began slowly with the two sides settling for early field goals.
Mahomes then found Justin Watson for the opening touchdown, which came on a drive that saw Travis Kelce deliver a no-look lateral pass to running-back Samaje Perine.
That prompted celebrations in the crowd from Taylor Swift, with Kelce finishing the game with seven catches for 68 yards.
The third quarter saw the Raiders fightback with star tight-end Bowers regularly getting open, and he hauled in a touchdown pass to give his side hope.
Tucker’s touchdown made it 17-16 to the visitors at Arrowhead, but following Wright’s late field goal, O’Connell fumbled in the final minute to end the Raiders hopes of a shock win.
The Chiefs are next in action when they host the Los Angeles Chargers on Sunday, December 8, while the Raiders visit the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on the same day.
